Here’s a multilevel Trex deck we just started
Posts and 20′ 4×10 beams ……..Man this new ACQ is heavy…………….
We had a hard time shoulder loading these heavy pigs…….
“Rather be a hammer than a nail”
Bob
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Replies
Framing 1' on center
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
three foot canterlever"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Tell me about your piers and post connectors.
As ussual, outstanding work, Bob.
Dave
yeah.. me too, bob... what's your frost line ? how deep are your footings...
you've got a lot of footings.. could you have increase the beam size and reduced the number of footings ?
sure make me jealous to go get another deck..
oh well, we do have two small ones comming up on our current job..Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Thanks Mike,
Our frost line is only 8" here and the ground is like concrete. There is softer soil on some of the hillsides around here which require deep Sono tube footings but most of the decks I choose to do are on hard flat ground.
The reason for all the footings is the different elevations of the deck. I designed it so when you were sitting in the house you could see over the railing at the incredible view. We can only span 8' with a 4x10 Doug fir beam today. I used to span 10' with no bounce at all.
I sure like the new FastenMaster ledger fasteners for jobs like this.Instead of a 3/8" lag they are 3/16" and easily drive into wall studs. I'll post a picture later.
better go put on my knee pads................."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
The post and pier connectors are adjustable 4" saddles. The allow you to turn the nut at the base of the saddle to level your beam run if you cut the post on the wrong side of the line.........................:-)
The 2x4 gussets on each side of the post keep the beam from twisting off of the post when the wood dries."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Makin Trex dust..............
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Routed Butt joint and notched post joint"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
tight post notch bro..Really nice. I love the new wood grained trex.
are u expectin a snow load? thats a lot of wood,
We may see some snow this year.............That's $8000. of wood. I like to frame all my Trex decks 1' on center.
My shoulder is still sore from packing all that fresh out the pond wood from the front to the back. Those are 20' long 2x10"s..............
Thanks for folowing along............"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
My shoulder is still sore from packing all that fresh out the pond wood from the front to the back. Those are 20' long 2x10"s..............
Some days it seems like PT wood weighs about 3 times dry. Can't imagine what those 20' 4x10's must have weighed, but I'm pretty sure I don't wanna carry one by myself. Probably felt like hoisting a telephone pole. $8k worth of wood? Sure glad it ain't coming out of my pocket!
That is one fantastic, solid looking deck. Keep the pics coming.
jt8
The new "accent" Trex is much more consistent than the older stuff. It is extruded under more pressure to produce the wood grain. It is a little more difficult to set the screws because of it's density. "Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Nice looking deck, keep the pix comming.
Doug
Thanks Douglas, Here is a shot of the view from this deck looking over Lake Sammamish toward Seattle and the Olympic peninsula"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
I've always liked your deck shots overlooking the great views in Washington. Have you thought of making a killer calendar with the views through your decks both during and after construction.
You could pay for it by selling ad support to Trek and the fastening companies you use.
Good looking work!
Great Idea and thanks for the compliments. I don't think I shoot my pictures in high enough resolution for calendar pictures but it is a great idea.
Mike had some great pictures of a bridge to Rhodefest from a deck. Maybe Taunton could hire us to shoot pictures instead of packin lumber all the time......."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
I had a great idea for a calendar that my DW put a stop to. I was going to call it BEST BUTTS. I'd have each of the great subs I use pose working exposing their best side a little.
You know like the plumber could have Feb. The electrician Dec. etc. Wearing their respective tools engaged in their work.
Thought of a advertising alternative. If were going to expose ourselves that way why not sell advertising on 3 x 5" cards on soda straws? You know like 'Eat at Joe's Crab Shack' or something.
I don't know why I don't make money with these great ideas I get.
Edited 11/9/2004 3:38 pm ET by JAGWAH
Well, i guess you missed the thread that was about 70 or 80 posts long
arguing the finer points of blocking joists. Blue oughta be here shortly to
get you straightened out<G> :-}
All kidding aside, I really missed your posts and hope you got more pictures
as I always enjoy seeing your work.
Sorry I missed the blocked joists discussion. The reason we screw blocks to the joists is to give us more surface to screw the Trex to. The Trex actually rests on the joist not the block.
Here is a shot of Tommy routing the but joint. Because of the shape of Trex you have to hold the router on it's side to get an even rout."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Could make small calanders, what ever your resolution would work for, give a half dozen or so to clients, tell them to give them to friends/family.
pictures of your decks and the great views you seem to always be working in...
cheap marketing and keeps you in the back of their head if they use calanders..
Bob, pretty work. Isn't you PT incised? I can't see any incisions. I've never seen a brown treatment, except for creosote<G>. We gotta start getting that back here. Do you form those blocks on top of the footings?
Thanks for sharing, I always learn something from your stuff. Don't worry, we can fix that later!
Thanks Bucksnort,
All our framing is incised pressure treated and I've noticed the new ACQ treatment penetrates to the core unlike the old arsenic treated wood. I've also noticed it is twice as heavy to carry..................
The footings are dug then we put 4" of concrete in the hole then a pre-formed pier block goes on top of that then we surround the pre-formed pier with another 4" of concrete to hold it in place.............. "Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Fascia is 5/4 x 12 TK Cedar"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
All decked out and ready for railing"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
We like to change the direction of the decking on the steps and different levels so your eye can see the transition more easily............."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
The sun sets on another great day in the Northwest............."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Bob
We like to change the direction of the decking on the steps.....
That's the first thing that catches my eye.
I think the neighbors are going to be jealous!
Great work
Doug
Bob,
Nice work as always. I saw in the background the deck rails on the house next door. Is there glass between the rails?
Joe Carola
Thanks Framer- Yes the railing next door is glass. All fogged up in the morning and dirty in the afternoon.
We will be installing aluminum pipe rail between our 6x6 posts.
More shots coming.........."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Thanks Framer- Yes the railing next door is glass. All fogged up in the morning and dirty in the afternoon.
ha ha ha, I've always thought the exterior glass railing was a neat idea but a maint. nightmare. Plus it seems like it would just be asking for a errant baseball or mower-thrown-rock to test its shatter resistance (or even scratch/chip resistance).
SIDE NOTE:
Luka says you have a green version of this screwdriver:
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=49991.40
Where did you get it, and tell me it doesn't cost $25???
jt8
Edited 11/13/2004 1:46 am ET by JohnT8
john... here's your screwdriver so others don't need the link..
View ImageMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I buy a box of the Cully 16 in one screwdrivers to give as gifts to my clients.
I purchase them thru my lumber yard and theycost about $20 each by the box
You can see them on their lame website.........
http://www.cully.com/products.htm
Click on their catalog then click on screwdrivers.......... "Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Thanks for the beautiful shot, sure gives you something to look at during lunch break!
Doug
As usual, your work is an inspiration!
That's a lot of footings. How deep do you have to go?
Why is your PT brown? Is that Doug fir?
What kind of deck scerws are those?
Thanks for the photos!
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA
Thanks Mojo,
The footings are 18"x18" x 8" deep with two pieces of rebar in each hole. Our frost line is 8" here and the ground is more rock than dirt.
Our PT is Doug fir and we request brown treatment instead of green because it looks better from the underside if it goes unpainted.
The deck screws are C-Deck fasteners. They are 2 1/2" long star drives with a self tapping cutter wood screw thread at the point and a fine machine screw thread at the top that pulls the fray of the Trex back into the hole, making for a nice clean set.
The screws are also colored to match the color of the Trex.
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Here is a picture of the fasteners we use............"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
I've seen those screws around, but wasn't sure how they would hold up in the ACQ joists, so I've stuck to stainless, which isn't cheap. Any idea or report on performance in the new PT wood?
I never met a tool I didn't like!
bob..i'd love to use those screws...
but i'm scared of the salt air.. i haven't found anything that stands up to it except silicone bronze, SS, or real HD Galv... and the HD galv i don't trust because it can get chipped or damaged durning install..
so i'll ask the same question... ANY rust at all ?.. or do you think your climate ( and lack of salt air is more benign..
do you have salt air in your building area ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Yes Mike we have salt air here. They say the FastenMaster screws are approved for ACQ so I would think they would work OK around saltwater. That ACQ will rust a Nail overnight......................
I'll back one out of one of my older decks and let you know how they are holding up."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
These screws are approved for use with the new ACQ and much harder than stainless. We strip bits not screws....................
They work well............"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Nice deck yourself Pete............
My only recomendation would be to cut 45 degree miters on your corners next time so the end grain of the wood is not exposed. I like your bench design. It looks inviting. Great job!
The ACQ Aluminum Copper Quat is stayfast and treatment goes much deeper that before. I'll have to go visit a plant and see how they do that.
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Outstanding as usual Robert.
My lumber yard says they won't sell Trx anymore because too many complaints about it staining.
Think theres any truth to that claim?
Trx is even more money than cedar..is that true by you as well?
Be well
andy
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy- Trex is a third more than cedar but then if you look at what you spend on cleaners and stain over a five year period plus your time you may find that the composite material is the way to go. I personally have no problem cleaning and staining wood once a year and I like the looks of real wood better than composite.
There are sealers for composite decks plus cleaners.
I'll grab my last issue of Professional deckbuilders magazine and get back to you on their names and links.....
Right now I have to go out in the rain and build a railing................
Later
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Rainy day railing......Man, it was so dark the flash went off .............
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Here is Tommy cutting aluminum balusters two at a time SLOWLY on the chop saw."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Hey, dont you worry bout yer chop box getting wet, not to mention electrocuted?
Be in shock
andyThe secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy, Andy, Andy, Dewalt's never stop running...............not even in the snow.........
Plastic handle no sparks today................"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Bob
Pretty funny picture....you aught to send that one to DeWalt.The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Fantastic to see another deck thread from you Bob. I think the last one was clear back in March.
I really like the idea of changing the direction of the decking on the stairs. Pretty slick trick.
Are you talking two BUNDLES at a time? I just got finished with this. Architect designed the first one. Besides not being code approved, the HOs freaked when they saw it...ergo, number two...guess we were lucky, too, no rain<G> Don't worry, we can fix that later!
No Billy, we can only cut two balusters at a time with a carbide tooth blade and that isn't really very safe either.
We tried cutting aluminum with a fiber blade and all it does is melt the ends and makes it harder to install over the Uni-balls..................
"Cut slow let the blade do the work!""Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
"Uni-balls"?
Are those 6x6 posts, Bob?
Yes Jim, on the 6x6 posts...............Uni Balls are the fasteners we use at the top and bottom of each baluster.
Here is a close up of the product on the bottom rail"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Here's a shot of the side 3x12 stair case."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Are those uni-balls intended for that application, Bob? Or is that something you came up with? I like it.
Those 6x's look great. Nice and hurky.
LOL Jim, I wish I had thought about having those little buggers made before the other guy. He's probably counting his money on the stern of his 100' yacht somewhere.
http://www.erailwayz.com/home.html
This is where I found them
Thanks for the compliments....."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
bob.. those Uni-ball connectors ..
is it a friction drive on fit ?
what keeps the top rail from seperating from the bottom rail ?
i think i see some of those in my futureMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Yes Mike, the balusters have to be hammered over the ball, then the whole rail section can be lifted into place and fastened between the posts."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Do those balls squish, thereby get fatter as you tighten the screw? I'm thinking you could make a real long bit holder that would reach through the ballusters, say, 36" long?
Then get your screws started, slip the pipe over the relaxed ball, then tighten the screw securing the pipe. Huh? Huh? What do you think? Would that make for holding the bottom rail tighter? Or maybe that isn't a problem? What about if you put them on when it's real hot out (so the rubber swells) then when Jack Frost comes around in a few months, and that hawk gets to blowin', and it's cold enough to shrivel your...well, you know what shrivels, does the rubber contract in the cold and get loose.
Now THAT'S what I could use, a loose woman. KATHY!
Yikes Jim! we don't need to make putting these things on any more labor intensive than they already are.....................
Once you pound the baluster over the ball it is really tight, and once it is secured between the posts the baluster has no where to go.........so there really is no need to make them little buggers any tighter."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Here is a shot for Occidental lights and Hart................"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
My two sons are hard working boys and I'm proud to be their POP............."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Great Picture - Suitable for framing!You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
Well, you ought to be. You fellers can put together some good looking wood now.
I seriously envy you the position of running your own business, building at that level, with your sons as top guns. Gotta be the life! Heck, I'm proud of your boys and I don't even know them.
Dollars to donuts they're just as proud you're their Dad, Bob.
Roll um Up and sunset on another nice day..............."Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
This shot shows the deck we just did in the foreground two builder decks, one with a glass rail and the other with a sandwich 2x2 baluster rail and the forth deck back is the one we did this time last year.............
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Ooops..... I forgot the picture and you can't add the picture when you try to edit. What's up with that?
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
No Billy, we can only cut two balusters at a time with a carbide tooth blade and that isn't really very safe either.
You ever though of getting one of those jobsite bandsaws with a metal cutting blade ?
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
Bob: Simply outstanding work as usual coming from you and your sons......
Stan
Thanks Stan..........That always means ALOT Coming from a craftsman like yourself.
I did have to add a continoius hand rail on the steps Which I thinl ruins the look . I'll take some shots of that today......"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Yes Luka, I had one but it was just too slow so I sold it at our garage sale........
a new Riobi Hardly used "Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
Man ! I wish I had been at your garage sale !:)
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
Thank you, We have been so busy this year I've hardly had time to post any pictures let alone take any................
Things will be slowing down here later............and I'll post more.........
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob