For questions generally relating to outdoor, semi-elevated, non-enclosed structures such as decks, gazebos, pergolas, etc.
7
votes
2answers
574 views
What are the proper steps for staining a deck?
My deck just past its 10-year mark and is starting to look quite tired. It's time to restain it. What steps do I need to take to make sure I do everything right, from start to finish?
6
votes
3answers
4k views
Can I build a deck this low to the ground?
I want to build a deck off the back of my house. The door is near grade level, about 1' above. The grade doesn't have very large slope, so that means that the beam at the far end would be below grade:
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10
votes
3answers
4k views
How do I improve Pergola Stability?
The deck is nearly finished but I have a small structural problem with the pergola. A left or right force near the top of the pergola (such a a tall person leaning on the post) leads to a bit of ...
5
votes
1answer
211 views
What is a good strategy to support this deck?
I am planning a potential DIY job for a new deck that I want to put on my house. This is roughly what I think we want
The house is roughly 36' long and the garage roughly 22'. The door from the ...
2
votes
2answers
958 views
How should I finish and protect outdoor wooden steps?
My house has a wooden staircase leading up to the front door. It gets a lot of traffic and is uncovered, so its exposed to New England winters. This means snow, ice, ice-melt, sand, shoveling, etc.. ...
3
votes
1answer
987 views
How do I install concrete blocks to support deck stairs?
I just had a deck constructed and it failed inspection, partly because of missing concrete blocks where the steps meet the ground (see also my related question Deck handrail bracket). How would I go ...
3
votes
1answer
884 views
What is the best way to fill in the holes in aluminum siding?
In about 2 weeks I'm doing a little cathartic destruction of a deck on the back of my house. The deck came with the house and has suffered YEARS of neglect, it's beyond repair, built incorrectly, and ...
2
votes
2answers
633 views
Deck handrail bracket
I just had a deck built and it failed inspection, partly because of the lack of a graspbable handrail (see also my related question Concrete blocks supporting deck stairs) . The current rail is a ...
