Meijer Brand Chocolate Sauce: Summer Projects… Finally Over (Part 1)

Last week I finished our backyard projects we had planned for summertime – 3 months late, yes, but better than never.

With what I like to classify as minimal help from others, I managed to build a deck and a shadowbox privacy fence “from scratch” (this is mostly a recipe blog, after all). On that side note, here are some step by step instructions on how to build exactly what I did – DECK EDITION:

HOW TO BUILD A DECK
More specifically, how to build exactly the deck I built.
Even more specifically (or less, I can’t decide), how to more or less get the gist of how to build exactly the deck I built.

Tools Needed/Recommended:

Circular Saw
Sawhorses
Level(s)
Tape measure
Framing Hammer
Nail Gun(s)
Prybar
Post-Hole Diggers
Chalk Line
Electric Drill/Screwdriver
1/2” Electric Drill
1/2” Auger Drill Bit
Wrenches
Carpenter’s L Square
Knee Pads

Plan out your area. We decided on a 10x22 ft. deck, since we wanted to cover up this ugly electrical conduit on the side of our house.
Get rid of anything that might be in the way, like a crumbling old patio.

Clear out any debris, or at least push enough of it around so you can build the deck over/around it.

Measure out the area, and mark it with spray-paint or string so you can get used to the area you won’t have any yard in anymore.

Don’t write sentences like that again.
Next you want to order your lumber and materials. We went to Lowe’s, and they pretty much rocked the house in the helpful department. They mapped everything out based on what we told them, and created a printout of every piece of lumber and hardware we would need – which changed as we went on, but things happen.

We needed a lot of lumber (this is for a fence too, remember).
Plan, mark, and dig the holes for the support beam posts. The original plans called for 3 rows of 3 posts, but I changed it to 4 rows for more support. This meant more digging, but it went fast and I feel safer.
Add posts.
Pour your concrete, add water.
Construct the support beams.

I used 2 2x6 boards for each beam. I had to be careful by the door, since I wanted the final deckboards to match up more or less with the level of the floor of the house – so I had to measure down around 6+1/2” (the width of the joist plus the thickness of a floorboard). Then I had to make sure every other beam was level with the first one. This involved a lot of Mary and John helping hold things and check several levels. Having a nail gun came in handy for this, since I could quickly tack a board in place when it was level. The beams are attached to each post with 3 half-inch bolts.
I had to make a mini-beam near the spigot to allow for a trapdoor to be built for water access.

I thought about other alternatives, like extending a pipe outside and up above the deck, but I thought this would be more attractive. And I liked the idea of a trapdoor. It did mean one more hole to dig, though.
Once your support beams are in place, lay down the 2x6 joists.

This is pretty simple – I laid a row every foot, so I had 11 rows. I used the nailgun to tack them in place. In retrospect, using brackets to really hold them there would probably have been a good idea, but with the deckboards attached, they’re really not going anywhere.
Now lay your deckboards. This will be horrible. I recommend kneepads.

So many screws, so much kneeling. If you use treated lumber, apparently it is a good idea not to leave gaps between your boards, because the wood will shrink a good deal. I did not know this. Oh well. Just make sure you keep them straight, so they don’t get out of whack after a while. I used a nail as a spacer.
Once your boards are in place, cut off any long ends and attach some long end boards to make everything look nice.
Assemble the railing and stairs – the trickiest part, I thought.

The stair runners came pre-cut, so I just had to trim them down to fit.

The railing wasn’t that bad, it was just a matter of figuring out where I wanted it to be, and then assembling. Just a lot of pieces.

I had to make a mini-railing to allow for a power meter box. I didn’t plan for it, but I think it looks good anyway.
Build your fantastic trapdoor – make sure it’s supported so it can be walked on.
Pick a stain/seal, and you’re done! Don’t worry about where the last week or two of your life went, and don’t regret picking the hottest, most humid week of August to do all this work, because now you have a sweet outdoor hangout space!