Sunday, 21 October 2012

Decking

 After laying bare all winter, the posts and three bearers were well overdue to acquire some company.  I ordered some timber (which was dumped in a big pile in front of the house) and proceeded to finally build the deck.  First I needed another couple of bearers and then after scouring the various hardware stores for the right size joist hangers, nailing on some joists.  Yes that is a rip in my shorts and no, I did not throw them out.  The holes got bigger and then got fixed, I'll get a few more years out of them yet.

Getting the first few joists on
The good thing about the hardware stores not having enough joist hangers was that I got a bit of variation.  I'd do a row of joists the and then a row of decking.  


The first two decking boards!

Progress after a full on weekend

Dilemmas - running out of timber for the joists
The weather thwarted my chances of getting the main part of the deck complete before Mum and Dad arrived for a week's 'holiday'.  I use the term loosely because they didn't get much of a break.  Dad and I finished the main part of the deck, they had a weekend away with friend's Todd and Allison on their farm (where Dad cut firewood and helped mark calves) then it was back to Melbourne where Dad helped put up a shade sail (photos will come, eventually) and Mum got busy on the sewing machine and fixed my shorts, and a few others things. 

Dinner on the deck

More times like this are called for, now for a new BBQ for my reward....