I replaced them with hot dipped galvanized bolts. What a pain in the ass that was..

Nice work Jim! I've only done stairs a few times, the first being in my house, so I end up rethinking it each time. I've been using Japanese saws for years and would never go back.

Japanese saw. now I know what to get dad for Christmas.

Japanese saws are the shizzle. I have several western saws that I never use. I always reach for the Japanese saw.

As far as the splitting wood when you nail near the edge in end grain, I've heard that tipping the nail upside down and pounding on it flattens the point. When the point of the nail is flat, it breaks the wood fibers when you pound it into the wood. If it's sharp and pointy, it would try to go between the fibers, pushing them apart. Near the end of a board, this makes a split likely. So what you are doing is doubly good, since you are dulling the tip of the nail so it tears the fibers, but you are pre-tearing some of the fibers with the head of the nail too.

Isn't that called a back saw - because it cuts on the backstroke (pull)?

Edit: I'm wrong - that's something else.

Looks real good Jim. You're doin a heck of a job.
Oh and I love my Japanese saw. Do you have the flexible one as well?

that one is real flexible. makes that wokka wokka sound if you wiggle it.... and rings like a sword coming free of a scabbard when you pull it out of a cut.

Yeh they are pretty similar. This is like the "flexible" one I have. Its even more than the one you have pictured. I love them both. They're great when installing flooring and stuff. I like that this one only has the blade on one side too.

Nice work, Jim. Where's you learn to do all this stuff?

Prison.

I told him to be careful

He can even do a tattoo of a deck for you...

Actually, I framed houses between high school and college ...for like 2 months...learned a good bit doing that.... and the rest I kind of just picked up as I went. Mostly just by doing it. I usually just assume I can figure it out, start with a loose plan and adjust as I go..... Used to piss jinx off. (shocker) This deck, I planned pretty carefully first.

I always have loved working with wood, and used to watch those New Yankee workshop shows... I built my own deck, my sister's, a few pieces of basic furniture, etc.

Wrong hole.

And that's how he ended up in ...

ever do time, doc?

no... the houses went to prison, see... cuz i framed them, see? mmyeeeaaahhh

I saw what you did there.

might be the last update
 

here's the decking I had done. These 9 courses took me 6 or 7 hours in 2 sessions to do by my self.

Attachment 35205

I was being very very careful to make these joints nice and tight.
Attachment 35206

you can see that there is a pattern ...they break 2 joists apart
Attachment 35207

you can't even SEE some of the joints in these pictures.


So, the guy I'm doing it for let's his idiot buddy work on it and now it looks like crap. I'm burning. The part everyone will see.... And i have to work here 9-9 every day this week because dickhead is on vacation.

I'm just sick.

Tear out the asshole's work and leave the splintered boards in an obvious and inconvenient place. Throw a few empties on top of the stack too.

If he gives you any static, don't say anything but shit in an empty joint compound bucket.

Tell him you're from Canada and you don't play that shit.

No, I'm going to talk to him tonight over drinks and make it clear that I don't want the guy working on it ... and if he does, I'm out. And don't tell anyone that I built it either. I don't want to be a dick, but if I let it go, it's gonna eat me up every time I go over there. He can wait one more goddamned week. I get an extra day off next week that I can devote to it... Most of it will be spent undoing the shit work Bill did..... I just hope I can save some of the wood. He did 3 pieces that only span one joist. dumbass. and there are a few that are a good half inch from the edge.

Now see here, when you do my deck you will be the only one working on it, and I guarantee that.

Seeing how this has dragged out for 4 months, I imagine the property owner is pretty frustrated.

Cock

I got some pics of what I'll be fixing. Guy is forbidden from working on this any further. He's a painter. let him paint. He can even seal the deck when I'm done.... just don't let him touch my saw again.

He just paid no attention to what had been done, and very little to what he was doing....

Attachment 35225


I use a nail to keep the expansion gap the same everywhere. I just put the nail between the board I'm nailing and it's neighbor to keep them parallel. Boards have crowns... sometimes you have to bend them a little to make it work....

Attachment 35224
Attachment 35226

My buddies are construction guys, and one a really good woodworker. I know how pissed they get when someone else does a half-assed job, especially when it reflects on them.

It's going to suck to fix it but you're right jim, do it right or don't do it at all!

Do you know anything about building log homes? I'm pretty sure I'm going to win a lottery tonight.

There are several spots where the boards are not flush with the edge.... this is the worst...probably because the flashing leaps out at you and glints in the porch light...

Attachment 35228

and this is the piece de resistance....


Attachment 35227

I don't even know what to say about that... other than... cock.

enough to get started, and that's all I require! I'll learn the rest as I go!

call me!

He needs a kick in the taco, paco.
Then sell him the undercoating, what a dick. I hate him.

Me too.

How about I start a Cellar commune?

Awesome. I have a tofu and sprout casserole recipe somewhere...

[late to thread]

Aw goddammit. That would piss me off at least as much as it is pissing you off. You were doing a really good job and this doofus has half-arsed it and cocked it up. The job is now behind where it was when you last left it, 'cause you're going to have to undo a lot of rubbish work before you can start up again.

Build it once, build it right, enjoy it for a long time.

I wouldn't even let that guy paint the deck. He obviously doens't take any pride in doing a good job.

Ceck.

ZACKLY!

My buddy the electrician is fond of saying "Electrical wiring is not a hobby"

true for all the trades really, if one takes pride in his work.

In that last pic... was that... putty?

No..just sawdust and detritus.

But isn't this a hobby for Jim?

It is. but it's also art.

I want him to be proud of the way the deck looks when he has friends over. I want to be proud of it.

I plan to continue to refine and augment it next spring, as well... We're talking about putting a set of rafters up over half of it to hang plants from (there's a name for that which escapes me)

You're doing excellent work on the deck, and the friend is lucky to have you. Construction projects can be frustrating for the owner, especially when there are delays, but this friend knew that you would be working on it in your spare time, weather permitting. If he wanted any old deck company to throw together a deck quickly, he could have gone that route and had a deck that looks just like every other deck out there.

pergola?

Nicely said, glatt.

He's right, the guy could've gone out and got a Deck in a Box, but he wanted a custom and well-done deck.

Pergola, right?

My point was that you don't need to be a professional to do a good job. Often the hobbyist can take more time and make something nicer than the professional can.

Mmmm, Pergola Alfredo. :yum:

RIGHT!

RIGHT!
RIGHT!

Three rights don't make it wrong.

One jim makes it right. ;)

three rights make a left!

I put my deck in a box for you...

:)

Yes, do that.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! THAT'S...:eek:

Beautifully put! You're a poet, not just a monkey with a typewriter.

Three rights mean you are a lefty. Just don't tell UG.

I made some progress on Sunday....

Attachment 35334

I only removed one of the 'bad' boards... I think I may run out of wood...

but I got almost to the front corner. I needed to make some positive progress. I'll start in pulling up the bad stuff tomorrow. I'm hoping to finish the decking between Tues and Weds, and hopefully get at least one section of railing up.

Attachment 35335

Lookin good Jim. Yer getting there.

That really looks nice.

I'll be proud to hire Jim and Foot Custom Log Homes when I win the lottery!

ok, so I was able to incorporate a few of the boards the other guy put down....



Attachment 35442

The rest had to come up, but I was able to use most again... I just cut ends off and re laid them.

Attachment 35443

Here's one of my helpers. He became interested in this for the first time Sunday.. Ripley helped a lot last week, and again yesterday... They both had fun, and earned $25!

Attachment 35444


He took charge of striking the lines for cuts. We had to use a template on the side where it butts up against the house, because you can't hang past the edge and eyball it like the other 3 sides.

Attachment 35445
Attachment 35446

Here's the angle that all of the boards that meet that copper flashing have
Attachment 35447

Looking good.

getting close to the corner! It's looking better and better!
Attachment 35449

Spencer and Ripley were picking the boards for color and texture.\

And It's Done!

Attachment 35450

Attachment 35451

Here's the Happy homeowner, and My helpers!

Attachment 35452

It's gorgeous! And great kids!