Deck-building in February

[Bruce Taylor]

Everything takes three times as long. We have to chip an inch of ice off the boards before we can use them. The ground is frozen, so digging has to be done with an axe. The other day, out of habit, I popped a couple of nails into my mouth...bad move. And a couple of times I've slid downhill like a snowboarder on the halfpipe, scattering tools in all directions.

But we're making progress...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid201/p247be89cfada2f655012ea6e9f2a16b6/f021c6d1.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid201/p5de7f2cde88cb93c808912f342ad9c29/f021c3eb.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid201/p8a5c86bf0e9b07f4bba047fe4ee4d264/f021bb00.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid201/pe097340bfe79ff736210cb35bbc58e62/f021c1a3.jpg

[ 02-18-2006, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: Bruce Taylor ]

[High C]

Wow Bruce, you're not messing around with the framing under that tub! Stout stuff! :eek: :cool:

[Bruce Taylor]

It's a pretty big tub...only the top half is showing in that pic. The "log-cabin" substructure was just quicker and easier than cutting and notching a framework of posts and struts.

[Paul Girouard]

Thanks Bruce , That reminds me why I love it here on Whidbey Island smile.gif

I remember still a house we built on Roundtop rd. Harrisville.

We set the plates , rolled the joist , next day shoveled the snow. layed the deck , next day shoveled the snow , stood some walls , next day shoveled the snow , framed more walls , on and on it went.
Snow at night clear and cold in the day so we could work :rolleyes:
Not that it never snows here, cuz it does . Generally short and sweet.
Nice deck smile.gif Steep hill :rolleyes:

[Bruce Taylor]

next day shoveled the snow...next day shoveled the snow...next day shoveled the snow:D

[Paul Girouard]

Had my Bruce's mixed up , you'd not know where round top rd , Harrisville was , but all nothern carpenter know a bit about snow smile.gif
Cold here this AM as well, http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/feb181.jpg

Got the wood stove going in both the house and the shop , 21° F in the shop, along with the two kerosene heaters . Got a fireplace mantal and another side project to work on, when it warmers up a bit ;)

What will you be using for the deck boards? Looks to be a high ender deck :cool:
Paul

[Bruce Taylor]

Western red 2 X 6s...maybe not so "high end" on your side of the continent, but it sure isn't cheap out here. ;) Our local sawyers cut a lot of northern white, but it tends to have punky spots on the underside (and this thing sits close to the ground).

[Paul Girouard]

Bruce our cedar so bad we seldom use it anymore .
We're doing a kit house built / assembled in BC and the wood in it , mostly spruce and hemlock is better than our lumber yards material. The sales rep. Robert , sez we US don't get the good wood because of the soft wood treaty our countries have.
As this kit house is processed/ assembled in Ca. the #1 grade is used. Very nice house nice lumber and lots of it , 16"OC , dbls at the pnl ends , posts where they should be . The truss's are a bit rough / mis aligned / not very well made . But overall the wood in the place is very nice , and I bet your western Red is a better grade than you guys can export to us as un- processed lumber .
Here a photo of the place , early on in const.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/dill9.jpg

Roof is almost fully sheeted now smile.gif

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/dill15Feb1.jpg
Paul

[ishmael]

Working carpentry for a living, in all seasons, I was always glad when I found some finish work for the winter. I've been out there on a day like today, but don't recommend it. As a buck I just sorta did what had to be done.

A deck though, that's easy. What's the state of lumber these days? Western Red Cedar, oh my! Nice tub. I guess logs are still arriving.

Whatever happened to White Pine, Atlantic Cedar? Serious question. I don't see either much, but, to be honest, I haven't looked.

Some of the pine I nailed up as trim and panelling made me jealous of the house.

[ 02-18-2006, 01:19 PM: Message edited by: ishmael ]

[Bruce Taylor]

I bet your western Red is a better grade than you guys can export to us as un- processed lumber The posts are a little too good...clear, 30-50 grains to the inch on some of them (which reminds me of Smalser's observations about the logging of old growth in B.C.) The decking is young & knotty, but straight & sound. Good enough.

Jack, we still have plenty of good local pine up here (white and red). We never had any Atlantic white cedar, and the Northern white is going fast. Hemlock is still popular for decks...lasts forever, if kept off the ground.

[Memphis Mike]

That's quite an elaborate setup ya got there, Bruce.

I may come up this summer and lay out in my red Speedo. :D

[Paul Girouard]

Most of our deck grade cedar is 5/4 X 4 some of it with bark / wane edges on at least two edges. More sap wood than anything else.

Ish you was a carpenter? Well if you was you still ish smile.gif

Shop up to about 40° so guess I better strike while the shop at least not below freezing :( Feels warm, if ya stay outside long enough. Paul

[imported_Daniel]

Looks good Bruce, I'm sure you'll enjoy it when its finished.

MM - I forwarded your post to the RCMP, and due to the seriousness of the threat, they have decided to implement Canadas own terror alert system. They went on to explain that it will be on full red alert until the speedo threat has passed. :eek:

[Harry Miller]

Mike, please just bring your orange speedo.

Good looking deck Bruce.

[Bruce Taylor]

may come up this summer and lay out in my red Speedo.As long as it covers that boil. :eek:

[Paul Girouard]

Originally posted by Bruce Taylor:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr /> may come up this summer and lay out in my red Speedo.As long as it covers that boil. :eek: </font>[/QUOTE]Ain't MM all boil :D Sorry MM to easy smile.gif

Edited to add LOL smile.gif

[ 02-18-2006, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Paul Girouard ]

[Memphis Mike]

Eh, it popped, eh?