DIY Network

Deck Extension: Evaluating the Situation Deck Extension: Evaluating the Situation From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-206

A deck is a great way to add an outdoor living and entertaining space to the home. But decks, like everything around the home, require maintenance to look their best year round. For Jamie and David Bass, their small, weathered deck has become an unsightly mess of splinters and mildew (figure A). The solution: enlist the Grounds for Improvement team, Jackie Taylor and Dean Hill, to expand and improve the deck while making it a safe place for the two young Bass children to play (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

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	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

The small size of the old deck space makes it impossible to entertain family or friends. And if the tiny space weren't enough of a problem, the wood is splintering and holes are beginning to appear on the deck floor. But the worst problem with the deck is safety for the children: because the railings are spaced too far apart, the youngest child could slip through an opening and nearly fall from the deck.

The good news is that the existing framing is structurally sound. The old rails and decking can be removed and replaced with new composite decking at the same time that the size of the structure is increased. The new space will be nearly twice the size of the old deck, so it will be large enough both to entertain guests and to offer a safe play area for the children, while at the same time providing ample room for decorative and culinary container gardens. Adding to the new look will be the existing trees around which the expanded space will be built; the trees will create shade and provide visual interest to the deck. And by doing the work themselves with the help of family and friends, Jamie and David will save approximately $2,000 -- the final cost of the renovation will be $5,450.

To save time, the old deck railing is removed in large sections. Next the rotted, splintering decking if removed from the foundation (figure C).

Note:When doing this type of work, it is important that you wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying wood chips or nails. While the old deck is being removed, Dean and Jamie measure for the expanded deck area and mark the new posthole locations with landscape paint (figure D).

David and his brother use a posthole auger to dig the holes (figure E). Designed to be used by two people, this type of gas-powered auger works much faster than a handheld posthole digger and has a kill switch on both sides in case it must be stopped quickly. After checking with the local agricultural service to determine the frost depth for their area, the brothers dig 24" holes.

RESOURCES :

Black and Decker tools
Website: www.blackanddecker.com
Black & Decker, Inc. (Corporate)
Website: www.bdk.com/main_bd.htm

Porter-Cable Tools
Porter-Cable Corporation
Website: www.deltaportercable.com

Irwin Industrial Tool Company
Website: www.irwin.com

Ames True Temper Tools
Ames-True Temper
Website: www.ames-truetemper.com

American Society of Landscape Architects

Delta Tools
Deltak Power Tools
Website: www.deltamachinery.com

Simpson Strong-Tie Connectors
Website: www.strongtie.com
Simpson Strong-Tie and Quik Drive
Website: www.quikdrive.com

TimberTech Decking
Website: www.timbertech.com

Sealants
OSI Sealants, Inc.
Website: www.osisealants.com

Plants provided by Hancock Horticultural Services
Hancock Horticultural Services Inc.
Phone: 865-933-3200

Quik Drive
Website: www.quikdrive.com
Simpson Strong-Tie and Quik Drive
Website: www.quikdrive.com

Huttig Building Products
Website: www.huttig.com