DIY Network

Framing the Deck Framing the Deck From "Weekend Landscaping" episode WKL-405

The call of the open road can be strong at times -- but at other times, you just want to stay home. The homeowners in today's episode of Weekend Landscaping are the proud owners of a classic Airstream trailer (figure A), which spends part of the year parked on their property. Jessie Mack Burns is going to give the area a dose of TLC and turn it into a private RV campsite.

Figure A

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Skill level: 3

Time needed: 15 hours

Region: Pacific Northwest

Hard supplies and tools
Trailer
Composite wood deck material:
12x2x6 boards to make 144 sq. ft. deck
18"x18" square pavers for BBQ grill
18" circular pavers for walkway
Two-man auger or posthole diggers
Standard gardening tools
Bark mulch
Accessories: license plates, barbecue grill, cooler, outdoor furniture

Plant material
Bright 'N Tight? Carolina laurel (Prunus caroliniana 'Monus')
Coral bells (Heuchera 'Firefly')
Dwarf globe blue spruce (Picea pungens 'Globosa')
Blue Wave lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blue Wave')
Timeless Beauty® evergreen magnolia (Magnolia x 'Monland')
Diablo® ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Monlo')
Boursault rhododendron (Rhododendron catawbiense 'Boursault')
Knock Out® shrub rose (Rosa x 'Radrazz')

First, Jessie downloads a digital picture of the backyard and plans her remodel: she will add an 8x8 deck and a couple of steps; create a path of stone pavers; and turn the area into a mini-park by adding plantings to soften, rather than hide, the trailer. A couple of accents -- decorative as well as useful -- will complete the weekend landscaping project.

Figure B

Expert tip: (James Folsom, Ph. D., botanist) Across North America, you see travel trailers and motor homes just parked out in middle of the yard, by the house, having no role whatsoever. But to take it and turn it into a patio setting is a neat idea.

The owners were so intrigued when they heard Jessie's idea, they had a utility hookup installed (figure B), which makes the trailer fully functional. Keep in mind that ordinances regarding RV parking vary across the country -- be sure to check all the rules and regulations where you live.

Deck

1. First the gravel area where the deck will be built is smoothed and leveled.

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

2. Jessie is using a wood composite material, which is very durable. She cuts all the pieces to length (in this case, 6' and 12' lengths of 2x6 boards) and begins constructing the frame. There will be an extra board in the center (figure C) for additional support in the middle of the deck.

Expert tip: (John Kerr, the Trex Company) A lot of people might wonder why you would want to use this product instead of lumber. The primary reason is because you don't have the annual maintenance of painting, staining and sealing, which wood requires in order to protect it. The product won't split, splinter, crack or rot; it's impervious to bug infestation like termites. And it will last well over 50 years.

3. Starting with the four outside boards, begin laying out the deck, making sure that the frame is square.

4. Add the interior boards.

5. After the layout is complete, use a pneumatic nailer to secure the boards. Check to be sure the frame is perfectly square (figure D).

Jessie's assistants have built a set of steps out of the same composite material, and they set them in place underneath the trailer door (figure E).

Time spent: 5 hours.

RESOURCES :

Ace Hardware Supplies
To locate the nearest Ace Hardware to your home, click here.
Ace Hardware
2200 Kensington Ct.
Oak Brook, IL 60523-2100
Toll-free: 866-290-5334
Website: www.acehardware.com

Plants from Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Monrovia Horticultural Craftsmen
Website: www.monrovia.com

DeWalt power tools
DeWalt
Website: www.dewalt.com/us/core/

Soil amendments by Kellogg Garden Products
Kellogg Garden Products
Website: www.kellogggarden.com

Landscaping Services by D&J Landscaping
D & J Landscaping
E-mail: DJLandscaping@sbcglobal.net

Wood composite deck
The Trex Company
Website: www.trex.com

Stainless-steel grill
Barbeques Galore
Website: www.bbqgalore.com

Equipment rentals
United Rentals
Website: www.ur.com

GUESTS :
James Folsom
Botanical Curator
The Huntington Library, Art Coll./Botanical Grdns.
Email: jpfolsom@huntington.org
Website: www.huntington.org

John Kerr
Sales representative
E-mail: jkerr@trex.com
The Trex Company
160 Exeter Drive
Winchester, VA 22603