Instant deck.
Well, almost instant. It took Evan and I about 8 hours to build the flat deck in my garden plan yesterday. Neither one of us have ever done this kind of thing before, so we’re feeling pretty pleased with ourselves right now!
We have îpe tastes but a tiny budget, so we had to go with standard PT lumber (sorry, planet). Next weekend I’ll stain it charcoal and it will look great.
We used the Dek-Block pier system, and it was really simple. The site lets you enter the size of your deck, and spits out a supply list and instruction sheets. Pretty amazing. The hardest part was getting everything level since our garden slopes from side to side, but even that wasn’t so bad once we had a system going. The total cost was just around $300 for an 8×8 deck, including the screws and the stain.
Actually, now that I think about it, the hardest part is TODAY—my arms feel like they’re going to detach themselves from my body. I had a difficult time getting out of bed this morning. Strong and in shape I am decidedly NOT.
Today I’m going to be planting a bunch of Pachysandra graciously donated by a friend working on her own garden makeover. Next week, we’re hoping to start setting up the dog run!
It looks great! Your productivity always amazes me. You say you want to do something, then you come up with a plan, then you do it without much delay. Seems so simple but most people just can’t seem to do that! I can’t wait it to see it stained, I bet it’s going to be fantastic!
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we just built a dual-level deck with the same blocks! they were so easy to use (except, like you, our yard slopes a lot and the leveling took quite a while). we used PT lumber too, and i’ve been back and forth about whether to stain it black or seal it its natural color. but we read that you should let it dry out for a month or so before doing anything – do you know if this is necessary??
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Hi!
Looks so great, and your post settles an argument between myself and my boyfriend Mark re: how to anchor our deck. :) He won: you used his suggested way of building the deck.
My question is: does this kind of work require a permit?
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I think you should both be very proud of yourselves,The hard work (and aching arms) will be SO worth it when you can sit out on the deck with a cocktail! (or whatever beverage of your choosing!!!) GREAT job!
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how you both keep going, weekend after weekend, i’ll never know.
nice work! and thanks for the link to the deck system.
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The hubs and I were planning on building a similar deck in our backyard. I will have to check out that site cause 8×8 and $300 is pretty much in our plans/budget. Great job!
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Oh god, that’s going to look so fabulous! I’m jealous, since we won’t be able to do any major work in the yard until we get our basement anchors done this summer. I can’t wait to see the deck in charcoal!
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Blimey, you don’t mess around, do you? Looks fantastic. Can’t wait to see the rest. Well done.
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This is amazing! Instead of diving into projects like you do, we tend to discuss projects for years and then we change our minds and feel relieved we no longer have to do it. You must have a backyard-warming party.
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It looks so good!
Can’t wait to see more.
Just curious… does Evan have the same kind of “do-it” drive that you do? Does he initiate a lot of these projects that you two do, or does he just help you carry out the plans?
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Very nice job you two!!!
Ain’t hot weather, a weekend and a goal an AMAZING thing?
(I just came in for a yard work break and thought I’d see what you and Evan were up to.)
Treat yourselves to a tall half-and-half on me!
D.
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Wow! Looks great and I can’t wait to see it stained! Fantastic job and good luck with your arms… Take an Advil and take a break- you deserve it!
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What everyone else said. Your productivity is astonishing!
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Nice Deck! Reminds me of an episode of “This Old House”.
Thought I would share a basic, vital tip. When placing the planks – make certain all the 1/2 moons; the C (the grain direction) are facing the earth. Less water absorbtion, less warp…
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it looks great! we actually just finished getting our little plot of dirt looking nice, its such a good feeling. can’t wait to see the final result of yours. :D
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Wow, looks great & a good price. I dread to think what that would cost in the UK!
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whoot! keep it up, looks great!
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It makes my day when you have a new post. We were in a garden center in Cambridge yesterday and it was sweltering–88 degrees. Today in N.Y. city it’s 88 and we are staying cool in the hotel. I don’t know how you do it. I hope you will write a book. I will still want to own it even though I follow you on line.
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Congrats, you did a beautiful job! And that is definitely a reasonably priced solution, so rare it’s great to see it done so well!
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wow anna – this looks amazing! and a super easy system too. i haven’t ever seen that before. not sure if we have it in australia.
also we had some pretty wild weather over the weekend and two massive trees fell down at my house. so i had to cut them up and move them all on my lonesome. so i feel your pain girl… literally!
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Anna – I am so impressed and inspired that you literally created your garden plan a few days ago, and now you have an instant deck. Wow. You are proving that you just have to get the plans together and then go do it, already!I think the charcoal color will look fantastic..can’t wait to see it! Thanks for sharing.
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wow amazing job! im much impressed! love your blog
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attygreen13: Whether or not you have to wait before staining/sealing depends on the product you use. I’m using Cabot Semi-Solid Decking Stain, which can go on right away. Read the labels! :)
Ottawa Emptor: You need to check your local building codes — whether a permit is required depends on where you live. Generally speaking, though, a permit is usually not required for structure that isn’t attached to the house and is under 200 SF. Definitely check your local codes, though!
Lonnie: We definitely try to encourage each other, and it it depends on the day when it comes to who has more get-up-and-go (sometimes neither of us!). I will say, though, that neither Evan or I are much in love with the work itself, we just want to see projects get DONE!
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Looks really good – great job :)
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you are such an inspiration! our two dogs never had the experience of playing in our backyard and we’ve been feeling pretty guilty for it. we’ve actually been talking about maybe borrowing some books from the library and just try to learn as we go so. seeing your backyard is the jumpstart that we needed. thanks!
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It looks fabulous, and doesn’t it feel satisfying working in the garden for a day. I bet you slept soooo soundly.
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your deck looks great! can’t wait to see the stain. i’m in the process of landscaping my front AND backyard and this helps to give me the kick that i need to get going with it already!
xo
kelly
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So fun to watch the whole thing come together! What I love about your blog.
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Wow – that looks great! And sounds pretty easy (of course, a lot of hard work went into it but you guys make it look easy)! You are inspiring me! Can’t wait to see the work in progress. I like your plant choices as well, I always have such a hard time figuring out what will work…have fun!
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Love this! We are just deciding if we should put in a wood deck or do concrete – there is already a concrete patio, we’d just be raising it up. We had a wood deck in our old house and it was a pain to maintain, so concrete is looking better. This deck system looks pretty easy though – can’t wait to see the stain!
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I do need to ask if you contemplated and fretted which board went where in terms of knots and grain even though in the end it doesn’t matter in any way, shape or form to anything or anybody.
(I know you realize I am asking just to see how we compare on the obsessive-o-meter…
Every so often I need to feel normal!!! )
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wow. anna, could you possibly “wow” button on the posts from now on. i keep saying it everytime i visit.
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And once again, I am totally amazed at how much you get done and how well you do it! It looks great already – can’t wait to see the charcoal stain!
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DiP: The wood we used is so ugly that it really didn’t matter too much which way we placed it. The funny thing is that we needed exactly 27 boards to build the deck, and Lowes (where we had a 10% off coupon) had 29 in stock — and 2 of them were badly damaged! Believe me, we would have been doing a lot of picking and choosing if they’d had extras. :) We super-knotty pieces underneath the deck for the supports. The boards are all stamped on one side, so that side went down. All that was left to decide on was which end looked better — and the worse end went toward the fence. Not a lot of room for obsessiveness with this project. ;)
And yeah, as soon as it’s stained, nobody will notice anyway!!
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I’m impressed that you got started on your garden plan so quickly. I feel like I’m going at a snail’s pace in my back yard. It’s like I spend so much time out there, and it’s not going anywhere. But then I’ve spent hours (really, hours) pulling those baby maple seedling from the front and sides. Currently I’m on the one hole-a-day plan for the fence. I promised myself I’d dig one hole a day (minimum). With all the rocks in our area that is sadly a reasonable goal.
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I’ve never seen that pier system – looks like it works great and can be pretty easy DIY. I’ve got an area in the backyard that could really benefit from a small raised deck. We were going to just use cement squares and gravel but this might work a lot better.
Damn you Anna. I now NEED to spend more money and more time because of your awesome project and better solution.
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I just found out my son has a bee allergy and have all this beautiful red Monarda (beebalm) I need to remove from my garden. Let me know if you want any.
Rose (in Cornwall)
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i’ll be over for a picnic in your garden if this weather continues!.
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Fantastic!! You guys continually amaze me!
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I just KNOW you mentioned something in a comment about trying to find a (nice!) fire pit for under $200… But I can’t find which post it was under, so I’m mentioning here.
I’ve been doing some fire-pit window shopping myself, and found a few that we’d be content with for under 200 bucks. Check around, prices vary at different online stores, and some even offer free shipping. Check out my latest post with the rundown.
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wow- that’s amazing! I am working on a townhouse with a similar floating deck in the backyard (though at the back of the garden) in manhattan and I am totally suggesting this to the contractor and my boss. We had wanted to do stone initially but can’t compact the earth with stone if we want to save the huge old tree in the back (which we do).
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So you’re telling me it only takes a 10% coupon for you to split with we the obsessive mental cases???
Gosh, I wish I had your kind of willpower!!!
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88 degrees is hot? Here in South Texas that is a cool front!
To the person who asked about a black deck, that will be extremely hot in the sunlight. I’ve heard about a kid getting burned on a garage door painted a dark color. Just something to consider.
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The deck looks fabulous now. I am sure with paint it will look even better. It’s nice to see such wonderful results on a budget.
I notice you planted black lace elderberries. I live in NY too and was wondering how big yours got? I’d love to plant one but I heard they can get pretty large and I am afraid it will dwarf my other shrubs.
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Looks amazing. I would love to do the same some day.
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Anna, I am TRULY loving your blog!! I too bought an old house (Baltimore) and am trying to make it my own. Question for you about the deck…I have an old (probably original) cement patio that I want to replace with a deck. Do you think this system would work ON TOP of it? Or would I need to demo the cement? (YIKES).
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Kimberly: You can do it right on top of the cement. The only difference is that you’d have to do the leveling using 4×4 posts on top of the blocks (as opposed to leveling the ground underneath the blocks). Does that make sense? I’m sure if you take a look at the Dek-Block site you’ll understand.
Good luck! :)
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Can’t wait to see more. I’ve been putting off doing our yard but seeing your plans is getting me motivated again.
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can you buy blocks in australia
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Anna did you ever stain the deck or install the gravel and pavers? Would love to see some photos! What did you edge the gravel with?
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@theresa: Um. Unfortunately, the garden still looks pretty much the same as in the pictures up there. Only with more weeds. :\
Here’s a post showing how we made the path:
http://www.doorsixteen.com/2008/06/02/garden-progress/
Hmm. I guess we’re on the one-project-a-year schedule when it comes to the garden!!
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Completely understandable – I say our garden is on the 10-yr plan, although I wish it was 1-yr. Did you just use the exterior cabot solid stain in black for the gravel edge? How has the stain held up over the year? We are planning on edging our gravel area and lawn in 4×4 timbers, and after seeing yours, am thinking about staining it. Our gravel area though is going to be 12′x37, so perhaps I’ll just do it the lazy way without stain. Thanks so much!
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@theresa: Yup, I used the Cabot stain. It’s great stuff!! I’ve painted many things with it, and they’ve all been outdoors through two years of intense summers and winters with nary a flake. The stain is REALLY easy to use — goes on very fast and dries quickly. No mess. I didn’t even sand or anything, I just brushed it on quickly. I think I did two coats.
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