On Sun 31 Aug 2008 08:24:34a, Pat told us...

On Aug 30, 7:42 pm, Wayne Boatwright
wrote:
On Sat 30 Aug 2008 02:49:09p, Pat told us...



On Aug 29, 7:32 pm, Wayne Boatwright
wrote:
Our relatively new yard is in transition and we currently have no
patio
or deck. I would like to assemble something semi-permanent that
would
be easy to do, as well as easy to disassemble when we upgrade to an
outdoor "room".

My idea was to use 2"x6"x12' pressure treated lumber laid flat at
intervals directly on the ground and anchor them to the soil with
either rebar or stakes to prevent movement. These boards would be
leveled and with a slight pitch for any water runoff. Then construct
the platform floor across these boards also using 2"x6"x12'
pressure-treated boards, attaching them with either galvanized or
stainless steel screws.

We live in the desert, so there's no concern about ground movement
due
to winter heaving or damage from excessive moisture.

This would give us a 12' x 12' platform roughly 4" above the ground,
where we would place our grill and umbrella table and chairs.

Does this sound feasible?

TIA

--
Wayne Boatwright

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Date: Friday, 08(VIII)/29(XXIX)/08(MMVIII)
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Countdown till Labor Day
2dys 7hrs 39mins
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Progress at best consists of replacing
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It's just 4", so why not just go "acquire" some discared pallets. Lay
then down to cover the ground. Cover them with exterior plywood or
any other surface you like. Paint or use indoor/outdoor carpet. Very
cheap except for the plywood.

It's temporary and dry, so it's work for a couple of years. If you
look around, you might be able the scrounge up a free surface, too,
instead of buying plywood. Get the right pallets and you might not
even need a surface over them. Plus, it's way cool as "green" because
it's "reuse".

That sounds like an excellent idea, Pat. Thanks!

--
Wayne Boatwright

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Date: Saturday, 08(VIII)/30(XXX)/08(MMVIII)
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Countdown till Labor Day
1dys 7hrs 18mins
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Tactics: breathmints for dyslexics
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Two other thoughts:

First off, go buy one of the really nice gazebos you see people
selling. It'll cost a few bucks, but what the heck. Then, when (if)
you get around to building the new roof, you can resell it. That'll
make it relatively inexpensive, in the long run.

Plus, as a nice gazebo, with romantic lighting, a sound system, and
maybe a (relocatable spa !!!), you'll be the thoughtful husband and
maybe you'll need that privacy screen. Okay, stop fantasizing, but
it'll at least keep you out of the dog house for a week or two.

The other option to is build a 12 x 12, square, plain sort-of-gazebo
with a regular gable-end roof that your family hates. That'll
encourage them to get going on the real project. Then you push this
structure over to the corner of your land, enclose the sizes, and you
have workshop when you can go and get away from the family.


Pat, these are great ideas! Unfortunately, none are practical for me
financially at this point. Also, there are just the two us of, both in our
60's, so I need to minimize the effort we have to expend. I do plan to use
your earlier suggesting of the 4x4's for the base and secure the floor
surface to those.

I love the idea of the gazebo, but with the high winds we get here, it
would have to be built very substantially and very securely anchored. When
we lived in OH, we had a beautiful redwood gazebo large enough to more than
amply house our Jacuzzi. It could also be completely shuttered for
privacy. We really enjoyed that. Perhaps we'll do a spa again someday,
but right now the bucks just aren't there and there are other priorities.

Thanks for your thoughfulness.

--
Wayne Boatwright

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Date: Sunday, 08(VIII)/31(XXXI)/08(MMVIII)
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Countdown till Labor Day
15hrs 27mins
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Adding manpower to a late software
project only makes it later.
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