Next query for you guys who build decks?

I now have a sliding glass patio door to the outside. It's just mud right
now outside there and not much of a difference in level (3 inches maybe?).
Looking for something easy we can do ourselves. Is it possible to make a
low to the ground 'wood deck'? The ground has been completely termite
treated for sub-terranian termites but that would be a concern in our area
still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

We've also considered just using paving stones (even the ground out first of
course) but a deck low to the ground would look nicer in this setting.
About 2ft out and L shaped with one leg 13ft and the other 11ft.

cshenk wrote:

Next query for you guys who build decks?

I now have a sliding glass patio door to the outside. It's just mud
right now outside there and not much of a difference in level (3
inches maybe?). Looking for something easy we can do ourselves. Is
it possible to make a low to the ground 'wood deck'? The ground has
been completely termite treated for sub-terranian termites but that
would be a concern in our area still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

We've also considered just using paving stones (even the ground out
first of course) but a deck low to the ground would look nicer in
this setting. About 2ft out and L shaped with one leg 13ft and the
other 11ft.

You'll have to excavate a lot of dirt to build a deck. Remember, you
can't lay the boards on the ground.

I recommend a paver patio. There are lots of variations in pavers, and
lots of web sites to show you how to do it.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX

cshenk wrote:
Next query for you guys who build decks?

I now have a sliding glass patio door to the outside. It's just mud right
now outside there and not much of a difference in level (3 inches maybe?).
Looking for something easy we can do ourselves. Is it possible to make a
low to the ground 'wood deck'? The ground has been completely termite
treated for sub-terranian termites but that would be a concern in our area
still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

We've also considered just using paving stones (even the ground out first of
course) but a deck low to the ground would look nicer in this setting.
About 2ft out and L shaped with one leg 13ft and the other 11ft.



You might look at some of the synthetic wood material like Trex and the
like. Try to adjust your deck plan to use standard lumber sizes where
possible. 8,10,12,16,20' etc. You may need to special order sizes over
12 or 16'.
You want your deck to be lower than the level of the house floor, a
comfortable step down, so that you don't have leaves and such blowing
in and/or snow drift build up if you are in a colder climate.
Google deck plans, ground level deck etc.
Kevin

"Kevin Ricks" wrote
cshenk wrote:
Next query for you guys who build decks?

treated for sub-terranian termites but that would be a concern in our
area still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

You might look at some of the synthetic wood material like Trex and the
like. Try to adjust your deck plan to use standard lumber sizes where
possible. 8,10,12,16,20' etc. You may need to special order sizes over 12
or 16'.
You want your deck to be lower than the level of the house floor, a
comfortable step down, so that you don't have leaves and such blowing in
and/or snow drift build up if you are in a colder climate.
Google deck plans, ground level deck etc.

Kevin, thank you! Major hit there. I just found 2 contractors in my area
and have made initial queries. There are quite a few of them here. I
adjust easy as it can always be a bit longer (lots of room on each side).

Specs due in for a 2 ft wide 12 or 16 ft long run along the window portion,
and a 16 or 32 foot run (16 to be 4-6ft deep, rest 2ft deep). Might ask
them to make my container garden with that long stretch. Lets see how the
pricing goes.

Humm, 100$ worth of paving stones, or a true nice flush deck that wont have
termite potential and match what I really want ;-)

"SteveB" wrote
cshenk wrote:

Next query for you guys who build decks?

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

We've also considered just using paving stones (even the ground out
first of course) but a deck low to the ground would look nicer in
this setting. About 2ft out and L shaped with one leg 13ft and the
other 11ft.

You'll have to excavate a lot of dirt to build a deck. Remember, you
can't lay the boards on the ground.

The trex stuff looks like a winner here.

I recommend a paver patio. There are lots of variations in pavers, and
lots of web sites to show you how to do it.

Yup! If it's too much to pay for the Trex decking, we may go that route.

"cshenk" wrote in message
...
Next query for you guys who build decks?

I now have a sliding glass patio door to the outside. It's just mud right
now outside there and not much of a difference in level (3 inches maybe?).
Looking for something easy we can do ourselves. Is it possible to make a
low to the ground 'wood deck'? The ground has been completely termite
treated for sub-terranian termites but that would be a concern in our area
still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

We've also considered just using paving stones (even the ground out first
of course) but a deck low to the ground would look nicer in this setting.
About 2ft out and L shaped with one leg 13ft and the other 11ft.



**************************************************

A wood deck that low will be trouble in the long run. Not only termites,
but a nice place for rodents to make a home.

If you don't like concrete, check out stamped concrete and that may change
your mind. If not, go with pavers.

On Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:40:04 +0000 (UTC), "SteveB"
wrote:

cshenk wrote:

I now have a sliding glass patio door to the outside. It's just mud
right now outside there and not much of a difference in level (3
inches maybe?). Looking for something easy we can do ourselves. Is
it possible to make a low to the ground 'wood deck'? The ground has
been completely termite treated for sub-terranian termites but that
would be a concern in our area still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

We've also considered just using paving stones (even the ground out
first of course) but a deck low to the ground would look nicer in
this setting. About 2ft out and L shaped with one leg 13ft and the
other 11ft.

You'll have to excavate a lot of dirt to build a deck. Remember, you
can't lay the boards on the ground.

I recommend a paver patio. There are lots of variations in pavers, and
lots of web sites to show you how to do it.

Good suggestion from Steve. This may be your best alternative given
the small clearance you're working with.

You also could do what we did, build a traditional deck on Dek Blocks,
which you can buy from the big box stores. These are precast concrete
pier blocks that you place where you need support and lay your 2x6 or
whatever lumber you choose to use as joists into. Don't attach the
deck to the house. Our deck held up a hot tub for 5 years (we just
sold it to raise $$ for the driveway repaving project) and still looks
great (size 22ft by 26ft, appx.). A lot easier than digging the post
holes in the yard (ours is/was very very very rocky).

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:


"cshenk" wrote in message
...
Next query for you guys who build decks?

I now have a sliding glass patio door to the outside. It's just
mud right now outside there and not much of a difference in level
(3 inches maybe?). Looking for something easy we can do ourselves.
Is it possible to make a low to the ground 'wood deck'? The
ground has been completely termite treated for sub-terranian
termites but that would be a concern in our area still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

We've also considered just using paving stones (even the ground out
first of course) but a deck low to the ground would look nicer in
this setting. About 2ft out and L shaped with one leg 13ft and the
other 11ft.

A wood deck that low will be trouble in the long run. Not only
termites, but a nice place for rodents to make a home.

If you don't like concrete, check out stamped concrete and that may
change your mind. If not, go with pavers.

This reminds me of some stained concrete that I've seen in high-end
houses. They use a concrete saw to cut patterns, then spray on stain,
then cover it all with a sealer. The one I remember best was in a
multi-million dollar house, and it wound up looking like leather. Way
cool.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX

In article ,
"cshenk" wrote:

"Kevin Ricks" wrote
cshenk wrote:
Next query for you guys who build decks?

treated for sub-terranian termites but that would be a concern in our
area still.

What I do not want to do: pour a slab extension.

You might look at some of the synthetic wood material like Trex and the
like. Try to adjust your deck plan to use standard lumber sizes where
possible. 8,10,12,16,20' etc. You may need to special order sizes over 12
or 16'.
You want your deck to be lower than the level of the house floor, a
comfortable step down, so that you don't have leaves and such blowing in
and/or snow drift build up if you are in a colder climate.
Google deck plans, ground level deck etc.

Kevin, thank you! Major hit there. I just found 2 contractors in my area
and have made initial queries. There are quite a few of them here. I
adjust easy as it can always be a bit longer (lots of room on each side).

Specs due in for a 2 ft wide 12 or 16 ft long run along the window portion,
and a 16 or 32 foot run (16 to be 4-6ft deep, rest 2ft deep). Might ask
them to make my container garden with that long stretch. Lets see how the
pricing goes.

Humm, 100$ worth of paving stones, or a true nice flush deck that wont have
termite potential and match what I really want ;-)

I don't think you're going to be happy with any portion of it that's
only two feet wide. Even a 2' pathway is too narrow. Makes you feel like
you're walking a tightrope. And if it's next to the house, even worse.

I built a pretty large redwood deck at ground level, replacing a
concrete slab that I busted up. I excavated about six inches, dug holes
for pier blocks, and used some 4 x 4 stringers. I planned it to be level
with house floor. It came out great, but it was a hell of a lot of work.