hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
My father-in-law called me this afternoon asking me about his deck project. After awhile, we both finally figured out I had no clue what he was talking about. Apparently my wife forgot to mention it to me.
My f-i-l just turned 69 and my m-i-l is 64. To hear him tell it, they're hours away from their death beds. He's wanting to build a deck on the back of his house for a wheel chair ramp. They both get around just fine. I asked him how soon he needed it done and he said as soon as possible. He's had 3 estimates for sidewalk replacement and needs the deck done so they know where to go with the sidewalk. It's October 1st so I don't know if he's thinking they'll pour sidewalks in the snow or what.
Here's the problem with doing these types of projects for him. He's cheap. He's cheap. He's cheap. Oh, did I mention he's cheap? There's currently an 8x8 concrete porch off of his back door and he wants his finished deck height 4" higher and he wants to add 2' in 1 direction. His plan is to lay three 4x4's on top of the 8x8 porch and put deck boards on top of them. I don't know if 4" is to the bottom of the door or if there's any more room to play with. A 3 1/2" tall board with 5/4" decking is taller than 4".
I told him that I'd use composite decking over treated as it will last and stay nice a lot longer but he said that stuff's expensive. I'm not sure he's ever walked on treated decking with a nice dusting of snow.
IMO, to be done right, the porch needs torn out and put in six 4x4 posts with 2x10 joists and girders. Instead, it's going to look like a hillbilly built it. I told my wife my budget will probably be $20, a pack of gum, a shoe string and some duct tape.
My f-i-l just turned 69 and my m-i-l is 64. To hear him tell it, they're hours away from their death beds. He's wanting to build a deck on the back of his house for a wheel chair ramp. They both get around just fine. I asked him how soon he needed it done and he said as soon as possible. He's had 3 estimates for sidewalk replacement and needs the deck done so they know where to go with the sidewalk. It's October 1st so I don't know if he's thinking they'll pour sidewalks in the snow or what.
Here's the problem with doing these types of projects for him. He's cheap. He's cheap. He's cheap. Oh, did I mention he's cheap? There's currently an 8x8 concrete porch off of his back door and he wants his finished deck height 4" higher and he wants to add 2' in 1 direction. His plan is to lay three 4x4's on top of the 8x8 porch and put deck boards on top of them. I don't know if 4" is to the bottom of the door or if there's any more room to play with. A 3 1/2" tall board with 5/4" decking is taller than 4".
I told him that I'd use composite decking over treated as it will last and stay nice a lot longer but he said that stuff's expensive. I'm not sure he's ever walked on treated decking with a nice dusting of snow.
IMO, to be done right, the porch needs torn out and put in six 4x4 posts with 2x10 joists and girders. Instead, it's going to look like a hillbilly built it. I told my wife my budget will probably be $20, a pack of gum, a shoe string and some duct tape.
