DECKS DONE CHEAPER
DIY delivers big savings
The colder the country you live in, the more important backyard decks seem to become. This is my explanation for the enduring and widespread popularity of decks in Canada. With only four or five months of decent decksitting weather even in the most clement parts of the country, we’ve got to make the most of the chance to relax outdoors, take some air, and look at the sky. The trick is making the whole deck thing happen at a reasonable cost. This is where an interesting financial fact comes in.
Slowly but surely over the years, the cost of power tools has declined while the cost of labour has increased. It’s gotten to the point where you can buy all the tools you need to build a deck while still saving thousands by doing the work yourself — even if you never used the tools again. Here’s some math:
It’s easy to spend $10,000 on a basic 400 square foot deck. Decks regularly get more expensive than this, too. About half of this figure is labour and that’s where you can save, both on construction and finishing. $1,500 will buy the basic deck building tools you need, leaving you with a savings of $3,000 or $4,000 in labour. Plus you get to use the tools again for years.
Never built a deck before? This kind of project may be physically large, but it’s not as complicated as it looks. There’s nothing especially challenging about building a basic foundation, floor and railing, and the world these days is full of resources to help you learn.
So, what kind of deck building tools make sense for a beginner? A sliding compound mitre saw is a great start. It’s the ideal tool for accurately crosscutting all the solid wood decking lumber you’ll need to build with. My current favourite for portable use is the DEWALT 20V XR cordless model. It’s the smallest and lightest saw of its kind I’ve used ( just over 30 pounds). It’s easy to sling around, yet it can still crosscut 8 inches at 90 degrees.
If you can afford only one tool for drilling, make it what they call a cordless “drill driver.” This power tool is useful for boring holes (which you’ll need to do building any deck), while also being pretty good at driving screws. If you can afford an impact driver in addition to the drill you’ll enjoy better screw driving speed, without the need to switch a single drill back and forth from drilling mode to driving screws.
The single most common deck question I get from readers is not about construction, but rather about deck finishes gone bad. It’s very common. “What did I do wrong?” is the usual question I get. “How can I do better?” is the next. The fact is, there are a lot of deck stains that simply don’t work well no matter how you apply them. That’s why I test and recommend deck finishes that I know deliver good life. One of the newest I’ve added to my list of approved products is Superdeck. Visit baileylineroad.com/ how-to-stain-deck-properly for detailed deck prep info and recommendations on a handful of different deck finishes that I know work.
This summer marks the third year for my Great Summer Deck Giveaway Contest.
Three winners will get deck building power tools and a deck stain prize package that’ll make building your own deck even more economical. Enter for free at baileylineroad.com/deckgiveaway-2017 and get multiple chances to win professional grade deck building tools and deck stain.
Not everyone has what it takes to build their own deck, but it’s easier than ever to succeed. Today’s great tools, finishes and great information let you create better home improvements than you ever could before. Steve Maxwell has been helping Canadians get the most value out of their home improvement budgets since 1988. Sign up for his free Saturday morning newsletter at BaileyLineRoad.com