Building a fire pit

When asked which aspect of their deck project she enjoyed most, Saranie Harvey responds without hesitation: “It’s not the before-andafter photos,” she says, “but how my husband, father-in-law and sons worked so well together. It was wonderful to see.” And teamwork it was indeed... “Fortunately, the boys are all amateur rock climbers, so it was child’s play for them to put up roof sheeting using safety ropes or to do welding at that height!” says the proud mom, relating the story of how the deck alongside their house was erected – an area that has now become their favourite spot to hang out on lazy summer days and balmy evenings.

The family had a clear plan: develop the unused space at the back of the house by raising the floor with a deck built around a fire pit. An engineer friend from Letsitele, Kobus van Wyk, drew up the plans for the steel structure on which the deck rests and drove through on a weekend to help with the installation of the pillars for the roof. From then on the formidable father-andsons team tackled the rest. Although they made the most of every weekend, the project often had to be put on hold during the week because of work or school commitments. As a result, two casual workers were employed to help with the building and plastering of the fire pit.

The Harveys used Rhodesian teak for the deck, which they sealed with Timberlife Satinwood 28/28 Base to nourish the wood. “Teak is very hardy; back in the day, it was used for railway sleepers because it’s so durable. We got ours at a good price from African Dawn Timber. We keep it clean with soap and water, and once a year we apply two coats of the Timberlife sealant; it requires less maintenance than a varnished deck which first has to be sanded down,” says Saranie.

The project took them three-and-a-half months to complete but the Harvey men agree: it was an enriching experience... >>

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