Making the case for DIY decks
Getting more home quality for less money is what the do-ityourself lifestyle is all about, and it applies to decks more than most other home improvement projects.
Does building your own deck seem too big and complicated to tackle? It’s definitely not for everyone, but before you give up on the idea, let me explain the three reasons why building your own makes more sense than ever.
Saving money is the first reason to consider building your own deck. Roughly half the cost of a pro-built deck is labour, so you can save thousands of dollars working evenings and weekends, even if you do progress slower than a professional and even if you do have to buy tools. That said, you also need to be realistic.
Building your own deck is the kind of project that’s easier to start than it is to finish. Understand that you’ll need to develop some skills you probably don’t have yet. You’ll also need to say “no” to some of the summer fun things you’d normally do until you get that deck done. Then again, you might just discover a whole new definition of “summer fun.”
The second reason a DIY deck makes sense is because it’s easier than ever to build efficiently and well. There’s great deck hardware and material innovations out there, and better tools offer bigger gains, too. Great tools are also cheaper than ever these days. With an impact driver for setting deck screws, a chopsaw for cutting lumber quickly and well, and a laser level to keep everything on an even keel, we’re way ahead of the era not so long ago when people struggled without these things.
The third reason I like DIY deck construction is probably the most important. It comes down to quality. Since you’re saving lots of money by doing the work yourself, you can plow some of this gain back into a deck design that lasts longer than usual. There are some skilled professional deck builders out there, but competition in the deck business is steep. This leaves little room for the finer details that can empower a deck to resist rot longer than usual.
How much longer life can you expect? All else being equal, deck features designed to resist rot can double deck life compared with standard construction.
So what are these rot-resistant features? They all boil down to allowing water to dry so it doesn’t promote rot in the deck structure. The first is double floor joists wherever deck boards meet end to end. This lets you build a small gap between the ends of deck boards so water dries quickly. Even rot-resistant wood is prone to rot on board ends, where internal passages can draw water up into the boards. Deck boards always rot before their time if they meet end to end.
Another life-promoting design feature involves using spacers between planks that make up support beams. The usual practice is to nail boards together tightly to form beams, but this traps water and promotes rot. Spacers allow water to drain and dry quickly.
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to improve quality is to ensure a waterproof connection if the deck is fastened to your house. This takes time and attention to detail, and since no one cares more about your house than you do, you’ve got the vested interest to make quality happen.
This summer might just be easier than ever for you to save money building and finishing a great deck. Visit me at Bailey Line Road. com/deck-giveaway for a chance to win hundreds of dollars worth of deck tools and finishing products, while also helping your local tool library, too.