Mosquitoes Under A Deck
Dealing with mosquitoes around or under your deck costs between $350 and $1,500, depending on the treatment scale and frequency. Contact professional mosquito control services who use spray treatments to get rid of the mosquitoes. They may need to make multiple visits and spray several times, which can increase costs.
You Could Be Allowing Uninvited Guests To Move In With You
The closed bottom of most low-level decks creates the perfect environment for rodents and insects. If your deck is attached to your house, that also gives these critters the opportunity to sneak in through cracks in the wall or doorframe.
Termites are another significant risk, especially if you have a wooden deck. If you cant easily see underneath your ground-level deck, these pests could be doing a lot of damage without you even knowing.
Is a patio a better choice for you? Here are some things to consider.
Considerations For Your New Deck
Before you decide to fully replace your deck, take the time to think about what your home and lifestyle require in the structure. Here are some items to consider before replacing your deck to help make it last a lifetime:
Materials Whether you want the unmatched beauty of true wood or the low maintenance of a composite material, you need to consider which deck material will fit your lifestyle and taste.Contractor Find a licensed contractor who specializes in exterior projects such as decks and porches. They can help create a design plan and point you to the right colors and materials for your project.Budget Keep in mind what you can and are willing to spend on your new deck. This will help determine the projects size and materials.Maintenance Ask your contractor what maintenance will be required to extend the life of your deck. Remember that the better you upkeep your deck, the longer it will last.
Dont let yourself get stuck worrying about the safety of your deck. If you notice signs of damage or have questions, our team of licensed builders is ready to help give you peace of mind and resolve your issues. We can assess the state of your current deck to help determine your need for a rebuild or repair job. Contact us today to receive an estimate on your deck needs.
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Tips For Working With Sleepers
Screwing down sleepers with concrete screws is simple, but there are some things to keep in mind:
- Screws should penetrate the concrete by at least 1 in., so 3-1/4-in. screws are perfect. In low spots, where we had to stack up shims, we switched to 3-3/4- in. screws.
- As you drill, dust compresses around the drill bit. That slows you down, strains your drill and overheats the bit. To clear the dust, pull the bit completely out of the hole once or twice while drilling each hole.
- Drill the holes 1/4 to 1/2 in. deeper than the screw will reach. Extra-depth provides a space for dust and grit, so screws are easier to drive.
- Have extra drill bits on hand. As a bit wears, it doesn’t just drill more slowly; it also bores a slightly smaller hole and screws become harder to drive. We replaced each bit after about 40 holes. When all the sleepers are screwed down, take a few minutes to double-check for flatness. Set a 4-ft. straightedge on each sleeper, both across it and along it. If you find spots that are 1/16 in. or more out-of-plane, back out the screw and add or remove shims.
Enhance Decks With Lighting
Landscape lighting may seem like a complicated DIY project, but low-voltage lighting systems are actually a job any beginner can tackle.; Low-voltage systems are much less dangerous than standard household wiring because the system relies on a transformer, which is plugged into a standard GFCI receptacle, to convert power from 120 volts down to 12 volts. The current travels through outdoor cables to supply power to the fixtures. And if you make your deck the focus, the extra visibility will even add a certain level of safety.
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Before A Badly Damaged Concrete Deck Slab
Family Handyman
This was the ultimate bad patio: severely cracked and cratered, some areas raised by frost, others sunken after 50 years of settling. Originally, it was tiled, then the tile was chiseled off and the pockmarked surface got a coat of paint. Luckily, weve got some great outdoor flooring ideas over concrete, starting with building a deck!
A slab with this much damage cant be fixed. But it can be covered upand this article will show you how. The results look just like a deck, but getting them is much easier and less expensive than building a deck from scratch. In most cases, this project is also less expensive than a new patio installed by a contractor. Local contractors estimated costs of $7 to $10 per sq. ft. to remove this patio and pour a new slab. You could probably replace your patio yourself for less than the cost of this project, but DIY demolition and concrete pours are big, backbreaking jobs.
A Fresh Start: Reasons To Rebuild
Total freedom
Once you break up and haul away the old, your options for the new are pretty much unlimited. Youre not stuck with the old footprint, and its much easier to make changes. Wider? Longer? Smaller? An interesting new angle? A curve? No problem. If you inherited a deck that never felt just right, this is your opportunity to create a custom outdoor space designed with your family in mind.
Better from the bottom up
Many people who decide to rebuild do so because the bones of the deck have become unsound. Organic materials like wood are prone to damage from mold, rotting, termites, carpenter ants, and more. There are a lot of reasons why a wooden deck degrades over time. Neglect is a big one: maintenance is time consuming, ongoing, and just one of those chores thats easy to push to the bottom of the list. Climate and weather play a big part, too. In some areas of the country, the lifespan of a wooden deck is limited, no matter what you do. By starting over, you can get it right from the beginning. Upgrading to a high-quality deck substructure will help your new deck last a lifetime.
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Specific Examples At Various Door Heights
Preface: Many factors, such as access, lawn slope, material selection, etc., can totally change the cost of your project. The patio and deck cost ranges you see below assume an installation with no obstructions and with the simplest, most cost-effective materials. These prices are realistic for what they are, but specific situations/material selections will certainly generate their own, totally different budget levels. With that in mind, read on:
Function: When a door is installed at ground level, a patio is your best solution.
Design: Its best to keep the flow of traffic out the door on the same level. Adding a deck would either require a step-up to the decking boards, or excavation to allow the boards to be buried below which can lead to drainage problems and tight spaces for pests to call home.
Cost: A patio installation will cost about 40% less than a deck installation for a ground-level area like this. For a 300 s.f. space, a deck would start at around $9,000, while a patio would start at around $4,500.
Our Call: The patio is the better option.
Function:;Either a deck or a patio can be used.
Design:;Design options include a raised deck, a ground level patio with a stoop, or a raised patio. All of these are nice options, and often times which are selected will depend on design taste, material preferences, and budget.
Our Call: The patio, whether with a stoop or raised fully with steps on the outside, is the better option.
Stiffen Wobbly Deck Railings
- First, tighten any loose bolts and screws. If the post doesnt have bolts, add themcarriage bolts work best.
- Cut pressure-treated 2-by blocking to fit tightly between the rim joist and the next joist.
- Place the blocking directly behind the post and toe-screw it into both the rim joist and the neighboring joist.
- Fasten additional blocking every 4-ft. along the rim joist.
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Be Sure The Ledger Is Safe And Sound
If this weight-bearing board that connects the deck to your house isn’t installed properly, your deck could collapse. It must be bolted, not nailed, to the house’s structure, and fully flashed to keep the wood from rotting. Check out How to Build a Simple Deck to see Tom Silva demonstrate how to install and protect the ledger.
Is It Better To Replace A Deck Or Repair It
It almost goes without saying that maintenance is essential in order to keep outdoor equipment in good working order. That also goes for infrastructure. Just as your lawnmower requires oil so do fixtures like . It is a fact of life that environmental factors can place huge stresses on outdoor fixtures such as decks, especially if they are built with natural materials such as wood.
Without that all-important maintenance, a wooden deck will suffer from exposure to the elements. Harsh sun and temperature fluctuations can be especially damaging to wooden decks. However, when viewing the damage most homeowners will be torn between having the deck repaired or replaced what is the best option?
The first step is to ensure that you pay attention to the deck and its state of repair. An in-depth look at the state of the deck is absolutely essential in order to make a value judgment as to whether it might be a candidate for repair or replacement.
There are several things that need to be taken into account.
The first of these is to take a good long look at the surface of the deck including things like handrails. Moisture can wreak havoc with decks that are not sealed or have not had the sealing maintained. There is also the effect of UV rays which can play their part in degrading the natural fibers of the wood. Once that seal is degraded moisture can enter the deck and cause swelling which will inevitably lead to further damage.
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Flatten The Nail Tip Or Pre
Flatten the tip of the nail before driving it at the end of a board. The flattened tip punches a plug of wood from the board and reduces splitting. If youre using deck screws, predrill the holes at the end of the boards.
Always cut out pieces that span at least two joist spaces. This keeps the new boards from splitting as they age. For best appearance, stagger the splices from one row to the next by at least one joist space. You may need to cut beyond the rot and remove intact wood to make the splices work.
Position the new boards so the growth rings cup down. The grain wont split open and collect water as readily. For a really clean cut, identify the top side of the board, flip it over, and make the cut. The bottom of the board gets a cleaner cut because circular saw teeth cut from the bottom up. When you cut a board, dont leave a knot at the end. To get a tight joint between old and new boards, angle the jigsaw slightly when cutting out the bad board so the bevel on the remaining deck board is longer at the top.
Can You Replace Your Wooden Boards
To answer this question, you need to take a look at your decks substructure. As long as you had your deck built by a licensed professional, your current substructure should be able to accommodate new composite boards. However, there are a few things that you need to look for to make sure. Your posts should be at least 4x4s to ensure structural fortitude.
You should also take a look at your decks joists to ensure that theyre at a right angle and spaced at 16 inches from their centerlines. Because composite boards tend to be heavier than their wooden counterparts, you should also make sure that the existing fasteners are tight and that they havent degraded.
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The Wood Support Posts And Beams Begin To Rot
Wood rot is never a good sign, no matter what part of the house it affects. If its left unchecked, rot can cause enough damage to impact the structural integrity of your home.
Current building code regulations stipulate that contractors must build decks on concrete footings, but if your deck is older, its support posts may rest directly on the ground. Soil is rarely completely dry, and raw woodincluding some pressure-treated varietieswill absorb any moisture in the ground. Moisture rots wood over time, so take a close look at your decks posts every few months.
Specialist From Kenosha Wi
Hey ! I’d say costs are going to be you biggest determining factor on this one. Right now in our area of Wisconsin we are finding it’s about $15 sq/ft for material and labor to build a deck.;About $7 sq/ft to pour concrete. Add about another $2 sq/ft for any demo work for existing deck. Now, since you are able to do the work yourself you can almost cut those numbers in half since you will just be paying for material, unless you pay yourself for labor on your own properties.;
I don’t know exactly what part of Wisconsin you are in but if it’s a more woodsy area I’d say a deck would be the way to go and would mostly likely get more value for you in the long run.;If more of a suburban area I’d say concrete slab. Hope this helped. :);
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Signs You Need Deck Repair
When it comes to maintaining the appearance of your deck, may first come to mind. Beautiful patios are an ideal to aspire toward, but they may hide some disturbing facts that affect safety. This is why its so important to inspect your deck regularly. Common deck repairs include replacing loose rails or broken floorboards, removing rusted nails, and retightening screws.
Need help deciding if you should call a ? Check out this helpful list of ten signs that repairing a deck should be on your to-do list this year.
Use Engineered Lumber Outside
Engineered lumber has been used inside buildings for years because its stronger and straighter than regular lumber. Now there are versions for outdoor use. It may not be cost-effective to frame an entire deck with engineered lumber, but installing an engineered-lumber drop beam is a great way to reduce the number of posts and footings needed to support a deck.
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Common Deck Board Issues
Deck boards will sometimes have problems that you need to address before the whole deck is compromised and in need of more expensive repairs. In the worst case scenario, you might need to have most of the . Some common issues you will see include:
- Instability: If the boards are unstable, one or more might need to be replaced. Replacing a few will generally cost between $500 and $4,000. Some companies charge a minimum of $1,000 for carpentry repairs, so be sure to get quotes.
- Rotten wood: If the wood is rotten to the point that it needs to be replaced, expect to pay between $500 and $1,000, depending on the type of wood and the contractors rate for labor.
- : This is an issue with wood decking. Boards tend to cup or curl in the direction of the rings. These cups can hold water and lead to early deterioration. Most professional contractors will install with “cupping” facing down, to minimize water damage. High-end deck installers will even add “stress reduction cuts” to help them lay flat to prevent this issue.
Consult Local Deck Repair Pros for Project Quotes
| Composite | $12-$22 |
What Is A Patio
Patios are outdoor seating areas that are flush with the ground and often made of concrete. (Although concrete is considered the most popular building material for a patio, you may also choose stone, gravel, and other materials for a patio.
One of the most important considerations for those weighing installing a patio or deck is whether or not your ground is level. Since patios sit on the ground, a patio needs to sit on a flat surface. Alternatively, you can shore up the ground so itll be flat.
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Apply Deck Colors With Wear And Tear In Mind
Different parts of your deck get used in different ways, so both the shade and finish should be considerations in choosing your deck color. Stairs have much more traffic than railings, for example, so they might need a more durable seal or require restaining more often. Remember that all decks need to be regularly cleaned, and any finish will require periodic upkeep and re-application.
Which Option Is Cheaper: A Concrete Patio Or Wood Deck
Outdoor living spaces such as patios and decks are just what you need for entertaining guests outdoors or truly getting to enjoy your space. Adding a patio or deck can also be an excellent way to increase the value of your property. It can also create the proper atmosphere for creating many happy memories.;
Overall, a concrete patio will generally be cheaper to install compared to a deck. While your specific house and yard set-up may determine which is cheaper for your individual needs, a wood deck is likely to have a better return on investment compared to a concrete patio. Of course, theres no rule that prevents you from having both a deck and a patio. After all, they are both excellent spaces for entertaining.;
While both patios and decks can be wonderful additions to your property, it is first important to understand what each of them is as well as which option is cheaper to help you make an informed decision for your budget.
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