The Drainage Secret for Decks Built Over Concrete Patios
I’ll never forget the sound of my wife’s voice when she stepped out onto our “finished” deck that first humid July. “Is […]
Category: Deck Building Tips
Why Your Ledger Board Needs a Gap From the House Siding
I will never forget the sinking feeling I had when my screwdriver didn’t hit wood—it hit mush. I was inspecting the siding […]
The Best Tool for Removing a Single Stripped Deck Screw
There I was, sweat stinging my eyes and the sun beating down on my neck, just one screw away from finishing a […]
The Stainless Mesh Trick for Keeping Mice Out of Your Deck Substructure
The Stainless Mesh Trick for Keeping Mice Out of Your Deck Substructure If you own a home in the New York City […]
The Simple Way to Hide Ugly Metal Hangers Under Your Deck
I remember sitting on my patio last July, ice-cold lemonade in hand, looking up at the framework of my brand-new deck. I […]
The Secret to a Rock-Solid Deck-to-House Connection on Old Siding
I’ll never forget the sound—a low, rhythmic groan that happened every time my dog, a 70-pound Lab, ran across the deck to […]
The Drainage Move That Saves Your Deck Footings From Sinking
I stood there with my morning coffee, watching a single marble roll slowly across my cedar boards until it dropped into a […]
How to Fix a Bouncy Deck Without Adding New Posts
I was standing there, tongs in one hand and a plate of steaks in the other, when my neighbor stepped out onto […]
Why I Never Nail Deck Boards: The Screw Advantage Explained
My first big DIY project back in the late nineties was a classic pressure-treated platform. I hammered in thousands of nails, thinking […]
The Simple Pivot Move for Carrying Long Composite Boards Alone
I re m em ber the day I nearly lo st my cool—and a $100 bo ard—in my o wn back yar […]