This week on the Today’s Homeowner Podcast, we’re talking about how to fix a failing covered deck — specifically, one with a damaged end beam.
“One of the end beams that support my covered deck may be rotting,” a fan says. “What’s the best way to fix the problem: replace that one beam or replace all the beams?”
Listen to the Today’s Homeowner Podcast for the answer to that along with more home improvement tips. Here are other topics featured in this episode:
- Tiling a kitchen includes laying cement backerboard over a plywood subfloor. You may know that you must cover the joints between the sheets with tape, but we’re sharing more tricks of the trade for a successful installation.
- Learn the best, easiest way to remove grass if you want to replace it with pavers
- Chelsea talks about the latest episode of Checking In With Chelsea, which focuses on installing faux brick panels.
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Simple Solutions
Shop-made Corner Clamp — When tackling a woodworking project that requires you to clamp down all four corners, it’s easy enough to clamp down three of the corners when they’re flush with the edges of the workbench.
But the fourth corner is typically out of reach of a standard C-clamp or bar clamp. However, you can create a corner clamp from a scrap piece of 1-by-2.
First, cut the 1-by-2 long enough to span the corner by at least 4 inches or so. Drill two 5/32-inch-diameter screw-shank clearance holes through the 1-by-2, positioning them about an inch from each end of the 1-by-2.
Set the 1-by-2 across the corner at a 45-degree angle. Then, screw it down to the workbench. Just be sure to alternately tighten each screw until it’s down tight against the corner.
Now, with all four corners clamped down, you just have to wait until the glue dries.
No-Scratch Chair Legs — Folding metal chairs can scratch and gouge wood floors when the tubular metal legs cut through the protective rubber caps.
Prevent this by replacing the old rubber caps with new ones. But before sliding the new caps onto the table legs, place a nickel into each cap.
Now, the end of the metal leg will rest against the nickel, not the rubber cap, and prevent the leg from cutting through the cap.
This tip also works on metal table legs!
Question of the Week
Q: I cleaned my treated pine deck with Clorox. Now it’s unnaturally white and fuzzy. What can I do to fix this?
A: Listen to this week’s podcast for the answer!
