The outdoor living area on the back of Mike and Maureen James’s house had seen better days, so we gave it a makeover by replacing the worn wood deck and cracked patio tiles and building a pergola to provide much-needed shade.
Deck Demolition and Repair
The first step was removing the existing deck boards and repairing the framing underneath.
The deck framing hadn’t been securely attached to the side of the house, causing the band joists to sag. After the joists had been jacked up, they were attached to pressure-treated posts set in the ground.
Building the Pergola
Holes were dug under the deck for the pergola posts. The 6” x 6” pressure-treated posts were set in place, and the holes were filled with Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix.
Pressure-treated 2” x 10” beams were attached flush with the top of the posts using galvanized lag screws.
An ogee pattern was cut in the ends of the 2” x 8” rafters with a sabre saw, and the rafters were installed on top of the beams on 16” centers.
Watch Tips for Building a Shade Arbor to find out more.
Installing Wood Decking
The ground under the deck was leveled, and a trench dug to allow water from the roof to run off.
Since the deck was low, 1″ x 12” boards were attached to the band joists for skirting.
YellaWood 2”x6” KDAT (Kiln Dried After Treatment) pressure-treated pine lumber was used for the decking.
The kiln drying process minimizes the tendency of wood to shrink, cup, and warp and should be finished without having to wait for the wood to dry.
The decking was attached to the joists using 3” coated deck screws. A 1/8” gap was left between each board, using an 8-penny nail as a spacer.
After all the decking had been laid, the ends were cut off, and a 1″ x 4″ board attached flush with the top of the decking.
Watch How to Build a Wood Deck to find out more.
Concrete Patio Repair
To improve the look of the concrete patio, the cracked floor tiles were removed and a motorized grinder was used to smooth the concrete.
Cracks in the concrete were filled with Quikrete Mortar Repair Caulk and Valspar Solid Color Concrete Sealer applied using a roller.
Watch Cleaning and Staining a Concrete Patio to find out more.
Installing a Rain Diverter
A rain diverter was installed on the roof to prevent rainwater from splashing off the deck and leaking in under the patio doors.
A rain diverter consists of a piece of galvanized sheet metal bent at a 90° angle that slides up under the shingles near the bottom of the roof.
The diverter is held in place with roofing nails under the overlapping shingles, which are then coated with roofing cement.
Watch How to Install a Rain Diverter to find out more.
Patio Furniture Repair
The broken plastic webbing on the patio furniture was replaced with nylon webbing, which was attached using sheet metal screws in holes drilled in the bottom of the metal frame.
The furniture was then sanded and repainted, and the torn cushions replaced.
Read How to Clean Outdoor Furniture to find out more.
Other Tips from This Episode
Simple Solutions with Joe Truini: Plastic Bag Reuse Storage Tip
An empty tissue box is great for keeping plastic grocery bags organized for reuse. Simply push the plastic bags into the box, then pull the bags out one at a time as needed. Since the bags compact, a tissue box will hold 20 to 30 plastic bags. (Watch Video)
Best New Products with Jodi Marks: Toro Recycler AWD Lawn Mower
The Toro Recycler All-Wheel Drive lawn mower (model# 20353) has dual variable speed drive and a Briggs & Stratton engine that doesn’t need priming or oil changes. The Toro Recycler All-Wheel Drive lawn mower is available at The Home Depot. (Watch Video)
Ask Danny Lipford: Deck Cleaning and Staining Tips
Wood decks should be cleaned and stained every few years. Start by applying a deck cleaning solution or diluted bleach detergent mix, then use a pressure washer or deck brush to remove dirt. Allow the wood to dry before applying deck stain. (Watch Video)
