Quantcast

Bower Power

· 121 Comments

Getting our wood on!

Uncategorized

For the next week, Bower Power has turned into The Deck Diaries….chronicling our adventures in making our previously unused deck into a dreamy hangout space that is suitable for dining, hanging out and crawling babies!  I shared the plans last week (click here to see!) and today we are gonna talk about adding a ton of wood to tackle my number one priority….SAFETY.

Last week I shared the styling plans for the space.  It’s full of blues and greens and inexpensive alternatives that hopefully will add some personality.

Our adventure here began when I got to do my favorite thing in the world….blast off dirt!  Seriously.  When they come out with a pressure washer for human skin, I am buying it.  I will be on the wait list.  I’ll singlehandedly fund the Kickstarter….because my kids (and their fingernails and my facial pores) need that in our life.  But for now, I’ll get my fix with deck-dirt-blasting. (click here for a time lapse video of the process….yes, I am slightly obsessed with time lapses)

So today I wanted to share with you how we replaced the upper part of the railing, added some ‘security wood’ to the outside of the balusters and then put in some wood to cover the risers on the steps to make them look more finished.

The upper part of the railing had different material than the rest of the deck.  It had been like that since we moved in and was about as appealing as the thought of wearing a porcupine hide as underwear.  The composite decking material is really great for some things….like an entire deck…but just the top rail just wasn’t frying our bacon if you know what I mean….and I think you do 🙂

Since it was nailed in, Jeremy gave it a couple good whacks with the hammer and worked from one end to the other.  Eventually the entire piece came off and he was able to use them as templates to cut new 1×6’s from pressure treated wood to match the rest of the deck.

While we were at it, I removed the baskets because we definitely want to keep them for future use.

What we had left was the 6×6 posts, a upper railing and then the balusters.

I had Jeremy attach the new 1×6’s from underneath so that there was no screws showing on the top.  I love the way they look now….it’s amazing how just replacing those made such a huge difference.

You can see here how the wood railings overlap the next one.  I love how finished it looks with real wood rather than the composite stuff.  And you can see Jeremy was adding the security wood.  We added it everywhere except on the bottom of the long set of stairs because it made them look crazy.

So on the balusters attach to the joist on the bottom and then the upper railing on the top.  Per code, they are fine but I wasn’t feeling comfortable with the safety or the look.  So I asked Jeremy if he could add an additional 1×4 to the underside of the railing top and then also along the bottom of the balusters.   Since Jeremy was attaching it with screws (vs. nails) into the 6×6 posts, my theory is that it will make the balusters just a little harder to bust out and also make the deck railing look more finished from the yard.

It wasn’t the easiest or fastest task.  Jeremy had to climb the ladder and measure the distance between the 6×6 posts at the top and then the bottom, then climb down the ladder, cut the wood, add a screw to each side at an angle then climb up the ladder and attach each security wood piece.

It took him about three hours to replace just the composite wood (that’s basically all the DIY time we get in a day) and then about two more days to do the security rails and the steps.  It wasn’t the quickest job in history but I think it was well worth the time investment.  If the deck wasn’t safe, why would we bother decorating it?!

Plus, I do think it makes it look better.  Dontcha think?

I think it makes the deck look like it wasn’t just any outdoor structure but really intentional and a step-up overall.  It makes it look more finished and more expensive.

Moving right along.  So here are our steps before.  They were very typical deck steps with no riser and the edge of the step itself stuck out about an inch leaving us just enough room to add some risers.

This was super simple….all we had to do was measure the length of the 1×6 board needed and then rip them with the table saw to the right height.  Jeremy used outdoor decking screws to fix them in place.  Biggest bang for our buck right here.

Okay…so now that we reviewed all the wood we added, let’s cross some more stuff off our deck to-do list and feel extra productive….

DECK TO-DO LIST:

  • Remove all furniture
  • Pressure wash
  • Check the balusters and secure loose/remove broken
  • Remove the railing top and replace with pressure treated wood
  • Add ‘security wood’ on outside railing
  • Build baby gate
  • Add risers to the stairs
  • Sand
  • Stain/seal
  • Build planters
  • Build console table
  • Make moss art
  • Add in furniture/patio set
  • ENJOY!   (most important item!)

Now that I think about it, I should have itemized this list more….measure risers, cut risers, screw in risers….it would have given me more to cross off.   And everyone knows that crossing stuff off the list is the funnest part of the project!  Shoot.  I should have added “cross off items on the list” onto the list.  You know you do that too.  Just admit it.  I won’t judge 🙂

Next up….baby gate time!

Speaking of babies….today my first born turns the big high FIVE!  I am so excited and sobbing at the thought of him growing up so freaking fast.  Where did my little baby go?!  I know it would mean so much to him if he knew folks from all over were wishing him a Happy Birthday!  I gotta go wrap some presents!

0 Shares

Comments

  1. Looking great so far…can’t wait to see it all done!

    Happy Birthday, Will!! I hope it’s the BEST birthday for the BEST big brother around!! The big #5!

  3. Love the changes! You two are so talented!

    And… Happy 5th Birthday Will from Nashville, TN!

  8. Love the finished look that adding the wood on the outside adds. Pressure washing = instant gratification.

    But more importantly, Happy 5th Birthday to Will (from Greenville, SC). Hope you have a fantastic day! 🙂

  9. Happy Birthday to your fantastic 5 year old boy! Hope you all have a great day.

    Birthday hugs from Iceland 🙂

    Margret

    P.S. The deck looks great. Look forward to seeing it when you´re done….and all the process as well 😉

  11. You will have a great outdoor space there. We are starting our deck cleaning a little bit later since we still have winter over here. Best birthday wishes to Will from Iceland 🙂

  12. Happy Birthday Will! My first born is 5 also… Kindergarten this fall, how can that be?!

    Question on the security rails. Were you balusters wobbly at all first and, if so, did this stop it?

    When we bought our new house I pointed out to the inspector that the deck b alusters wobbled some. He wasn’t that concerned (but he’s not the one with three small kids!) and mentioned we could just add some more joists if we wanted to pull them in tighter. Just wondering if what you did here tightened everything up for you….

    I’m having major deck anxiety! Haha. so glad you are posting this because the deck is next on our list.

  15. Deck is coming along nicely! Now, on to more important things, like…….

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!!!!!! May your day be as awesome as you are!

  16. What!? 5! I’m mourning my newborn being 10 DAYS today! I can’t imagine 5 years! Happiest of birthdays, Mr. Will! (And congratulations, mama, on raising such a brave and bold little boy!)

  17. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILL!!!!!!

    My oldest will be 5 in August, and I am so with you, Katie…where is the time going?! We’re more than 25% of the way to adulthood 🙁

  18. Dear Katie, as requested 🙂

    Congratulations, Will!
    I wish you all the best on your 5th birthday. A lot of fun and many presents, of course! 🙂

    Have a wonderful day,
    WR (Germany)

  20. Oh wow, tell him Happy Birthday!!!! My youngest will be 4 in 1 week. I am taking it ok… No I am not, I am doing the ugly cry as I look over baby pictures and his un finished baby book. Throwing in a dose of Mom guilt for my third child too. You still have a crew of little ones, enjoy them! Mine are 7,5 and almost 4. I don’t know how to be a Mommy to bigger kids. The deck looks great. I would have never thought to add the detailing you did onto it, it does make it look more fancy. I like the stairs too, those stairs without a backing make me nervous whenever we are visiting someone with them. I just imagine my kids falling through them, I always go there. Love the look you are going for with the deck, and you got to check off a lot on your list.

  21. Happy Birthday to Will from St Paul Minnesota! I hope he has a blast today!

    Also, the added wood looks great. Can’t wait to see how the rest of it turns out!

  22. I can’t wait to see your finished deck! I gave my patio a little makeover a few summers ago, using a TON of blue and green spray paint. It looks so beautiful and cohesive with everything being the same calming colors. I LOVE it. I’m sure whatever you do will knock my patio out of the water! 🙂

    Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!!! I can’t believe your adorable little guy is 5 years old today!!!!

  23. I have always wanted risers on my outside stairs but living in Maine, it is necessary to leave them open to help with shoveling off the snow. Everything’s already starting to look better.

    Happy birthday, Will!!

  24. Happy birthday Will!! Wow- FIVE. Slow it down a little, ok? Sending you some love from the Gulf Coast of Alabama 🙂

  26. Deck looks awesome, and it’s not even finished yet! And, HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY to WILL!! 🙂

  27. Happy 5th Birthday Will! 🙂
    Danielle, Tim, Isla, Jake and Aric from Grand Rapids, Michigan

    Katie, my only baby turns 1 in a week. I cant even imagine how hard 5 will be!

  28. Happy happy 5th birthday, Will! I hope you get to do all of your favorite things today 🙂

    – Jenna, Savannah, GA

  30. It looks beautiful but…. I had this style exactly in one of my previous homes and ended up removing all of those horizontal pieces of wood that cover the tops of the ballisters because of BEES!!! Every single one of those pockets between the ballisters had a nest. We would spray and the bees would leave for awhile and then just come back over and over. I eventually got a ladder and a crowbar and removed the wood pieces. Problem solved.

  35. Happy birthday, Will!!! What a big boy!!!

    (And awesome job on the deck so far, guys! Can’t believe how much you’re able to do — AND have a birthday party in the midst of it all. You rock!)

  36. Happy Birthday Will! My youngest turned 5 a few weeks ago! I love the progress so far! That’s a lot of !’s!!

  38. When I was little, we had basement steps with no risers and I was always scared I was going to slip and get stuck or fall through them (or a monster would reach out and grab my leg… totally possible). Anyways, this is looking much better!

    Happy birthday Will

  42. HAAAAPY BIRTHDAY WILL!!!!!!!!

    5 YEARS OLD!!!! That is sooooo cool!! We hope you have an AMAZING DAY and get to do all the things you LOVE!!

    XO, Darcy, Zakk, and Luke (we sent you all a Christmas card, so you can see them!) Zakk is 5 too and Luke is 2 (just like you and Weston!

  44. Happy Birthday Mr. Will!! Big High Five coming to you from sunny AZ. Have a super day!!

  46. The deck is looking great! Can’t wait to see it all finished!

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!!!

  48. Happy Birthday Will from Vancouver BC Canada! Hope you have an awesome day with your family!

  51. I’m totally reliving all the work we did on our deck last summer through your work right now… let’s just say it makes me fully appreciate how much work you all are doing! And being someone who is scared of heights, I have to say that adding the stair risers makes it not only look prettier to me but also less scary. I hate climbing stairs where I can see how far I can fall between the steps.

  53. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILL! Five is AWESOME!

    The deck is looking great! We need to add some risers as well, on both our front steps and the back. Glad to know it’s not that hard! xo

  56. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

    -Sending wishes from twentyfeet in Virginia 🙂

  62. Looking great! I love the power washing time-lapse! So rewarding!
    Just curious Katie, do you have to let your deck wood set for a year before staining it?

  63. Happy birthday, Will! Can’t wait to see the baby gate build – well, the whole project as well. We have an elevated deck, roughly the same shape, and with the same wear and tear – and a 13 month old who is soooo ready to explore out there.

  64. Lots of Birthday whishes from Germany!
    Happy Birthday, Will 🙂

    5 is aaaawesome!!!!!

    Have a great day – you rock!

    Nina

  67. Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu deinem 5. Geburtstag! ! (Happy 5th Birthday, Will, from Germany)

  68. happy birthday will! you jumped up super high to get those streamers on your door. i was IMPRESSED!

  69. Turning 5 is
    Fabulous
    Incredible
    Valuable
    Exceptional
    HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY WILL from Massachusetts!

  72. Happy Birthday Will from Indiana!!! We have a Will in our family too–he’s also the oldest and has 3 younger brothers. But he’s now 11!! He’s big but he likes to play with his 5 year old brother, they love to play Legos with him. I know you’re going to continue to be a great big brother as well! 🙂

  75. Happy 5th Birthday Will, from Glenda in
    Phillip Island, Australia. xx
    We have lots of kangaroos and koalas and baby penguins living close to us wishing you a happy birthday too!!

  76. I am sooo looking forward to your baby gate post!

    We just built a huge deck with an outdoor kitchen on the back of house, and we plan to gate our 6 feet steps (we are going to do 2 3′ gates) to keep dogs off of the deck and porch. I can’t wait to see what you do!

  77. Looks great! I have two rough boys so I totally get beefing that sucker up!

    We put boards along each side of the top rail like you guys are doing. I just want to warn you that they have become havens for wasp nests. The good news is that this will give you another reason to get the pressure washer out! We spray that area a couple times each summer and it seems to keep them out of there without having to use wasp sprays. I sincerely do not mean to be one of those annoying commenters! Bees/Wasps completely freak me out so I had to say something! lol

  80. Happy Birthday from Australia. Hope you have a wonderful day. I’m sure you are a big help with all the work on the deck

  85. Happy Birthday Will! Loved the video on Instagram of you busting thru the doorway of your bedroom this morning – great job!

    Birthday wishes comin’ attcha from Grand Rapids, Michigan!

  87. Happy Birthday, Will!!! Being 5 is so much fun!
    Deck is looking great! Ever had a nurse flush your ear? Feels exactly like getting the inside of your head pressure washed…so I will not be on that waiting list with you. 🙂

  90. Looks good. Btw, the little spaces between the 2×2’s and the trim are very nice for wasps, at least in Missouri. Keep an eye out for them. They sure creep in on us and boy, do they hurt the little ones.

  91. Happy 5th Birthday Will! Sending best wishes for an amazing day, from Perth, Australia 😉

  97. We have already seen that those nooks are really attractive to the little boogers and we wrote it on our calendar to do regular checks! Jeremy asked if it was worth the security posts being there and I still say yes….absolutely.
    xo – kb

  98. From my research we read that four weeks is usually the least amount of time you should wait and that all the wood should be cleaned before installation to get rid of stuff on the wood. We waited the four weeks and had the wood dry out FULLY before we started sanding. There are some parts that still aren’t stained (the steps we decided to wait on because it has the most amount of new wood for the risers and we want to make sure that they absorb the stain correctly).
    xo – kb

  99. I’ve heard that! We are definitely on wasp-alert but seriously it is so much more important to me to have it secure.
    xo – kb

  100. No my balusters were not wobbly when Jeremy secured them. He did add a couple new ones and then if they had any cracks, we replaced.
    xo – kb

  107. Happy Birthday Will! All the way rom New Zealand.

    Katie: I don’t comment often, but I just wanted to say I’m really loving the direction your blog is going in. Lots of juicy projects, and in general you seem really happy in life and it’s nice to read (not that you didn’t before).
    Keep it coming! I really enjoy reading about your home and your family

  108. Happy Birthday Will, hope you have a wonderful day and loads of cake! Love from Scotland

  109. Happy Birthday Will from Raleigh, NC! You are the cutest big brother I’ve ever seen and your brudders are lucky to have you.

  111. Happy 5th Birthday from Pittsburgh, PA! My baby girl turns 5 in a few weeks too. Tear!!

  112. We have seen wasps in our deck “nooks” as well but they haven’t been making nests yet… they just like to hang out in there (we are near Atlanta, GA). I don’t want my little ones to get stung and I also read that they eat the wood on the deck (though I haven’t noticed that). My husband read that you can create wasp “traps” to lure the wasps away from the deck. You basically put a container of really sweet liquid (there are lots of recipes to try) near, but not on the deck and it is supposed to draw them away and they drown in the liquid. I might try it for a week or so to try and reduce the number of wasps. I don’t want them ALL gone b/c they will help the garden, but I would like it if there weren’t SO many.

  113. Happy Birthday Will!
    -from not too far away!! 😉

    PS Ive tried pressure washing skin. It will get your toes really clean!!!!! Like removing 2 layers of dirt and 3 layers of skin! #dontpressurewashinflipflops

  114. Happy birthday, Will! My kiddos, Abby (3 yrs) & Austin (9 months) wish you a fun & exciting birthday all the way from sunny Southern Oregon!

  115. That’s what we are trying too. Great minds Amy 🙂 We just marked the calendar to check the holes (who knows…maybe I’ll cut scrap 2×4’s to jam up in there to block it on the top) and then we got some wasp and bee traps. Fingers crossed!
    xo – kb

  117. HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL! My little boy turned ONE on the 8th. You’ve got a birthday buddy here in Seattle! 🙂

  118. It’s looking spectacular already!! And a giant happy 5th birthday to Will! He’s so darn cute!

  121. I’ve seen that! It’s hilarious! But seriously…who looks like that girl when preggo?! I am like twice her size and there is no way I could do a high kick 🙂
    xo – kb

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the latest via email!