DEAR TIM: I read your column each week. Your last one talked about deck screws vs. nails, but I need to know about the different choices I have when it comes to deck flashing materials. What are my choices and can you discuss the pros and cons of each and any new and exciting materials? […]
Deck Screws vs Nails DEAR TIM: Recently a deck collapsed near where I live and people got seriously injured. The report blamed the failure on the use of nails that had corroded and couldn’t hold the weight. Could this be right? Every deck I know of has been built with nails and they seem to […]
If you want to really add that special touch to your deck, you should consider using two different colored decking boards. That's what I'm doing with a deck I'm building. I'm using Trex Transcend and my wife has selected the deep Lava Rock color along with the lighter Tiki Torch for the main deck boards. […]
"A few years ago, I stumbled upon a new invention that makes installing deck piers as easy as working with snap-together plastic building blocks children play with." Deck Pier Forms - Get Ones That Snap Together DEAR TIM: My wife has instructed me that I no longer can put off the deck project. I got […]
Teresa Schenck has a rotten wood threshold at her home in Bettendorf, Iowa. Here's what she sent me: "As you can see, this piece of wood at my back door is rotting. It is about 1.5-2 " wide, and maybe 6-8" deep. My deck is also there. I am replacing the wood decking. I want to […]
James C. Cooks lives in hot and steamy Plantation, FL. This is the land of mildew and mold and no snow or frost. He wants to build a deck on top of an old concrete patio that's covered in mildew. When the concrete was wet, someone walked in it. Look at the footprints in the slab. […]
Helen Jennings wants to create a new door in the exterior wall of an ancient stone home in Holmbridge, West Yorkshire England! Here's what she sent me: "Do you think it would be possible to knock a doorway through this side external wall on the same level as the front door? I'd also want to add a […]
Bruce Helm plans to build a deck at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, but he's got a problem or two. He needs a material list and he's never built a deck before. There's an old saying, "You don't know what you don't know." Here's Bruce's request: "I am building a deck on the front of my […]
Last night, it was minus 14 F here at my house. I live in central NH and that's not unusual. My large deck started to make very LOUD cracking and pop sounds as the sun began to set yesterday. Others are experiencing this same condition. Read more about it and check out the photo in […]
Andrew Binosa lives in Duluth, GA. The photo he sent me made me LAUGH OUT LOUD! Read Andy's question, look at the photo and see if you don't chuckle! "Hi Tim, I built a deck at the rear and below it is a concrete patio. Is there a minimum anchor type that I need to anchor […]
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