When I last posted about replacing our deck, the very old deck had been ripped out, along with a lot of buried concrete, the substructure was is place and the wood for the deck surface had just been delivered. The top edge of the substructure boards were all covered with tape (below) to help keep them dry. If this edge gets wet and is covered with the deck surface wood, they would stay wet and lead to rot.
Rabbit proof wire was put all around the deck and down into the ground.
Tim Quigley, who owns the deck company, created a curved framework to join the two squared off sections of the deck where they circle the big tree at the edge.
Adding this curve was the only real change we made in the design of the deck, other than getting rid of the step down from the back door to the deck surface.
Bringing the boards into the back garden to begin work on the deck surface. This is Ipe, a sustainable Brazilian hardwood.
There are three boards that run parallel against the house. The yellow gizmos keep the space between the boards even.
The surface boards are all screwed rather than nailed in place. Screws are inserted from both sides, which makes them almost invisible when looking at the deck.
Tim cuts the boards to length along the front edge of the deck.
Along the front and back edge of the deck, there is a row of boards that run perpendicular to the rest of the deck boards, creating this beautiful finished corner and edge. I have to say that this elegant touch is typical of Tim Quigley's work. He put the kind of time and thought into every aspect of the design and construction of the deck that is common on the best indoor projects.
When I saw Tim arranging short pieces of wood along the edge of the deck it took me a while to figure out what he was doing. Rather than leave the substructure edge board visible, he covered it with deck boards matched to the thick and thin top boards. They are screwed in, rather than nailed, as well.
The straight edge of the deck meets the curve around the tree.
At Mark's request they finished the curved edge with matching short pieces the same as the long straight edge. This was not easy as I watched Travis almost flat on the deck, trying to get each piece in place and then screwed in. The new deck is a bit higher than the old one, so the first stepping stone down will need to be raised. That's on next summer's project list.
While Mark got out a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the completion of the deck, Travis took a small piece of the Ipe wood to try a science experiment.
Ipe wood is so dense it sinks and does not float — which is just what happened when Travis let go of the board.
The last day Tim and Travis did all the finishing work was sunny and beautiful, perfect for an impromptu celebration.
Mark opening a bottle of Proseco while I do my Vanna White imitation. Can you tell which of us is the person who is always cold?
Travis (left) and Tim ready to relax a moment. I was surprised to see Tim, who owns the company, here working most days. He has certain rules for his business, including no smoking on the job and no music. We also discovered that everyone we dealt with, in addition to Tim, were all pleasant and willing to answer all our questions. And Mark was out there constantly asking questions and watching them work.
The deck all done and ready for a party; hopefully next summer that will be possible again. When I stand out there, I feel like I am on the porch of a garden pavilion in Japan. Travis said he thought the simplicity of the deck suited our garden.
Mark and I could not be more pleased with the look and the quality of the new deck; it's worthy of being part of our garden. Thanks Tim and everyone on your team.