Deck-day 3

Day 3 was another shorter day as we had company after I had worked a few hours. After visiting and relaxing, I just was too tired to resume working.

The day started with another trip to Home Depot for more 2x4's and balusters. After day 2 and working out how far apart I wanted the balusters. I knew how many more I needed.

I decided I didn't like the long span across the back and added a post to make it look a little more like the front.

I still had one more piece of 4x4 that I could use for the post from the decking to the hand rail. I could add two 2x4's screwed together for the post that goes from the deck to the ground when I underpin everything.

I cut the 2x4 under the hand rail, cut the post to fit, and screwed it in place. The bottom of the post is attached by screws from under the flooring so it does not look "added on". I added the balusters and that finished the back.

The small section by the front steps was next. It was pretty straight forward.

The balusters for the step hand rails were a different matter. I wanted the top cut at the same angle as the top rail and the bottom would be a compound angle. A 45 degree at the bottom like all the rest but also cut on the bias to match the top rail. Hard to see the compound angle from the picture but it turned out nice.

One more little detail and it would be finished except for the under pinning.

The transition from the top rail to the top rail on the steps needed a little attention. I could have tapered the top rail on the step but I didn't like that idea.












I cut a small wedge and screwed it in place and called the top " FINISHED".

Deck-day 2

Day 1 was Sunday of last week, I worked Monday, and day 2 was Tuesday. After Tuesday I have 4 long days in a row at work, so I felt I needed a little shorter day than I had put in on Sunday.


Even thou it looked like I am about finished with the deck, the rest will go slower because every board has to be measured to get a close fit.

I started with the 2x4's that go under the top railings. After all were cut and screwed in place, I added the top railings. At least now we would not fall off of the deck.









Next I cut the balusters boards at a 45 degree angle on bottom and installed them. I decided if I used a piece of 4x4, I would achieve the "right look" for them. Since there would be 9 balusters per section, it was just a matter of centering the first one (using my little centering trick) and using the 4x4 block to space the rest.


















The front 4 sections were all I had time for as I wanted to redo the steps.









This is what they looked like when I just threw them together on Sunday to get us by. I just used 2 sets of step stringers and had the steps overlapping the ends.









I moved the stringers out to the end of the steps and added a middle stringer. Lag screws run thru the stringers into the posts and are hidden under the steps. I installed the 2x4's and top railings. This made for very stable steps (don't you just hate handrails that are flimsy?).


I finished my day by putting the rest of the screws in the flooring. Seems like a lot less work, but it still took longer than I had hoped. Still I was very pleased for the work accomplished in 2 days.

Deck-day 1

I picked up the truck and 16 ft. trailer and headed to Home Depot to buy enough lumber to start on the deck.

Home Depot now sells lumber pressure treated with Thompson's. The lumber is more of a natural color and does not have the "green tint" of the old pressure treated lumber.

I also picked up a new cordless drill as the one I have is old and only has one battery. When I opened the new drill, I received a surprise. It came with two batteries and I hadn't even noticed it when I purchased it.

It was about 10:30 am when I pulled into our driveway. I had been planning the deck for several months and I had a plan as to how it would be built.

Plan the job

Plan the work

Work the plan

Seems simple enough, doesn't it.

Since I only have Sunday and Tuesday off, I knew I would need to complete enough of the deck that we could use it. I hoped to complete the frame work, put up the posts, throw enough decking boards on top to walk (even if they were not nailed down)and I could use my pallets for the steps. A lot for one man to do in a day!

The basic frame work would be built on milk crates (just borrowed some from work as we all know it is illegal to possess them). I stacked them two high and had enough to do the job.

I first cut the 2x8x16 down to 15ft. 6in., this would let the 16ft. decking hang over the ends. The 7 2x8x12 were cut into 14 2x8x6's. By using those as floor joists on the inside of the stringers it would give a with of 6ft. 4in. Add to that the fact the decking would hang over front and back and I could achieve my 16x7 deck.

After the stringers and joists were cut, I clamped the stringers together and laid out for the posts and floor joists. I made a mark for the floor joists and put 2 x's where the posts would go. A joist would go on each end and then one on each side of the 4x4 posts. There would be five posts on the front and five posts on the back. As I only need handrails on three sides, some of the posts would not need to be above the floor.

I put a floor joist at each end, then a 4x4 post, another post would be in the middle, I would then "half" that distance and add another post for each "half". You can't just say they will be 4ft apart because they are not. In between each post and joist would be another joist. The line below shows how it was layed out. The "I" depicts each side of the floor joist and the "XX" depicts the 4x4 posts.

IIXXII II IIXXII II IIXXII II IIXXII II IIXXII

As you can see each 4x4 has a joist on each side to help keep it "plum". I layed out the lines and used a square to mark both tops of the stringers and then laid them flat and used the square to transfer the marks on the inside of each stringer.

Now I want to pass on a little tip I use for finding the center when I need to. Just divide by 2. Sure 58 divided by 2 equals 29, but what if the number is 127 and 11/16, not so easy to do in your head. Just use a number you are comfortable dividing by 2. How about 128. While your tape measure is still down just put a mark at 64 (128 divided by 2), now measure from the other end and put another mark at 64 from that end. The two marks are very close together. Now put a mark in the center of those two. You now have the center of 127 and 11/16. Measure from each end again to the mark you made in the middle of your two 64 marks. Makes no difference if the number you use is longer or shorter. If you use a number longer than the measurement as we just did, then the 64 inch marks will pass the center both ways. If you use a shorter number than the total length, then each mark will be shy of the middle by a little bit but the center of those two marks will still be the dead center. Sounds complicated but it is very simple and you can find the center faster than someone can do the division. I never bother to read the fractions on the first measurement, just round the inches up or down for quick division.

With the stringers and floor joists cut, I nailed the end joists, one joist for each side of the posts, and the joists that were between the posts. Just a simple rectangle with the joists inside. I just put 2 16 penny nails on each end for now. I measured diagonally across the two long sides and adjusted until the measurements were the same and I knew it was then square. Now I nailed two 2x4's diagonally across each end to keep it square. I then put screws in every joint ( I was thru using nails, everything would be screwed together).

Where I had my two X's for the posts, I drilled 5/16" holes for the lag screws I would use for the posts.

I then raised the frame to its final height. As the concrete pad is not level, I knew each post would be a different length. Two of the post that would hold the deck and come up to form the railings would be a little over 6 feet but some of the others would be a little under 6 feet, so I knew I needed to cut the over 6 ft. posts from the 12ft 4x4's and use the shorter than 6ft that was remaining for another post.

The wife helped with a pen and paper. I measured from the ground to the top of the stringer and had her add 39 1/2 inches ( the height of the railing). While she was adding I would grab a 12ft post to cut to the right size. I then put the post beside the floor joist and screwed in the lad screw. I put in the four corner posts first, then the middle posts, and finally the four other posts. I then put in the floor joists on the other side of the posts. I then checked it for "square" again and it was still fine. The frame was now suspended by the posts.

After "plumbing" the posts, screwed thru the stringers and thru the joists on either side of the post. They would now stay plumb.

Next I turned to the "decking". I notched out for the posts for the first board and screwed it in place. Time was running short and I knew I could not screw all the boarded down, but I wanted to "set" the gap on all of them before I quit. I used a 16 penny nail to set the gap between the decking boards. I drove the nail thru a block of scrap wood and placed it between the decking boards. I then placed a board beside the that first one and "set the gap" and put one screw at each floor joist (that would hold it until I had a chance to put in the rest of the screws). I managed to get all the decking down in that fashion.

I then built the steps so we could at least use them. They would be properly built another day.

9:00pm and I called it a day. It looks pretty nice for one days work for one "old" fellow.

Deck - The planning

We knew we wanted to add a deck for our travel trailer, since it is on the front I guess it is really a front porch. Our motorhome had two steps in side when you opened the door and two steps outside. I had placed two plastic pallets in front of the door as the little rv steps are hard to use.

The travel trailer has no steps inside and four steps outside. The first one being very high. I could had built nice wooden steps but the concrete slab we use for our front patio is level with the ground and every time it rains, mud and trash cover the concrete. The lot is sloped to the back and the concrete slab has two cracks across it. The slope means a deck would only only have 3 steps at the front and you can enter the TT from the deck without adding another step.

So a deck was in order. Our awning is 20 feet long and extends out about 8 feet, so a 16x7ft. deck would work fine. The new deck must meet several criteria.

1. It had to be free standing so it could be moved away from the travel trailer to make moving the TT in and out without hitting it easier. The TT sits just off the slab and the slab is 8 feet wide. The deck would set about 4 inches from the TT so the deck could be moved out a foot or so and still be on the slab.

2. The awning must cover the deck when extended.

3. Had to fit on a standard 16 ft. trailer as I plan to sell it in a couple of years when I retire and start traveling full time.

4. Needed to be sturdy, attractive, and built with the least amount of waste when cutting the lumber. Wasted lumber means wasted money.

5. No joints in the decking.

When drawing up the plans it worked out like this.

2 2x8x16 stringers
7 2x8x12 's could be cut to make 2x8x6 floor joists
6 4x4x12 would make all the posts
18 5/4x6x16 radiused decking, top rail, and steps
3 3-step stringers
4 sheets of 4x4 lattice to underpin (and enough for another project I have in mind).

This would make up the basic deck.

Since I had to borrow a pickup and trailer to haul the lumber. I wanted to pick up all the long lumber in one trip. The smaller lengths could be hauled in my s-10 pickup.

I am not dead

Sorry for the lack of posts but I have been very busy at work. We have a guy out to have a SECOND total knee replacement and I am covering part of his runs. Being a "milk man" is very hard on the knees.

He recovered very well from his first knee replacement but has worn out his good knee helping his replacement knee. Hope he will be able to return to work but I think it will be more of a challenge this time around.

Also I have been building a deck (or front porch) for the travel trailer and yes there will be a story to follow its completion. Without two days in a row off it is a little harder to accomplish the things I want to get done. Heck, being 59 doesn't help either.

Computer Desk

I knew I wanted to custom build a computer desk for our new Cardinal travel trailer but I changed the design several times and this is what I finally built.










This is the picture of the unit that we used to order our trailer. Ours has hardwood flooring in the kitchen and living room but it shows where I wanted the computer desk. The desk would sit in front of the window and the recliner would be our computer chair.













I wanted the desk to match the kitchen cabinets so I ordered doors from the factory. I then changed my design after I realized if I put the printer behind doors and the CPU behind a door on the other side, then it would limit the width where my legs go under the table.












This is the final design I chose to built. I notched the back to clear the window treatment and put a back splash around it.

The desk has the CPU unit, DSL, and surge protector behind the door. The left end of the desk is open to let the CPU unit breath. The scanner printer and monitor on the desk. The keyboard and mouse is on a pull-out tray.

Ready to use, it seems to fit the bill.












The colors blend very well as the desk takes on a lighter or darker shade depending on the light. This shot shows the desk, kitchen cabinets and hardwoods floors.

Add the recliner and I am ready to update my blog and check on all the blogs I visit.


I usually use stain and top it with polyurethane but this time I tried the polyurethane with the stain already mixed in. The problem with it is if you get a run then the stain accumulates at the bottom of the run. On horizontal surfaces it is fine but on vertical panels it tends to run. I feel it is more of a spray application.

All-in-all I am very pleased with the desk and it is built with three-quarter inch oak plywood and one inch oak lumber so it is built to last.

59, How can that be?

May 22, 1948. Yes that is when I was born.
2007 - 1948 = 59 years.

Sure I can do the math (with the help of a calculator , numbers this LARGE are a little hard), but the real question is, "How did the years pass so fast?"

I really can't complain as my health is very good. I have never spent the night in a hospital from an illness. Two overnight stays, one when I was hit by a car in Los Angeles when I was 12 and for a tonsillectomy when I was 15.

I can count on one hand the number of days I have missed work from illness.

The old saying, "I am not as good as I once was, but I am as good once as I ever was" ( heck I never was as good as I thought I was anyway).

But I can still put in a hard days work ( with the help of aspirin) but am sore the next day if I have used muscles I am not used to using.

I have type II diabetes but have no trouble keeping it under control if I eat like I should. I really don't have to follow a diet, just watch my sweet intake.

My eye site is alright for someone my age as I can see in the distance better than most people of any age and just need glasses to read.

I have more forehead to wash but it is offset by having less hair to comb. Heck, I even have less teeth to brush than when I was younger.

I still like to look at the women, but I just can't remember why!

So as I wind down to retirement I guess I am very fortunate for the shape I am in.

Now I have something to look forward to, the BIG six O.

France - Train Stop

We were up early Saturday morning to head out to Angers. Matt jointed us at the train station. It was nice to ride the high speed train in the daylight even if I was sitting backwards.

We had one stop before Angers and I could not believe what I saw when I looked out the window when we stopped.



@ipa.net






Sable pronounced "say-blee". For those who don't know, that is my e-mail address. How cool is that.

As I mentioned earlier, the day would supply what I consider the highlight of my trip. Paris is great but after reading and seeing pictures of its sites it was almost anticlimactic.

France - Moulin Rouge

Our last full day in Paris started with a train ride to the outskirts of Paris to an auto museum that Zac had found on the internet. It didn't show up on the map but being that far out only the major streets were shown and we just assumed it was on a small street not shown.



I have always thought that the anecdotal adventures differentiates great vacations from ordinary ones.



When we got off the train to read the map of the local area, we still couldn't find the street. Zac spotted a tourist office and we headed over. When he asked the lady about the auto museum, the look on her face and the laughing had me a little confused because they were speaking French.



After we walked out, Zac explains the museum had been closed for a few years and several times a week someone will ask about it. They just didn't take down their website.



After returning to Paris, we found a nice little cafe to have a traditional French meal. I started with a onion soup with cheese, followed by beef bourguignon, and an apple tart for dessert. We always asked for a picture of water. The tap water is excellent in France. Per most meals in France, we were there about an hour and a half. They make sure everyone is finished with their appetizers before they bring your main course and then bring the dessert menu again after everyone is finished just in case you have changed your mind after ordering the three course before the meal.



After the meal we were off to the house of the French writer "Balzac". Zac had studied his books in his masters program. I knew nothing about him but found the museum interesting. It gave us the chance to walk the real streets of Paris for a change.

After this I asked Zac if we could go back to the "red light district". We had walked by past it on our return from "the church on the hill" but that night I said to myself, "not tonight dear, I am to tired".

The Moulin Rouge ( French for "red mill" ) is the most famous night club in the world. With a cover charge of 100 Euros for a meal and a show, it was a little out of our price range. Plus elegant evening attire is required.

The rain was off and on, so we headed in a cafe for coffee. Nice little cafe and we spent about two hours just sitting and talking. It was our first chance to really just talk and not worry about being tourists.

We headed back to retrieve our bags and picked up a couple of paninis to eat on the train ride to Zac's apartment in Le Mans.

I was a little disappointed that it was dark but I knew I would see the countryside on our return trip to Paris to catch the plane home.

As we left the train station in Le Mans ( everyone exits the same way ), we walked thru an alley to the street. Every mom that visits Le Mans makes this same trip.

Some words are spelled the same in French as in English. It's dark and all you can see at the other end of the alley and on the street to take to town or stand at the bus stop is the sign with large red letters SEX SHOP. We had a good laugh at every mothers expense.

Zac's apartment is about a quarter mile from the train station. We had just gotten inside when his phone rang with a text message (everyone uses text messages as they are a lot cheaper than actual phone calls) from his friends and they wanted us to join them for a beer. How could I say no.

I met the Frenchies; Valentin, Julie and Coline and the two Emilys and Matt. At first I thought Julie and Valentin just wanted to practice their english on another anglophone but it soon became apparent that all his friends were taking turns in the chair that best made conversation with me possible. All his friends were making sure that I felt weclome. I was indeed impressed with them.

A good time was had by all and it was a night that I will never forget. Zac and I had our first beer together and I truly enjoyed being a part of this group of young people that feel education is the way to a fulfilling life.

I would not see Valentin or Julie again and only saw Coline briefly at the University where she gave me my only bisous ( the traditional kiss on each cheek).

Annie Oakley

Anyone remember the "Annie Oakley Show" from the 50"s?

Annie Oakley was played by Gail Davis from Little Rock. She was our company spokesperson and we displayed her picture on our retail home delivery trucks ( yes milk used to be delivery to you door. We stopped this practice about 10 years ago).

Our company donates products at various public events and have a large grill that we take to cook for people.

We took the old retail truck that be used for this and painted it in the style of our 50's trucks.

It was displayed at our annual company picnic today. The truck looks great and will be a rolling advertisement for our company.

It conjours up a life before cell phones, computers, locked doors, both parents working outside the home, and lets not forget the Saturday afternoon westerns.

May Book Review

Before I review the book, I would like to tell you about Garland Leamons. Mr. Leamons was born in 1910 and we buried him this week.

He has my bother Bob's father-in-law. 97 years young and indeed a treasure to everyone that knew him.

What does this has to do with a book review?

Mr. Leamons lived a very simple life and over sixty years ago built a home for his family about ten miles from town. Over the years I had the pleasure of visiting his home several times and had the honor of being a pallbearer when Mrs. Leamons passed away nearly 25 years ago.










Just a simple home for a simple family but when you entered you felt the love of this family.


I was just a youngster the first time I visited but I was always welcome and as I became older, we had some wonderful talks. I should say, "I listened while he talked". He had wonderful stories and I was always entertained.









It is my loss that I haven't visited in several years. So many stories that I will never have the privilege of hearing.


The life he led mirrors the life chronicled in this months book.










FOXFIRE


The Foxfire books are a series of books about the early life in the southern Appalachians mountains.

In the late 1960's, Eliot Wigginton and his students created the magazine Foxfire in an effort to record and preserve the traditional folk culture of the Southern Appalachians.

It become so popular and so many students became involved that it led to the book series.


Eliot Wigginton was the editor while his students were the authors. They talked to their elder family members and began to assemble the stories of their heritage.

Each book is a stand alone book with it's own stories but the original Foxfire book explains how it all got started.

They should be available at your local library.

France - Champs Elysees

One has to "walk" the Champs Elysees to truly feel Paris.

We popped in the the Renault dealership (showroom only) and took a few pictures.







A very interesting "fuel cell" four wheeler.









This has the look of a 60's dune buggy.



A little farther down we entered the Toyota showroom.







"Holy cow Batman, what have they done to the batmobile?"








An all chrome car was also on display.












As night fell, Paris came alive.












The brief foul weather kept the outdoor cafes from being used.

France - Arc de Triomphe

The Arch of Triumph is the second most popular attraction in Paris.

I found this handsome young man to have my picture taken with.

The views from the top of the Arch give one the prospective of just how tall the Effiel Tower actually is.

The Champs Elysees (argumentatively the most famous street in the world) looking from both ways from the top of the Arch.

France - Church on the Hill

After walking what seemed like miles (because we actually walked miles) around the chateau we headed to a cafe and had pizza again.


The cafe had American 50's memorabilia and American license plates on the wall.

Then we caught the train and headed back to Paris. Our next destination was The Sacré-Coeur (the church on the hill).

The Sacré-Coeur district offers many spectacular views on Paris. Its village like streets and squares, its cafes and restaurants, its painters on the Place du Tertre attract many tourists.

But, as you walk a few meters away from the core tourist area, you discover very quiet and charming spots, quite unexpected in such a large city as Paris.


But first you must walk up the hill. Montmartre is the highest hill of Paris. 130 meters or about 426 feet above the city. The steps leading to the church are very steep and quite a challenge.












After you climb what seems like a thousand steps you have this view of Paris.










Turn around and you see you are only half way to the top. As I walked around the left side of the steps, I thought I was doing a pretty good job of climbing but I pigeon thought I was moving as fast as a statue and left a little something on my shoulder. So much for my speed.











Finally you are greeted with a magnificent church and the climb is soon forgotten.

























Behind the church is very artsy and has the feel of a street fair.











Just off the square there are streets like.


With the steps and the cobblestone streets this is not for the physically challenged.

France - Versailles

Our plan for Thursday was to take the train to Versailles. If the name sounds familiar, it should.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed to end WWII. It was signed in the Chateau de Versailles. The chateau was built by King Louis VIII in 1624 as a hunting lodge and later enlarged and became the official residence of the Kings of France from 1682 until 1790.

I thought the Louvre was huge but this place will take your breath away.

The gardens go on and on and there is a small palace in the rear of the gardens. It was built as a "ladies retreat" so the men could conduct their business in private.

The "ladies" didn't have said privacy. The Royal bloodline had to kept "pure", so the queens had to give birth in public so there could be no mistake of the offstring.

The palace was stripped of most of it's furnishings during the French Revolution, and Tuileries in Paris became the royal residence. Versailles is now a national museum.

Sorry I didn't take more photos but as we walked and listened to our "audio guides" I was just in awe of being in such an historical place that I just forgot about pictures.

http://www.a-castle-for-rent.com/versailles/ , will take you to an excellent sight to view photos.

I thought this would be the "highlight" of my trip but boy was I mistaken. What I would see on Saturday would even top this.

France - The Louvre

The Louvre is open one night a week and we took advantage of the reduced nightly rate to save a little money and extend the day.

The Louvre is "HUGE", the museum is U shaped and I stood in the open courtyard and marveled at its size.

Turning away and looking out the open end of the courtyard one can the the Arch of Triumph.

No, that is not it! If you enlarge the photo you will see it in the distance. This monument lines up perfectly with the Arch that is across town. I thought that was so cool.

The Louvre would take several days ( or weeks ) to see but one has to see the "big three".

The Winged Victory of Samothrace is thought to predate the birth of Jesus. Around 200 BC.

The Venus de Milo is recognized by everyone and it makes one feel special to be standing in the same room.

Photos of the Mona Lisa are not permited so I found this one on the net. I had already been warned it was not a large painting. But at about 30" X 20" it just didn't seem "larger than life", as I had always thought. It is in a large frame to add to its size.

By now I was starting to wilt and we called it a night after having a great pizza at a small Paris (did I mention I am in PARIS ) restaurant.