is it CHEAPER to build a DECK, DIY style or to HIRE a contractor?

[@totalnoobfishing1753]

Forget professional contractors...what you just did WAS professional. Nicely done and enjoy the compliments

[@steve23464]

Exactly my thoughts. DYI but it's a lot easier when you're basically a contractor.

[@chivo2102]

That’s the only problem with videos like these. The skill set/labor is obviously a huge factor so it isn’t fair to call it cheaper. Not to mention tools and time required.

[@aknorth1053]

Speaking as a DIYer who just built his first deck nothing about a deck is technically challenging and overall the process is pretty forgiving. Even buying the required tools you'll save money. And you will still have the tools when the project is done

[@chivo2102]

@@aknorth1053firstly if you consider yourself a diyer so I’ll assume you have significant experience. Secondly, no screwing or nailing some boards together to make a deck isn’t very difficult. Properly getting square, level, plumb and slopes with foresight of future potential issues with the correct materials and steps so that it’s long lasting with max capacity of safety for the years it will be used is something entirely different. To your last point, if you don’t use the tools regularly they will have been a one time purchase that actually didn’t save you money. Especially if missed some steps or for whatever reason the deck has to be rebuilt in 5 years rather than 20.

[@planb6504]

The guy probably works for the military engineer sector. He is not a newbie

[@joshcortright]

Don’t put post in the concrete. Those are going to rot. Pour the pier and get the brackets that bolt the post to the pier and also keep them 1/2” or so off the ground.

[@seaofrage]

Yeah that was my thought as well. Just not gonna last as long as it would have otherwise. Not sure about covering the sides of the deck with a solid piece of wood either cuz you might want more airflow there.

[@chelolelo]

They now sell heat shrink pvc that prevents Rot. They're called postsaver or green . Or you can dip it in liquid rubber.

[@SeriousBons]

Exactly what I was wandering, I remember a South Korean video about building houses where they specifically explained how you don't want wood to be in contact with concrete.

[@chelolelo]

@@SeriousBons Also.. apparently there are other methods you can do to isolate the wood from surface. However you do not want to trap the moisture in the wood. So a bag or wrap that went around the entire part of the post thats going into the ground may not be great as it may trap water once it rains or dew..therefore causing rot to occur down the road.

[@hewoguys2506]

or put a dpm at bottom of post

[@-Kreger-]

I’ve built quite a few decks. You did a great job. Can’t say I’ve figured out a way to not be hunched over. Good way to keep rodents and snakes out is to keep it clean under there. Use landscaping to seal the remaining gap. I always think if there isn’t a food/ water supply, they won’t want to be there. But if there’s a will there’s a way.

[@johnthepaddle4772]

8:04

[@auronedgevicks7739]

critters are going to get there anyway. It's better not to seal it so the critters don't feel safe. Once you seal it it becomes a permanent area once they get in

[@FrankHaney-b9y]

peppermint oil. Rodents and snakes have hightened sense of smell and can't stand the stuff. They make little balls that you can roll under your decking that will just defuse a smell and keep pets away. They're designed specifically for rodents but will actully have the same effect on snakes. Just keep the yard empty of food keep the bins secured and shut and you'll have no reason for them to stick around

[@BvictoryforChrist]

built hundreds of decks, best advice for laying the boards and ur back, stand on the ground, not the deck, while you work, when possible, brings your work up to you a good bit depending on the decks lvl. there are some tools to make it so u can screw while standing, but they kind of suck, i jus do it the old fashion way.

[@roots4x]

I have no construction experience and was thinking the same thing. Why not stand on the lower ground between the joists?

[@chaddymuchacho3347]

Your DIY tool kit is better then most contractors, Great job, my only criticism is you should have checked your bearers into your posts rather then screwing them. The whole sheer weight of that deck is on those screws when it could be sitting directly ontop or housed into the posts. Great work.

[@diywithandrew]

Dude you absolutely crushed it! Well done.

[@MaxorMatt]

For the wildlife that may want to nest underneath: You can fasten 1/8” galvanized steel screening along the lower perimeter of the deck and dig down 3’ + 3ft 90 degrees out from the deck, then fill back in with same dirt or whatever.

[@Googaliemoogalie]

Exactly what I did

[@MitchMitchell-q8d]

YEP..this works!

[@michiganracer1181]

I believe the building code in my area won’t let you hold the deck up with bolts or screws. The frame would be resting on top of the support post not bolted to the side of them. Deck looks good though, nice work.

[@Danfrank24]

Don’t tell them you’re building it then.

[@michiganracer1181]

@@Danfrank24 There’s always that option as well…ground level deck probably is a non issue.

[@Danfrank24]

@@michiganracer1181 yeah no reasons screws can hold a deck as long as you’re not putting very large weights hot tub etc.

[@n1west]

Those posts are also not code where I live. The screws holding the joists to posts are not intended to be load bearing.

[@Danfrank24]

@@n1west be reet as we say in Yorkshire.

[@downwhimsyavenue]

I stumbled upon your channel from Tiktok, and I am hooked brother. We are kindred spirits, and I love watching creative and motivated people tackle awesome projects. I'm binging all your videos now! Keep it up man, love what you're doing, and how you're doing it.

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Thank you so much for the kind words brother 👊👊 what can I say, but YOU rock!

[@pabadear]

Wow you nailed it man, excellent work! My only critique is the math you shared. $50-$60/sqft for a 400sqft deck would come out to $20k-$24k, not $15k-$16k. This makes your savings even more intense!

[@fergusof]

Good job. I built my son's deck -- about half the size -- with two stairs and a railing. Saved my son about 8 or 9 thousand dollars. I got a hug out of it. :)

[@PaulSmith-pr7pv]

Worth it ❤ wish you both many years of happiness

[@JOIHIINI]

Is he in a wheelchair? Why didnt he help u lol. Teach a man how to fish 🐟

[@MicaelAlbrecht-lk9uf]

Well done Dad, keep hinting a vacation to Ireland for Two and he still wins .....

[@TheThreekeys]

THAT’S beautiful!! Your mitered-corners are spot-on!! Your project proves it’s the details that make the difference! You asked about rodent/snake deterrent ideas. This is slightly labor intensive, but it’s something that has worked for me EVERY time (it kept coyotes and bobcats out of my chicken coop!): Use a long spade and make a “trench” right next to the bottom edge of the deck. Make it at least 8” to 10” deep and go all the way around your deck. Using a roll of hardware clothe -a very puncture resistant metal “mesh” - cut 16” to 18” strips. Save yourself massive amounts of time and pain by investing in a shear attachment to cut this hardware clothe. DeWalt makes one for about $60!! Tap these strips of hardware cloth down into the trench the ground. Since this will be an after-build install, you’ll have to pop off that bottom “skirt” trim so you can staple the hardware clothe to your bottom deck skirt. The mesh is very hard. Rodents cannot chew through it and it is painful on the paws and claws of larger animals.

[@devinbraun1852]

Nice job! To keep pests out, you can use hardware cloth around the perimeter, ideally burying the bottom edge 4” or so below grade. But honestly, unless you have it REALLY well enclosed, they will find a way in. Also, rodents love areas that are difficult to access, protects them from most predators (except for snake coincidentally). I say the best bet is to leave the perimeter open and occasionally clear out any accumulated debris that would give them reason to move in (I use leaf blower between the joist bay, not sure if you have the elevation to do this).

[@toabove2]

I think many people would agree with me that this is beyond DIY work 😂. I criticized you in my head, but that was all jealousy thought of how my work would not come even close to half of this. Such great works.

[@MikeGusFifteen]

It sounds stupid, but as someone that builds decks in the summer (self-employed carpenter/woodworker) it's best to just get on your knees with knee pads than to bend over like that. Unless your knees are REALLY bad, it's significantly better than doing the bend n snap lol

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

That makes sense to me. I didn’t have knee pads and it actually didn’t cross my mind. Thank you you for the tip 👍👍

[@patmason7276]

I need to do back and front decks. That looked great. Thinking of useing the upper line trex. Going to use stainless cable for the rails.

[@stevehadfield1164]

Dude that is a great finish. Awesome job. If only the weather here in the UK was good enough to warrant a deck that big.

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Thanks man! 👊 you’re weather must be very wet. I honestly don’t know. But I know our weather this season has been awful. I can’t wait for summer lol 😂

[@grilsegrils9330]

Well you have better weather than me in Norway. And there are some huge decks here anyways

[@ProMonkyVr]

"Great job on the project! It looks fantastic. If you decide to do another one in the future, here are a couple of tips: While you did an excellent job at making it level, it's important to add a slight pitch to allow water to run off. I recommend a 1/2 inch to 3/4 drop for every 10 feet. This will still maintain a level appearance. Additionally, you could achieve better results by connecting your support beams instead of placing one on each side of the 4x4s.

[@Tsuter1978]

It looks good, but the beams shouldn’t be fastened by bolts on the posts like that. The beams should rest on top of the beams with Simpson plates to join the two together. There are lots of code books out there for free to use as reference.

[@joshuawiedenbeck6944]

Multiple code violations on this project. The treated posts aren't allowed to be below grade now either. The methods used are good methods, just not code compliant anymore.

[@timgurr1876]

I’m in the process of rebuilding a 30 year old deck that I installed with friends. Original deck is cedar. It’s very difficult to remove the old screws (trying to save the cedar boards for another project). I’m surprised that the treated deck frame installed nearly on ground is still in great shape. I’ve gained some good techniques from your video. Thanks.

[@leave.me.be.]

I'm kinda DIYing my house atm. I'm the lady of the house so it's been a challenge for me. (My hubby is a business man. Has no interest) I have all the ideas but none of the skill. I've always been crafty so I did all the jobs I thought I could do or learn to do. And I did. I learned how to use a saw, how to measure accurately, I learned a hell of alot about what tools to use and just how many tools there are out there! It's strange, now I love my tools. I have an attachment to them. I get it now why men love their garage 😊. And overall so far I've saved at least 20k in labour costs. That money is going towards my new kitchen

[@rebeccagrice917]

Any advice on where to learn basics? I'm in the same shoes. Lots of ideas but doing it on my own or paying someone else to do it, which I don't have the money to do that.

[@nathangardner772]

I’m addicted to always getting the absolute latest power tools. I’ll pre order stuff from across the country/sometimes globe to try to get it the first day. For you guys/gals that aren’t pros, If something saves you five minutes every time you use it compared to not having it, that’s more something you want to look into. Wood cutting tools cut more than just wood, sometimes it’s blade choice, sometimes it’s common sense. Congrats on learning about them. Welcome 😊

[@nicko5566]

Nice looking deck!. Thanks for sharing. For rodent proofing, consider a 1/4" galvanized wire mesh that can go behind the side skirt of the deck and into the ground by a couple inches. I'd would dig a shallow 2" deep mini trench to accommodate the wire mesh and then push the dirt back into the trench to prevent the non-borrowing critters. You may want to consider backfilling over the weed block with gravel to aid with drainage and prevent weeds from taking root. Dirt and dust can carry weeds and over time they can drop in through the openings and start growth. I have seen this occur on low profile decks and a couple of inches of gravel does the trick. Weeds can sprout but cannot take root very well and don't last.

[@matthewgarey6240]

Just took my family of 5 to Disney, Sea World, spring training ball game and water park. Drove from Canada and whole trip was less than $5gs Cnd. Love the deck and video for saving money. I did this with a 80’ fence a few years ago. $4500 quote completed for $1950 DIY!! (And I have new tools)

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Very cool. And thank you for the kind words. It was a fun project for sure. But wow, I have no idea how you pulled off Disney and traveling that far for less than $5k though. We went there last year for 4 days and drove from florida lol and we spent $10k. Our hotel room was horrible too. And we went as cheap as we could with food and every thing. And we did nothing special or big. Some friends of mine go there twice a year and it cost them around $10k each time. Disney actually estimates for a family of 4, you will spend $5k-$9k for less than a week. We’re definitely not travel pros though 🤷‍♂️

[@Oops-IMeantToDoThat]

DIY-Think of itt as a vacation you can goto for years - 4-5k deck, years of use, 5-10k vacation used up in 5-10 days. Posts-the have post wraps now. Heat shrink at waterline. Pests- you could run smaller chicken wire around, buried a bit,then trimed over with wood above grade. That's kind of what they do to pest proof the underside of hot tubs. If you're worried about rusting (metal wire), you could paint it first (or maybe plastic wire). Great job!

[@Cut2Finish]

Great project. Once we get to settle in one place, i plan on doing the same thing. Make your home the place that you want to "get away to" and you'll be happy all the time.

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Yes! I love hearing that. We just bought this house last year after renting for 10 years so I’ve been dying to do home projects. I seriously want to diy my entire house into a place we never want to leave. I want to build awesome memories right here 👍👍

[@Cut2Finish]

@DesignsbyDonnie with skill and all of the free info on youtube, you'll build a place that other people want to come to as well. Lol good luck and I look forward to seeing your other projects.

[@mutteringmale]

I found it simpler and most cost effectivei n the long run to self-contract a concrete deck. I hired some cheap labor to set the forms exactly in the design I wanted, poured a 4" thick slab slightly tapering off to 3 1/2" towards the downside of the land so water would gradually move off, poured, waited a little bit, played rice patty Pauli with hand fulls of light brown concrete powder to give it a slight color, stomped on my 3' x 3' silicon stamp all around, lightly sprayed the concrete with a mist of water, covered it with a plastic tarp and for the next two weeks kept it slightly damp to let it help slow set and get very hard. Cost me about $2,000 for a 16' x 20' patio. 20 years later, beautiful! Only had to brush with detergent a few accidental oil/BBQ ribs falling on the floor spots to clean it. I've built about 3 decks with wood over the years and boy are they a pain in rear to keep clean, lubricated and from cracking, splitting and looking bad after 3-4 years.

[@seanneilan3919]

Make sure you get plenty of shade on the deck. I have the same color trex and in the summer it gets SUPER hot. Even my dogs don’t want to walk across the deck in the afternoon.

[@Galgamoth]

i was going to do composite on my deck but decided to try out tanzite stone instead. can walk barefoot on it

[@fernandomatos8814]

My friend. That deck looks amazing. I’m in the process of trying to resurface mines and I’ve also had quotes from contractors to rebuild it. Your quotes are on point, I got the same numbers. I was sick for a week, spent that time watching decking videos and I’m absolutely gonna do it myself. I think it’s very doable

[@Mid-Valley-Clean]

I agree 100% on your home being your main destination and using money on it instead of vacation.

[@dr.romeoconfidential9271]

You must be a boomer !

[@juandoe4934]

@@dr.romeoconfidential9271haha right. Stay put, never explore.stay in your safe space. Thats the Real way 😂😂😂

[@doublesunday1268]

​@@juandoe4934nah, real boomers sit on YT getting offended at sarcasm 😅

[@croboy751]

12 years ago I built a 14x16 deck because my 10x12 was completely rotted when we bought our home. A $12k quote from a deck contractor to replace the 10x12 with a new one sent me on my journey. $4k in materials with some new tools include got me a beautiful deck with 6 footers 12” in diameter to support 2 massive cross joists to support 14 additional 16’ joists running out from my home. The choice to do this myself was a no brainer since I’ve been in the construction industry for 20 years. Follow your local building codes and permits and always plan well ahead in detail and that makes the difference! Happy DYIing!

[@brandyeldridge3332]

I absolutely agree with everything you said about vacation and home... Makes so much sense to me!!!😊 Plus you did an amazing job!!!❤

[@CbrF4i600cc]

If u have kids in sure they will also be proud to never go on vacation

[@RD-sl8yl]

Please tell your wife, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!! God bless the USA!! You are definitely an elite DIYer. Looks spectacular and I’m sure your family will enjoy that for generations!!

[@5stardave]

Vacations can add so much enrichment to your life if you stay away from tourist attractions. Go to a nearby National Forest and find some random place to have a dispersed campsite away from an organized campground. No cost for the campsite, take food you already have, just have to spend money on fuel and camping gear you can use for years and might come in handy when the power goes out. Nothing like unplugging for a few days and making some memories.

[@outerspacern]

I know I'm late but camping as a kid was the most fun ever and I've never stopped.

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

I’ve always done my own Reno’s you know it’s going to get done right no corners cut and that feeling of accomplishment when your done is hard to beat and you’ve done a killer job it looks perfect

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Thank you so much and I totally agree with you.

[@discounthub1401]

Having a contractor do my deck. He never put the plastic that I saw you put. Will that be a problem?

[@peteryeung111]

Nothing more satisfying to accomplish something on your own, and improving your skills along the way. Nice work!

[@chelolelo]

Good job. The only suggestion I have is that not all wood is square if you're going to home depot / Lowes. Please make sure its not warped or have a curve on the short side to it by placing the lumber on the floor whereever you are getting your lumber from to make sure its not bad.

[@M_Pashby]

Good work, turned out nice. 👍 I had to cringe when i saw 3’ deck posts being set in concrete, but I suppose you are not concerned with frost heave in your area. Our region requires posts be anchored to (not set in) concrete footings that are at least 4’ below grade.

[@mr.doctorcaptain1124]

Yeah that was my thought too. Did that guy seriously just not dig beneath the frost line???? Is that not an issue in some parts of the country or something? I live in the desert and even here we’re supposed to dig below the frost line.

[@veracityseven]

20 years as a carpenter, built many decks, yours looks great, and is about as professional as it gets. One small thing, (and it's small) you really should not have placed the post directly into the concrete, a post base would have been ideal, but your deck will have a couple decades before that's really an issue. You're hired!

[@guybowers9094]

Stay home and save some money. Disney isn't worth the cost, especially what they want now

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Yes, I totally agree with you. We’re gonna stay home and keep DIYing 👍

[@JulianaBlewett]

Worth

[@Mike-om4tv]

​@@DesignsbyDonnieyou did an amazing job, wish i had your knowhow. Hope your kids got some instruction on some quality DIYing

[@mediocreman2]

Disney is trash. Don't know how people can support them.

[@overseer3072]

Who goes to Disney anymore ? 😂

[@blakethetank]

The beginning rant about people traveling for summer/etc was chef kiss I feel the SAME WAY

[@DigitalSwagg]

Great job did most of the work around my house too, that's until the wife decided she wasn't happy filed for divorce took the house and half my shit. Good luck with yours though.

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Thanks man and that sucks. Sorry to hear that dude. To be honest, I never even thought about that. Geez, no wonder my wife is so happy. She’s thinking 🤔 “I’m gonna get everything” lol 😂 gosh what a bummer that would be.

[@King_Rematch]

Story as old as time my friend.

[@armandcasanare2366]

As fellow DIY and a Military Veteran I couldn't agree more Pure Satisfaction 100%, I'm in similar situations .

[@joseph7105]

As a contractor that fixed countless decks that "DIY husbands" have made, i say 99% of the time youre best off hiring the pros

[@Backtrap1943]

not for 16k he isn't lol. US prices are absurd. It's better off living in EU.

[@juzoli]

It depends if you enjoy building it, or not. I spent 5x as much on building my deck as a pro, but I really enjoyed doing it. If I simply multiply it with my own salary, it doesn’t add up, and I lost money. But I consider it as part of my hobby, not a work, so I ended up saving a lot. And also it is much better than 90% of the decks I see, built by pros.

[@PhilTheProf]

I've already built mine. It's in the suntrap of my garden and is shielded on 3 sides by my shed and fencing. I have a large garden umbrella which can be raised if it's too hot.

[@lamoe4175]

Little bit off topic. Had a 2 / 3 story English Basement "walk out" house with a hill from basement floor level to next floor. The original berm wall was railroad ties. UGLY and becoming rotten. Contractor cost to redo was $14,000 in 2000. Went to local stone supplier. Cost for blocks, needed other stuff + delivery to front of house was less than $4,000. Soil removed was pure black dirt. Made a nice raised garden with it .Took most of summer to excavate, reinforce soil, prep, and install block. Wall was 4 1/2 ft high x 24ft length.

[@Googaliemoogalie]

Good job! As for the bottom, you need air movement under the deck going through and out the top, so what I did to keep animals and stuff out was to dig down a foot or so and then get some steel wire mesh, it's pretty tight, nothing would pass through it, but air can and digging down a foot and setting it from there to the top of under the deck was a good way that it'll stay there for years and not allow animals to just dig under the barrier to get in. And I set it back so when looking at the deck, you can't see it

[@daviddrake5906]

Very nice job. A thought I had was about ventilation under the deck. It is going to get wet there due to rain penetrating through the gaps. Improving under deck ventilation will allow the under deck area to dry out faster and slow down any rot. mildew and mould.

[@Chris11249]

That's beautiful and professional! My only question is why do Americans love building these decks? In only some parts of the country? In California, we would have just brought in some base (bagged it if needed) to raise the elevation and poured a concrete pad. Either with stamped concrete or tiled it. In Europe, they would have brought in base and set a thick mortar bed and layed tiled, or perhaps gravel and sand and pavers. What's the appeal of a deck on a flat area?

[@kyrellosekladious9828]

I built my own floating deck and I saved over $20K. I bought my PTL from HD and I bought trex composit from a supplier in North Carolina and it was delivered to my home in Texas for free, total deck size was a massive 512sqf. I worked 2-3 hrs a day for 2 months and I gotta say, it is beautiful. And your is amazing. How long it took you to build it ?

[@lynhjensen790]

That was very nice for a first time deck. I recently replaced my entire floor of my deck, which consists of 5 decks comprising about 3000 square feet of deck. I did a picture frame on several of mine. It took me about 8 months. The hardest part was removing the old deck floor from 27 years ago.

[@Mgtow_Monk]

They make a product that is like a thick foam. It comes in a bag similar to quickcete but its liquid, you pop it, mix it inside its own container then pour it into the hole with the post. I think this helps to stabilize the pole as well as shield it from the ground.

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

Sounds really cool. I’m gonna goggle it and see what it is.

[@froggey5689]

I’d like to see a better breakdown of the costs. Was your fancy cement mixer something you had or was that included in the cost? You simply tell us what you paid for everything, but don’t provide any detail about what exactly you bought and went into this project. You made this look easy, FYI. Nicely done!

[@beskidteunderbukser1431]

To your question about relieving the stress on your back during the job. I’d advise getting carpenter pants with kneepads inside. I was just noticing that you were standing the entire time. Its a beautiful deck you’ve build 👍

[@GeorgeMinton-jb8ky]

That is a beautiful deck and I appreciated your desire to keep animals out. I have a shed and those little boogers found every weak point I had on the low side of the deck. Skunks loves porches, decks and air conditioners, especially air conditioners. If you really want to keep them out get some hardware cloth at a hardware store of all places. Dig about 8 inches into the ground all around your deck. Nail half of it below ground and the other half above ground. Make sure the corners are overlapped. That might keep them out but only time will tell. Chipmunks also like these same places. I had one find a one inch hole by my garage door and he used it for a long time until he filled the whole area up with his food store. I am never telling the next homeowner about this. Now you have the inside skinny on it. Good luck. note: gravel helps keep the skunks out. They don't like digging in gravel for long. You might consider a railing around the back of it. The first kid that falls off and you might get sued. All you need is one crazy mother going off on you and they are out there not to mention kids don't listen.

[@regthebackyardjackofalltrades]

I’ve traveled from Jersey to Florida and Jersey to San Diego several times since 1990. Bucc-ees wasn’t around in the 1990’s. At the Truck Stops you met up with people with the likes of “Large Marge” on Peewee’s Big Adventure. Most truck stops have evolved for the better. Not only the food & trinket selections but the best thing is being able to freshen up after embarking on a trek through Texas. When you arrive at a Bucc-ees birds are chirping and rose petals are at the base of your car as you exit it at the pump. I’m surprised the rest of the U.S. hasn’t caught on like in Europe and Asia. Lol the chirping birds are the birds that peck off the bugs that are all over your car after driving long distances.

[@amsoiladam]

I think it came out fantastic. I would use some large stone, with Nichole riprap put around the base to hide blackboards that you put up. It will also also help her critters from getting there.

[@greenfrog8871]

built a low profile composite deck with a skirt. Too low to allow access underneath for maintenance issues. Pretty much like your deck, but I used screw piles to eliminate any ground movement, we get big temperature swings. To deter all types of vermin: 1. The area under the deck was back filled with 4" of Quarter Down. It compresses over time into a very hard cap that discourages pretty much anything that burrows. Also sheds surface water pretty well. 2. the inside perimeter of the deck skirt was matched with cement curbs, buried almost flush with the grade (you can pour a footing in place if you prefer). 3. A 6" galvanized flat flashing was set against the cement and the inside of the skirting frame. Makes for a very difficult barrier to overcome for any type of chewing pest including mice and wasps, etc. 4. Used Composite Skirt materials, backed by screening, since they are very very vermin unfriendly to chew trough. Wanted the area under the deck to have natural venting and air flow from the sides to the decking layer. 10 years later, not one 'thing' has invaded the underside of the deck and it hasn't moved.

[@evalangley3985]

You will get scam if you hire a contractor like I did. Not only did I paid 3 times more, but I am having issue for a project that should be turn key. My contractor installed my Ledger Board over my siding even after I told him it was against code. He told me it was going to be fine for a fiber glass flooring, which is not the case structurally talking. It needs to be fixed.

[@fmort210]

Very nice job, that deck will last you a long time for sure! I do have a few takeaways for you though, or for others looking to build a deck and actually read the comments first. Someone else mentioned not to put the posts in the concrete, even if its ground contact treated. It will be ok for many years, but not AS many as if you had used a post sleeve around the post below where it protrudes the concrete to a few inches above ground, or used a post base and painted the cut end with copper naphthenate. also the technique of cutting the decking after its down made for some straight lines, but that rendered your tape work a waste of time and money, it also could make channels in the joists right where the water is going to drip down. Still, your work is better then some professional jobs I have seen.

[@spelunkerd]

Looks great. I just wonder about how heat will expand the long segments of plastic. As appealing as those tight miter joints are now, aren't you supposed to leave a little gap for expansion? I'm trying to learn this before giving it a try later this month.... How does it look now?

[@jesusgirl2470]

You do great job!!! I hope your family knows how blessed they're to have you! Tell your wife she's truly blessed 😊

[@haciendadad]

This video was exactly what I was looking for. I am not a carpenter, but I figure if I use your video to make a floating deck at about 12' x 15', from what I saw, it isn't that difficult. I love working on things around the house and this is a challenge for me, but this is something I've been wavering on for weeks on whether to DIY it or pay a contractor, so based on your video I am going to DIY it.

[@onepoket]

The reason for the flashing tape on top of the joists is because with trex/timbertek composite style boards there is no where for the water to evaporate. It will get trapped under the plastic boards and rot the joists. It's actually a small amount of insurance for all the effort in making the deck. I DIY'd my deck solo too, the difference for me was a contractor cost would have been around 40k and I did it for 17k in materials.

[@taylorlewis7972]

Great job on the deck build. Only thing I didn’t like was putting posts down into concrete like a fence post. That’s gonna be a tough repair being that the deck is so close to the ground. You shouldn’t have to worry about it for another 10 years. Make sure you have good drainage and airflow under the deck.

[@BramBiesiekierski]

Hardest thing with composite decking is the thermal expansion. That shit grows. I literally had lay my boards at a certain time of day, so that i could match my gaps across the deck. If i worked to far into the day, the heat would grow them, and then when it cooled the gaps would be way out.

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

You’re so right and I’ve been noticing the boards swelling up. Crazy.

[@RonnieSportz]

I’m the guy who has gone to vacations and told Myself Buckys was the coolest place ever. And while I do recommend you eventually check one out (because it is awesome) at the end of the day, it’s a big gas station. I have to agree with you, more worth the work and money to put it into your home!

[@death-hs4dh]

You did pretty good. Going forwards as some one who has done this forever make sure to double up you rim joist. Good use of brackets to btw. The thing you did best was properly take time measure for square. I think you did great over all at this height and size. Yours design structurally is probably decent for this set up, just double up the rims next time esp if bigger or taller. Doubling up the rims does alot load bearing and stability

[@RingwelskiJacek]

Pressure treated lumber is 10-15 years before it starts to rot for deck boards, the joists usually last longer. But WILL rot where the screws go in....unless you put that seal strip on which blocks water from following the screw into the wood.

[@criticalmass181]

Great work, Mate. To keep critters out of the underside, have you considered putting a river rock boarder around the base? It'll still let any water drain out, but keep animals from entering.

[@chrisgraham2904]

When taking on a home project, I always balance the contractor's hourly rate against the hourly rate that I make at my job. If I work and make $100 per hour, it makes sense to pay a contractor $60 per hour. If you work and make $40 per hour, it doesn't make sense to pay the contractor $60 per hour. If you normally make $40 per hour, you'll be making $60 per hour while your building your own deck.

[@mulliganman33]

Looks great! You did a great job! My only suggestion would be to have added guard rails around the sides and back to protect someone from backing up and falling off. Other than that, well done!

[@mxupersonal6017]

Closing off the sides of underneath the deck limits air circulation and will promote wood rotting, especially if you didn’t seal the cut ends of the treated lumber. I bought a house that had the deck built the same way, and it is all rotted after less than 10 years. Also burying the posts in concrete makes it difficult to replace in the future. Suggest to use those post anchors so posts stay above ground level.

[@v91maximus91v]

The deck looks great! Traveling is not about being in an airplane with a lot of people, it is about experiencing things you can't at home and learning/having fun while doing it! Especially fun to travel to different countries!! Disney Land is also not for YOU but for your kids because they still have imagination (even though I hate the place myself lol)

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic work, Donnie! It turned out amazing! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

We will for sure and thank you so much!!! 😊

[@rja7062]

Looks good. However, if you didn't use the locking clips, you could have expansion and contraction issues come winter if you have a winter season where you live

[@BMWMZ3X5]

I totally agree with you. I prefer to spend my time and money at home, so I DIY everything myself and I get to really enjoy my home every day.

[@Maybe-You-Know-Me-Not]

I like it! Would definitely DIY it and have. I tend to incorporate free materials in mine, sometimes it needs replacing sooner but like you said it’s my free time.

[@andrewschafer8986]

Great job on the deck! 👍👍 With that said there should have been permit costs. We left out costs like material delivery Debris removal That track saw alone is 650-700$. You saved a large sum of money but it was less then 11,000$

[@auronedgevicks7739]

around where I live, it's usually material cost x 2 for labor. So if the cost is 5k, you're paying around 10k to have someone build it, and they will build it with the cheapest materials. So when you build it yourself you can use higher quality Fastners and material and still save money.

[@eugenejoseph7076]

Good job dude! Also enjoyed your social commentary on the state of the world. I'm retired, mortgage free for over twenty years but it's because we never took costly yearly vacation to some tourist filled beaches and pay for everything on Credit Cards that never get fully paid until you take another vacation! I know couples in their seventies with a mortgage!!! We took great day trips, the odd overnight, some to Florida to visit family, but mostly enjoyed holidays at home and loved it. Nothing beats a great BBQ, a cold pint, backyard movies with family and friends. Cheers.

[@christophersifuentes6179]

I'm just gonna say, pretty sure this guy is a professional on his days off. Hard to such a good job without having some experience

[@Pandan3D]

i love your attitude! Im about to be a first time homeowner in the next year, so im excited to start doing smaller DIY stuff to build up to things like this! Cheers~

[@ropelli05]

Nice work, and a pro-level finishing. Quality is more than you usually get from a contractor. Good job. A rodent net (a steel mesh) will do the job keeping the rodents and reptiles away from underneath. Plus - the tape is not a good idea. It is not doing anything to keep the lumber from getting wet - it is actually doing the opposite. The luumber will get wet, but the tape is slowing the drying process. The pressure treated frame will last a lifetime since it is off the ground. I live in Finland, so I know what a tough environment does to timber. And also, putting the post straight into concrete will also shorten the life span of the post compared to a concrete-steelbracket-timber post -style of solution. However, this will hold long enough.

[@day73]

Well here in Australia I have been quoted $30,000 to replace our deck boards. I priced up materials and they came to $4500 for composite boards including railings. 8m x 2.7m deck and was told 3 days work for the contractor. No trades person is worth $8500 a day for their time. I’ll be doing it myself.

[@tehsimo]

I wonder if you could paint something onto the framing lumber, would be easier than laying all the tape.

[@adventurefuel5172]

The answer is yes it’s always cheaper to DIY because you “sweat equity” the labor cost. But with 30 years in construction, I can say part of what you pay for is the experience, the knowledge base, and ownership of tools and DIYer would never invest in, or use again. That being said, there wasn’t a KZbin 30 years ago to give you detailed instructions and videos, so tasks are a lot less daunting. Fantastic job by the way.

[@Self-Care_Journ-E]

This is really nice. Would be nice if you can do a step-by-step video explaining the type of wood, screws, tools, etc., need to do this...

[@robertwynkoop68]

I have a deck with composite surface built in 2011, some joists that are rotten at the top, due to the fact that a composite dock does not get stain. My old deck had joists from 1993 and were still in good shape.

[@BonesJJ]

Awesome job.. that deck looks amazing! • On the intro, I’m from Louisiana but it’s really like Texas border so I’ve been to Buc-ee’s quite a bit. I’ll say this when traveling that is absolutely the place to stop, the gas is priced reasonably ( Sams club prices), the bathrooms are always immaculate. Those bathrooms are so clean it’s like a hospital lol. They have a wide variety of snacks, food, drinks to restock for the road or get a decent meal in. - Taking selfies there is wild. -• The vacation perspective is all matter of how you grew up, lived and are you doing it within your means. I never had a vacation growing up the closest thing to that was Class Field Trips to the Zoo or NASA. I’m extremely frugal, all I do is work and stay home. So much so I only fill my truck up once every 10-14 days lol sometimes longer than that. When I was working full time at a casino and a full time college student I had my first solo vacation to Vegas spent in 08’ flight and room was $700. I won $2800 second night entire trip was paid for and I and winnings. I’ve had other trips to LA, San Diego, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, Fl. Those trips were more pricey as couples trips but when you work as much as we do it’s good to decompress sometimes. My home is on peers so I’ve always wanted a back deck, so I could walk out my French doors sit out back or grill on the back deck. Had a cheaper Pit rust and rot because water pools in the backyard from heavy rain so this would alleviate that problem as well. My home was recently renovated from past hurricane damage. They did a good job but for the total of 170k I feel like the whole home should have been touched up. I got no improvements in the kitchen. Did not remove a wall to make it open. No talks for the back deck. My front deck was rebuilt a made even better I’d prefer to bbq in the back though.

[@gerrymcdonald6194]

For a ground-level deck that will never have post rot, skip using posts and use large gravel (not the little stuff) as the base. Build a frame of 8 X 10's (or whatever length you prefer, but be sure they are 8" wide). Put the frame 18" out from the sides of the deck ('the apron'). Fill the frame (ALL of the frame, not just the apron) with the gravel, and level the 8" deep gravel. Put the deck on the levelled gravel. You will never have a problem with rot, as the gravel keeps the bottom of the deck dry. You will also never have critters make a home under your deck, as they absolutely hate the gravel. And, your deck won't move (provided you put it on 'levelled' gravel. This is also the best way to put a utility shed in your yard (example, a 8' X 12' shed).

[@markromeo6590]

Great job overall. On your picture framing, you did not leave a gap at the seam. TREX asks for 1/8 inch in this situation. Have you had any issues with not leaving a gap?

[@OnlyThe1Son]

no I wouldnt DYI it because I dont have skills like you bro... WOW... amazing work

[@cynic5581]

The (DIY) problem is the deck post need to be attached to concrete footers using Simpson Strong Ties ABA or ABU can’t remember which (or similar), not embedded in the concrete. Even treated lumber will rot like that. It’s code where I live. So now when you sell the house if the home inspector sees that the new owner will ask for the price (professional install price) of the deck off the price of the house so they can have it done properly. Even if you don’t sell the place you’ll be redoing it eventually. No doubt it looks great but as a realtor I’ll watch my clients save/lose upwards of 100k because of DIY work.

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

You’re correct in some cases with DIY work but I’ve been a contractor for 25 years and the latest trend in deck installations for only the past few years have been to use a Simpson tie on top of the concrete. But both methods are fine and both last for a very long time. But both ways does not last forever, nothing does. The pressure treated lumber is made to be in contact with concrete, I have neighbors, family, and friends that have theirs built that way and it’s been over 40 years and still zero problems. Like I said though, both ways are great and both ways last a long time. But if a contractor or DIY person tells you that the only correct way is to use a Simpson tie on top is the only way, then either their a new contractor with very little experience or they don’t know any better. The same goes with fence installations… so many people say if you put the post in concrete then it’s gonna rot. That’s true but my old house had a 42 year old fence built that way and it still stands strong today. All methods are great and nothing last forever.

[@justlookingaround9834]

Over all a great job. How have you found the expansion/contraction of the deck boards and the possible scratching?

[@handymattharder9896]

Pour concrete into the ground and put posts on top. Then build your frame on top of the posts. Right now the only thing holding that deck up is the screws into the posts, and use nails for framing they have more sheer strength.

[@travisboeh996]

Big DIYer and I go to youtube to learn and get ideas all the time. That deck looks amazing! Well done and thanks for sharing.

[@devoncsmith2696]

Tell me how it feels next time when the sun is scorching hot? Secondly, pools without fences, are these widespread in the U. S or varies according to state?

[@pepo736]

Why the hell would you fence your pool? What am i, an zoo animal?

[@CowboyBillUSA]

What exceptional craftsmanship. Excellent job!

[@DesignsbyDonnie]

You’re too kind, but you made my day. Thank you.

[@anythingeverything4424]

As far as keeping rodents out I’d say make a 2 foot walkway all the way around the 3 back sides with white 3/4 rock and fill high enough to patch any exposed openings

[@PaulTasillo]

Great meticulous framing and deck board installation. ? When you cut the decking with the track saw, prior to installing the "middle board", how did you prevent cutting into the black tape on top of the framing?