The Home Improvement Thread

[surferguy]

This likely would have triggered a saw stop due to its precision but I didn’t even bleed. Just a friendly reminder from my saw to say don’t get lazy.

Id like to own a saw stop one day.

On another note I busted a pin in my Festool sander this afternoon. Was happy to find out it’s and easy fix and should only cost be about 20 bucks in the end. Have to wait for the part so all sanding is on hold until the end of the week. ¡No bueno!

[Wormius]

Kind of yard question, we had a rose bush and its roots are spreading and sprouts keep coming up in the lawn. We usually just mow over them, but they feel terrible if you step on them. How can you either stop these or kill them.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Kind of yard question, we had a rose bush and its roots are spreading and sprouts keep coming up in the lawn. We usually just mow over them, but they feel terrible if you step on them. How can you either stop these or kill them.

You could try Poison. The band, not the chemical.

[CroFlames]

Where can I find the "building code"?

The previous homeowner of my house built an embarrassingly ugly and unsafe deck. The plan is to tear it down and build from scratch.

I have no problem building the thing myself, and I know most of the rules that are posted on Calgary.ca (like piles need to be 4ft deep, and be six inches above grade).

However, things like are 2x8s acceptable or does it have to be 2x10? Spacing of piles? Span allowance between beams? What about those post holder thingys that look like a concrete pyramid?

Also, if you come dig post holes for me, your payment in beers increases exponentially. One hole = 2 beers. 2 holes = 2+4 beers. 3 holes = 2+4+8 beers, etc.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Where can I find the "building code"?

The previous homeowner of my house built an embarrassingly ugly and unsafe deck. The plan is to tear it down and build from scratch.

I have no problem building the thing myself, and I know most of the rules that are posted on Calgary.ca (like piles need to be 4ft deep, and be six inches above grade).

However, things like are 2x8s acceptable or does it have to be 2x10? Spacing of piles? Span allowance between beams? What about those post holder thingys that look like a concrete pyramid?

Also, if you come dig post holes for me, your payment in beers increases exponentially. One hole = 2 beers. 2 holes = 2+4 beers. 3 holes = 2+4+8 beers, etc.

I think Rona will draw up deck plans for you with everything you need to know about spans and dimensions if you buy your deck material from them. Size and set backs I think will be clarified when you get your permit from the city. I think they also have a brochure on that.

[Fuzz]

The city has a chat where you can talk to them, or call them. They won't tell you exactly what to do, but can give you guidance. I don't believe there is specific requirements for things like 2x8 vs 2x10 for a deck from the city, but you could search for recommendations. It will be the same here as elsewhere for safe loading.



Those pyramid things are probably no good, you will need piles. I believe you can use screw piles but that will add to your cost. If you have to dig holes, save yourself the suckage and rent a gas post hole digger. You will need a friend.

[Fuzz]

Ya, good call on letting Rona or Home Depot do it, just double check everything, and if it isn't a rectangle they don't always recommenced the right board lengths for minimum wastage. Like if you have a 4 foot walkway, they gave my buddy 6 ft's, instead of 8 ft's so there was loads of waste.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ya, good call on letting Rona or Home Depot do it, just double check everything, and if it isn't a rectangle they don't always recommenced the right board lengths for minimum wastage. Like if you have a 4 foot walkway, they gave my buddy 6 ft's, instead of 8 ft's so there was loads of waste.

I wasn't sure if I trusted that service. I find most associates at home stores to be kinda dolty.

I'll give it a try though.

Probably will rent the auger. Says $61 per four hours, and I'm sure I could dig 4 to 6 holes if needed in that time. A case of beer these days is damn near $50 anyway.

[Fuzz]

As long as you don't run into boulders 4 hours should be enough.


Depends where you are in the city, but the Rona on Edmonton Trail has some mostly competent people at the service desk. Can't speak for anywhere else.

[Shazam]

Where in the city are you? The gas powered augers are useless in many parts of the city due to the subsoil.

[rohara66]

You will take more then 4 hours because you will 100% guaranteed hit some rocks.



Also don't even bother dealing with Home Depot or Lowes. Just go directly to a lumber yard and have them build your package and do the design. Plus their lumber is much better quality then the junk HD and Lowes are peddling.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Where in the city are you? The gas powered augers are useless in many parts of the city due to the subsoil.

Mahogany in the deep south.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Where can I find the "building code"?

The previous homeowner of my house built an embarrassingly ugly and unsafe deck. The plan is to tear it down and build from scratch.

I have no problem building the thing myself, and I know most of the rules that are posted on Calgary.ca (like piles need to be 4ft deep, and be six inches above grade).

However, things like are 2x8s acceptable or does it have to be 2x10? Spacing of piles? Span allowance between beams? What about those post holder thingys that look like a concrete pyramid?

Also, if you come dig post holes for me, your payment in beers increases exponentially. One hole = 2 beers. 2 holes = 2+4 beers. 3 holes = 2+4+8 beers, etc.

You won't find the building code accessible for free and it won't be of any help for a deck anyways.

What you need is Canadian Wood Council span tables. But doing structural calculations on your own is always asterisk at your own risk.

http://cwc.ca/wp-content/uploads/201...Span-Guide.pdf

Also if your deck isn't higher than 2' above grade then you don't require a building permit for it.

The one thing I've always prescribed on low decks is wrap the whole thing in either a couple steps or a planter so you don't have a squat deck surrounded by eye level railing.

[Treycal]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

However, things like are 2x8s acceptable or does it have to be 2x10? Spacing of piles? Span allowance between beams? What about those post holder thingys that look like a concrete pyramid?

Also, if you come dig post holes for me, your payment in beers increases exponentially. One hole = 2 beers. 2 holes = 2+4 beers. 3 holes = 2+4+8 beers, etc.

The span tables mentioned above are great, but a quick and dirty rule is "maximum span in feet = 1.5 x board width in inches" So a 2x10 can have a maximum span for the joists of 15 feet.

The past couple of decks we've built we have used helical screw piles instead of regular concrete piles. Won't be going back anytime soon. Yes, they are more expensive (about $250/pile installed) but make life so much easier. We've had no issues with rocks when having the piles put and there is no waiting around for concrete to set up, etc. Leveling them is easy as well. Just shoot level mark and cut the posts to that height. The ones we've used have a variety of plates for the top and all can be further adjusted to dial in the height. Company we used for our screw piles was "TechnoPost"

Cheers,

Tim

[surferguy]

My buddy runs the technopost here, shoot me a pm if you want his number.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Mahogany in the deep south.

Ah, a wild jackrabbit should be enough then to dig out the soil.

Seriously, I helped my BIL build his deck in Copperfield and the subsoil was so easy to go through. We had it done fairly quickly. It was about 12 holes we had to do using a gas powered auger.

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Ah, a wild jackrabbit should be enough then to dig out the soil.

Seriously, I helped my BIL build his deck in Copperfield and the subsoil was so easy to go through. We had it done fairly quickly. It was about 12 holes we had to do using a gas powered auger.

Did my parents post holes for their fence up in Hawkwood about ten years ago. It was horrid. We rented an auger, and the damn thing kept deflecting due to the number of boulders. Ended up having to dig them by hand. Pulled out a boulder twice the size of a large watermelon....

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by surferguy

My buddy runs the technopost here, shoot me a pm if you want his number.

I think I'm going to do traditional piles. The deck won't be higher than 3ft at the high point, so traditional will suffice. Plus, money. 80lb concrete is only 4 bucks.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by IliketoPuck

Did my parents post holes for their fence up in Hawkwood about ten years ago. It was horrid. We rented an auger, and the damn thing kept deflecting due to the number of boulders. Ended up having to dig them by hand. Pulled out a boulder twice the size of a large watermelon....

Yeah I'm up north too, I once had a boulder that size pop up from the ground after winter. I couldn't move it so left it there.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I think I'm going to do traditional piles. The deck won't be higher than 3ft at the high point, so traditional will suffice. Plus, money. 80lb concrete is only 4 bucks.

Have you calculated how much concrete you will need for pilings?

Screw piles are ~30$ a piece and if you can auger for a piling without hitting rocks you can easily put in screw piles. I put ten in the ground with a friend in a little over an hour. Plus they are adjustable after the fact in case your soil moves a bit. We've had a few dry years and I have to raise my deck close to an inch.

If you insist on concrete piles and you have the room for a bobcat, just get one to come over and drill your holes, it will take him a few minutes and save your back. I had a fence line done once and it cost me a couple hundred and was done in an hour.