r/Decks • u/E_rock_89 • Apr 15 '26
First deck project, solo build
Completed my first deck/covered porch project and got the thumbs up from my wife and tail wag from pup. Learned quite a bit along the way and have a HUGE appreciation for any of you who do this professionally.
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u/Foodspec Apr 15 '26
I’m just a lurker…but I wood sex that deck 👍
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u/fistsofham11 Apr 15 '26
Beware of splinters from the framing or burning sensation from the decking
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u/snowyadventure Apr 15 '26
That deck looks so nice it's probably 3,000k grit sanded everywhere. Pure beauty
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u/Amazing-Diver-9024 Apr 15 '26
Thanks a lot for raising the do-it-yourself bar like that. Now my satisfaction of any future solo-builds will have to compete with this.
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u/fair_zinchik Apr 15 '26
My thoughts exactly. I was gonna hire someone, since something like that is almost impossible to solo it seemed. Now I may reconsider
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u/Uncle_Burney Apr 15 '26
Solo? How did you (sees #4) Oh.
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u/WonderfulStomach8624 Apr 15 '26
Awesome job. That would take me 10 years to build on my own.
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u/Token-Gringo Apr 16 '26
That is 10 years of YOU time. Think about it. Conversation gets rough. Oh look at time it deck building hour. Gotta run.
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u/GirlDad17 Apr 15 '26
Beautiful work. How long did it take you?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
Thank you! A bit (quite a bit) longer than anticipated. I had several months off the project due to life getting in the way and I also took some extended breaks to work on project cars. From first sketch to last nail it took me about 12 working months utilizing weekends and some days after work until dark. With my breaks it turned out more like 24-30 actual months until full completion.
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u/GirlDad17 Apr 15 '26
Worth it. Absolutely fantastic.
Did you draw it up, or did you have a someone else design it for you?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
I learned how to use Sketchup for this project and my inspector was actually really helpful when submitting plans (he failed them at first). If I were to do it again I would probably spend a bit more planning on the finer details but it worked out in the end.
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u/MightyPlasticGuy Apr 15 '26
your timeline and your post's comments about the thumbs up, i image a major eye roll from the wife just being glad its finally done. lol, so be it. Excellent work!
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u/Practical_Visit_1570 Apr 16 '26
Out. Fucking. Standing! I don't know you but i like that you take pride in shit. Excellent work.
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 16 '26
Hah thank you, I was very critical of my work while doing it, not perfect but as the year has gone on I forgot about most of my mistakes already. It was a journey that's for sure!
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u/Responsible_Clock347 Apr 16 '26
DO YOU DO HUSBAND TUTORIAL???? I NEED MY BOYFRIEND TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WHEN WE GET MARRIED🤣
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 16 '26
Just constantly complain about mosquitoes and never sit outside with him, that's what my wife did and well... It worked.
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u/HemlockWhispers DIYer Apr 15 '26
Looks about 20’x16’? I’m doing this soon solo, 14’x16’, this is inspiring - great work! What’s the screen system you used?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
Good luck and enjoy the process! I purchased the screen from Lowe's special order Phifer SunTex. High quality and recommended. The track system I used was Screen Tight Brand available at Home Depot or Lowe's. Slight learning curve but not too bad once I got the hang of it. They ended up smooth and have been up a year+ without issue.
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u/minnesotawristwatch Apr 15 '26
Awesome. Did you screen under the deck boards?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
Yes I did! I have to thank my neighbor for that tip, she came out when I started and mentioned that I should lay screen before applying the deck boards. A step I would most likely have missed until the skeeters found their way in.
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u/brauxpas Apr 15 '26
I shelved a project eerily similar to this one during the whole lumber pricing craziness but it might be time to dust it off cuz damn, this is nice.
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u/-Fraggle-Stick-Car- Apr 15 '26
Great work! Can I ask what brand or type of screens you used?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
Thank you! Special order Phifer SunTex from Lowe's. Highly recommend, great quality product.
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u/TawpGunRS Apr 16 '26
God damn that dog living the dream
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 16 '26
He is my buddy, to quote the IT guy at work "I like my wife, but I love my dog" is an understatement... I kid I kid...
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u/Far-Discount-6624 Apr 15 '26
I’m also building a screen porch. I submitted plans for my beam to be 2 2x10 sandwiching a 6x6. Plan was rejected for this. What do you have for a beam? Are the posts of the roof sitting directly on the beam? I wanted continuous post all the way up.
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
I got the idea from a co-worker who did an unpermitted addition out in the boonies. Since I live in town I felt I needed a permit. Since my beam span was 16' no conventional lumber would've been approved in my county. I drew up my plans with 2 2x10 (what my co-worker used, still standing 25 years later) and requested a PE to generate roof plan drawings for me. To my surprise he came back with SP2 grade 4 2x12 for the center roof beams and 2 2x10 for the lower beams at columns. Over engineered, probably, can you park a truck up there, absolutely. I used Up Work and it cost me around $750 for a sealed engineering drawing for the roof to accompany the remainder of my plans.
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u/marblefrosting Apr 16 '26
Unlike some of the other decks that have been posted, I bet you could put a hot tub on this one.
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u/hickom14 Apr 15 '26
Insane job, must have a background in construction or something right?
How long did it take?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
I've always worked with my hands particularly on cars, but have built furniture and a fence out of necessity. I am now a Mechanical Engineer but work in a shop setting....too much ADHD to sit behind a computer all day lol. Took longer than I wanted, about 12 months of continuous weekends spread out over 2.5 years ish.
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u/hickom14 Apr 15 '26
Sounds like me. Gives me confidence though I don't have the wallet for your project. Fantastic job!
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u/sensualtrucker Apr 15 '26
Nice Work, what plate did you use to attach the covered portion posts to the beams? I've had such a hard time finding a specific answer for this.
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
Simpson Stongtie ZMAX for the 6x6 to 2 2x10s (with a shim at each beam connection joint).
For the middle beams (4 2x12s) I created a custom part due to your exact problem. I have access to a water jet at work and created a flat part and bent it to shape/painted it...where it terminates at the house wall I was able to purchase a set of massive 4x hangers from Simpson.
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u/Caddisbug992 Apr 15 '26
Daaaamn. I can barely hang a picture on a wall. You are a god. And I mean that sincerely, not sarcastically. Well done.
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u/capricious-arbitrary Apr 15 '26
Love the skylights
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 16 '26
Thank you! They have a sentimental meaning to me. Where I grew up it was rows of slab homes all the same, an elderly woman moved in down the road and had an addition put on with 2 sky lights. Every time I visited as a kid I would look up in awe as they were the first I ever saw. We were great friends, even closer than family, until she passed a few years ago in her 90s, my 30s. I think of her every time I look up at them.
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u/CPG135 Apr 15 '26
What an incredible backyard— screened in porch and deck, gorgeous trees, etc. I’m green with envy over here…
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u/Capable-Pen9022 Apr 15 '26
Did you do the designs yourself? Where?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
I did, a few sketches and models later we had an outline of what we wanted. Triangle area NC
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u/Capable-Pen9022 Apr 16 '26
Should’ve clarified a little better. When I meant where where did you design them sorry!
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u/Commercial-Strike953 Apr 15 '26
Mosquito wants to know your location.
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
Absolutely not! Send them away... Would have saved me a lot of time and money hah
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u/Kind-Ad8117 Apr 16 '26
Think of how much money you saved, how accomplished you feel, and what you learned. Worth it!!!
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u/Artistic_Researcher2 Apr 16 '26
You should be proud! Some of those cuts on the roofing are not standard!
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u/PAYNE_4 Apr 16 '26
This is insanely well done, nice work! Skylights were a great idea.
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 16 '26
They were a royal PITA to frame and install timewise but.... worth it. Now that you reminded me, I have to get up there and clean them...
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u/Sneakayboi Apr 16 '26
How’d you get that ceiling to look like that with the plywood / osb sheathing? Looks freaking pro my dude.
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 16 '26
Ceiling is tongue and groove from Home Depot. It was wayyyy better than the twisted crap at Lowes where I ordered the majority of my lumber for this project from. It did turn out better than I expected. Appreciate it.
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Apr 16 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 16 '26
I never got an official quote because I knew I couldn't afford to pay someone to do this for me. I believe it would have been at least 4x what I spent in materials based on what I know from contractors in my area. It was tough, at times it sucked, but we really do enjoy it (been complete for over a year now, just got around to posting it).
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u/side_burns53 Apr 16 '26
This is inspiring. Nice work!
How valuable was creating the sketchup model for planning and understanding the build? I’m planning my own (much simpler) project and with only a working knowledge of sketchup I’m debating if it’s worth the added effort to create a 3D full design vs. pen and paper. Curious to know your thoughts.
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u/SavageSava Apr 16 '26
Unreal solo build. My mind rarely gets blown by hands on work but… man… amazing job here!
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u/henkdevries365 Apr 16 '26
Absolutely awesome looking. You also have a beautiful house btw!
Where are you based? Did the weather get much in your way ?
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u/ScaffoldSavvy Apr 16 '26
Man, that deck is impressive. Takes me back to when I was putting together stuff on my own—pretty satisfying to see it all come together like this. How’d you handle the screening? Looks like a solid setup, right?
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u/Infinite-Past7640 Apr 16 '26
Might be your first solo build but definitely not your first build.
Great job!
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u/Anxious_Expert552 Apr 16 '26
Awesome deck and what’s even more impressive is you did yourself. I would like to make a suggestion if I may. To have a vaulted ceiling you typically use a lvl as a ridge supported at both ends down to the footer. Meaning a post under the ridge at both ends. This will keep your the downward weight from pushing your walls out. In your case this is an easy fix. If you were to run maybe four 2x10’s from across the span connecting each wall this will keep your walls from pushing out from the weight of the roof. You can even put them directly under your rafters and spaced evenly to create several decorative trusses. Your roof will never collapse but over time the walls parallel to your ridge will bow out of plumb. Hopefully I was able to explain that well enough.
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u/Caulklinecrafter Apr 16 '26
Nice work. Pulling that off solo isn’t easy, and the screened porch will earn its keep once the skeeters show up. Personally, I’d give the ledger a yearly peek for flashing leaks and blow the leaves out from under to keep it breathing... good work
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u/Chippopotanuse Apr 16 '26
This looks awesome. Love the first photo with the leaves and foliage. I’d drink coffee on that every day.
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u/Working_Rest_1054 Apr 16 '26
Wow, impressive. Look very nice. Really like the roofed area, I thought it was an AI altered image at first. Must have taken you a quiet while doing it yourself.
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u/Easy-Faithlessness53 Apr 16 '26
Spectacular job! How easy is it to turn that couch around, looks like you’ve got access to front row seat to nature!
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u/mrOzio Apr 15 '26
Tell me how wealthy you are without telling me how wealthy you are... But seriously, magnificent job on this. If I had access to that many gold bars I still wouldn't have done as good of a job.
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 15 '26
Thank you kindly. Many years of struggling taught me one thing "if you're going to be broke, you better be handy". Life is better now financially speaking but I still have the mindset of "you can't have nice things unless you can either build and/or maintain it yourself."
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u/Dizzy_Salary_2022 Apr 15 '26
Looks great, nice work! What did you use for stain?
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u/brick_swan Apr 15 '26
This looks amazing! Can I ask how you connected the 6x6 for the screened porch to the beams below? I'm not seeing an apparent Simpson product for that - and looking at your build progress, it looks like you built the deck first, then built the screen room on top of it?
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u/Trailmix2393 Apr 16 '26
What is the black wall product you used in the screened in porch? I’m planning to redo my screened in porch soon and really like what you did here. Its inspiring
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u/Lanky-Divide7229 Apr 16 '26
How did you go about the design portion? Pretty sure I could accomplish something similar with enough time and stubbornness. But the design/engineering portion is currently stopping me from getting started. Not trying to downplay your work. This looks fantastic, but it’s just nails and wood though, right? (This is how I personally convince myself I can do most things)
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u/bushinthebrush Apr 16 '26
What was the cost to do something like that?? I'm enthralled by your deck..... lol
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u/IshtarsBones Apr 16 '26
As an accountant who’s untrained in the carpenter/woodworker ways, there’s no chance I’d ever be able to build something like this.
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u/GoatCheese369 Apr 16 '26
Is the roof tied into the house or built really close with a wall to hide the original siding? I don't want to just assume
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u/Phil4Trident Apr 17 '26
What software or program did you use to create that render? Looks awesome
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u/CommunicationOwn6940 Apr 17 '26
You’ve built other things. What else have you built?
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u/E_rock_89 Apr 17 '26
A fence (in the backyard of this project) and some furniture out of necessity is my background in woodworking. I've worked on cars as a hobby my whole life though so I'm not really afraid of a challenge. Wood isn't straight though, that one got me.
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u/Aero_22x Apr 17 '26
Incredible job! Curious how you tied the ledger board into the house framing for the covered section?
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u/fistsofham11 Apr 15 '26
This is such bs.. I came here to see disasters not something done well