This summer we took on a big project, renovating our deck. Our old deck had plastic handrails all the way around. They were not only unsightly, but not very secure as well. Whenever we went outside, the entire deck would make a horrible sound when we walked around. At first we thought it was the entire deck falling down, so we were not sure at the beginning if it would be doing an entire deck replacement.
All things started well as we began to pull off the old railing, but soon we found the screws rusted and stripped and could not get the decking off. That is where the tractor came in. We used a strap and chain and quickly yanked the railing off. Then the backyard was a huge mess, so we had to take time to clean it all up. Once the old railing was removed, we discovered that the underlying deck was secure, it was simply the railing that was making the whole deck feel like it was swaying. So we decided to keep the existing deck and just replace the railing. Check that demolition of our deck right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASTjiBcfR3U&t=8s
We were all ready to get started with replacing the railing when we noticed a small bird’s nest under the deck on the main beam. Upon further inspection, we saw that it had eggs. Then we saw Mommy and Daddy bird flying around frantically. They did not want us on the deck at all and were not too pleased. So, the project was stopped dead in its tracks. Around the farm, that is fine because there are always other things to do. We quickly identified the birds as flycatchers, which having so many flies around, they are definitely worth keeping. Over the next month or so, we watched the eggs hatch and the babies grow up quickly. For a couple of weeks, the babies enjoyed our deck, sans handrail, and used it as a base to learn how to fly. The cats were none too pleased during this time because they had to stay inside. Soon enough, the birds grew up and learned to fly. While they still hang around the area, we were now ready to proceed with the deck, and the cats finally got back outside.
We were originally going to replace all of the decking with composite material, but upon further inspection we found that the original cedar was still in pretty good shape. So, we just decided to remove it and flip every board over. Now we basically had a brand new cedar board to deal with, that just need a small amount of sanding. After looking around, we decided to go with a tension wire handrail. We liked the look, because it was minimal, and would not block the view as much as the old white plastic handrail. We decided to go with black tension wire, because the black would be less obvious than silver. But before we could get to that point, we had to install the posts for the handrails. We opted for cedar 4x4’s. We installed them to the existing deck using long lag bolts and the impact driver. Once they were installed and secure, we added a cedar top board as the handrail. From there we reinstalled all of the decking and sanded everything. This sounds simple, but it really took a couple of months to complete. Next we had to tackle the steps. The existing steps were not only steep, but narrow and rickety. We decided to add a step in order to reduce the angle to 30 degrees, and feel more comfortable. We also increased the width of the steps by 7” so they are 3 feet wide. Again more handrails to install and posts. From their we proceeded to stain the entire deck a natural color, and paint the sides and support posts black.
Once we had the shell completed, it was time to install the tension wire. Being DIYer’s we tried to find products that had good customer reviews and looked like they would hold up.
For the wire I chose this black braided steel cable. https://amzn.to/3ZmKweD I really like it, as it appears very strong and it is smooth. I do not have to worry about anyone being cut if they touch the wire.
I bought these sleeves to use in the posts. https://amzn.to/4e6jPj1 Since the wires can be no more than 4 inches apart, I ended up with 11 wires, and thus needed quite a few protector sleeves. They really give the post a nice finished appearance.
These lag screws are used to screw into the end posts, and then the wire is inserted into them.
https://amzn.to/3ZoBPka My only complaint about these are the fact that when I clamped down on them to secure the wire, some of them got bent. It is not that noticeable, but still a bummer. The product instructions recommended using a hydraulic crimper, like this:
https://amzn.to/3ztdlvo I did not use one, because I already had a hand crimper and didn’t want to spend the extra money, but in hindsight it would be a good idea to do so. I also recommend this drill guide, as it will help you to drill the correct angle in the post, and keep everything aligned. https://amzn.to/3MJyJjd
All in all I am really happy with the finished product. The deck looks great. I have noticed that some of the wires have lost their tension, and I have to keep coming to tighten them. It is not a big deal, and I expect and some point they will stop losing their tension, but I will let you know in a couple of months.
If you have any questions about anything please reach out to me. Always happy to help a fellow DIYer.
Say's Phoebe's are quite lovely birds, perhaps you saw them?
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