Every piece of lumber has a slight curvature because wood is a natural , living material. In lumber, such as the supporting members of a deck, this curvature is called “crown”. When these members are stressed from the weight of the deck and activities it supports, they will sag slightly over a period of time,
You can counteract this tendency by installing the supporting members “crown up”. Then, over a period of time, the deck will appear to flatten out instead of sagging.
To determine the crown on any supporting member, sight along one edge with one eye closed and the other eye right at one end of the member, Even a slight crown will become apparent. Then mark the top edge of the member with an “X” so all of them will be installed “crown up”.
DRY CONCRETE
If you’ve ever left a bag of concrete on a damp floor, you may have returned a few months later to find the whole bag as hard as a rock. Concrete does not harden by drying out, but rather by a chemical action between its ingredients and water -- and the less water you use, the stronger the concrete ultimately becomes. When you install fence posts or deck supports, you’ll make the job easier by placing the posts in the hole, lining them up, and then pouring “dry” concrete mix into the hole around the post. You will be able to re-align the posts even if it takes several days to complete the post setting, or even remove one easily. Of course, you’ll have to scoop out the dry concrete if you want to reuse the hole.
When all posts are lined up properly, just pour water from a bucket or a hose over the post hole and the concrete will begin to harden. You should wait a day or more before hammering on the posts so the concrete develops enough strength to keep from cracking.
ECOLOGICAL FENCES AND DECKS
You’ve probably heard “They don’t build houses like they used to” -- and it’s a good thing. The same is true for fences and decks. Because of our concern for the environment and because we have better technology for construction, we can now make better fences and decks with less material.
By placing deck supports 16” apart instead of 24” apart, we can use “5/4” decking instead of “2 inch” thick material. “5/4” means 1 1/4” thick. This lighter weight deck is just as strong as thicker decking when it is properly supported and it’s less “bouncy”. Often the “5/4” material is available in better appearance grades and it’s more economical as well.
Fences can now be built with 1/2” thick boards instead of “1 inch” (actually 3/4”) thick. Since fence boards do not add structural strength to the fence, the 1/2” boards provide the same appearance and utility as the thicker boards. Because they are lighter, they create less stress in the fence rails which could reduce possible fence sagging over time. Think how many beautiful cedar trees we can save -- while you are also saving money on the cost of fencing.
STAINING A FENCE
When a new cedar fence is first completed, it is the beautiful golden color of freshly cut wood. Within days, strong sunlight will begin to turn it gray. Left untreated, it will eventually take on the appearance of an ancient unpainted barn --but, unfortunately, the ejects of water, shade, plant and insect life can make this transition rather erratic and also shorten the life of the wood. Staining your fence promptly after its installation will preserve its beauty and lifespan. A clear, oil based stain will show off more of the natural color and texture of the wood and provide maximum protection. A tinted, oil based stain combines the same protection with a shading that resembles weathered wood and harmonizes with your home and landscaping. Latex base stain is less expensive in the short run, but will need to be renewed more often. Either type will protect your investment and enhance your enjoyment of your completed fence project.
USE CASING NAILS
Wood, being a living organism, tends to change with its environment. When the hot sun dries it out, it shrinks. When it’s wet and cold it tends to expand. This can cause the annoying “nail pop” -- nail heads that project up a fraction of an inch, look unsightly and even cause us to stumble on decks.
You can avoid this by using casing nails -- nails with narrow, cone-shaped heads. These nails “bury” themselves better into the decking surface. Because the supporting framework is made from fir, which is a denser wood than cedar, the nails hold tighter to the frame and don’t tend to pullout as the decking swells. The deck is just as strong as one built with common nails because normal stresses don’t cause the deck boards to lift up from the structure.
SPLIT THE WORK
Many people take pride in completing home projects like fences and decks, but lack the time, tools or experience to handle all the complex installation problems. In addition to complete installations or the option to “do-it-all-yourself”, you can have the more technical work done by experts and just finish the project yourself.
For fences, you can have the posts set in place and all the materials for completion -- clips, nails, rails, and fence boards -- delivered to your home. For decks, the structural parts would be installed. Then you would nail the remaining parts in place using only a hammer and perhaps a hand or skill-saw. Leading installers provide complete plans and instructions -- even classes to show you how to complete your project. You save lots of money and claim all the credit for the completed project.
THE REAL THING
People have traditionally used cedar or redwood as the material of choice for outdoor construction such as fences and decks. In recent years manufacturers have taken less durable woods, such as fir, and treated them chemically so they would survive weathering. Natural cedar is still the premier choice because of its beauty, reduced splintering, and freedom form chemical that may cause harmful symptoms in some people. Although treated wood products are not now classified as hazardous, people who work in the treatment plants have reported adverse incidents from contact with these chemicals.
ALMOST INSTANT FENCES
One of the newest developments in fence construction technology is the use of pre-manufactured fence panels. Posts are set in the regular manner but at a pre-determined spacing. Factory pre-built panels are then nailed in place between the posts. Labor time is cut to a fraction of that required to build a conventional fence.
By utilizing 1/2” thick boards and two shorter boards (like a 4 foot plus a 2 foot instead of one 6 foot) with an additional rail and a decorative trim piece, even more can be saved. You can invest the time and money you save in more enjoyment of your home and yard.