post: add Deck post

Author: XerxesDGreat

_posts/2025-07-04-deck.md

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+---
+title: Deck!
+date: 2018-05-30
+# categories are Family, Photography, Places, Projects, Reviews, Software, Thoughts
+category: Projects
+tags:
+- woodworking
+- house
+media_subpath: /assets/img/posts/deck/
+image:
+    path: preview.jpg
+    lqip: preview.lqip.jpg
+---
+
+I built a deck! 
+
+We have this area of the yard on the side of the house which has been just dirt and rocks for... 
+well, for the entire time we've lived here. I built a trellis for the entrance to the area which
+has helped to mask that section, but it still feels unused (mostly because it is).
+
+![Trellis](trellis.jpg){: lqip='trellis.lqip.jpg' }
+
+So, after chatting with Shanin, in which we discussed everything up to the possibility of an ADU, we
+figured that it would be most in keeping of what we want in the back yard - and can afford - if we
+put a deck in. Not something high, just enough to make a flat spot for seating. And we thought it
+would look nicer if we made the deck have two levels. So, with a rough plan in mind, I ordered up
+some lumber.
+
+![Lumber](lumber.jpg){: lqip='lumber.lqip.jpg' }
+
+Due to the height of the deck, I wouldn't have to anchor it to the ground, which made things easier.
+I just put down a pair of pressure-treated 4x4s as a skid plate in trenches which I compacted and
+into which I laid sand for a foundation, then put the joists across those.
+
+![First Frame](first-frame.jpg){: lqip='first-frame.lqip.jpg' }
+
+The lower deck just got pressure-treated 4x4s as joists. The deck slats then went perpendicular to
+the joists, tacked down using screws. Wish I had one of those fancy drivers, but I don't... oh well.
+
+![All boards on](all-boards-on.jpg){: lqip='all-boards-on.lqip.jpg' }
+_Yes, I know that the boards are crooked on the lower one; I fixed it_
+
+After all the boards went on, I added trim around the sides to neaten up the look. 
+
+![With Trim](preview.jpg){: lqip='preview.lqip.jpg' }
+_Even before I stained it, I had to get a shot with the hammock in its new home_
+
+And, just for fun, I decided to get a timelapse of me putting this thing together. Enjoy!
+
+{% include embed/youtube.html id='NcZ716A5Cv0' %}
+
+Note from the future: I finally got a shot of the deck _with stain on it_ (I know, right?); this is
+from when we were moving; I wanted a pic of all the things I'd built, but thought I'd add this here.
+
+![With finish](finish.jpg){: lqip='finish.lqip.jpg' }