Overheard my neighbor bragging about his new deck at a block party

He told everyone he built it himself in a weekend for $400. I saw the thing. It's already sagging in the middle and he used untreated pine. I built mine last summer from pressure treated lumber and real cedar railings, took me three weekends and cost $1200. People always skip the important stuff like proper joist hangers and flashing. Anyone else deal with neighbors cutting corners and acting like experts?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_hugo22d agoMost Upvoted

That pressure treated lumber needs to be rated for ground contact if it's anywhere near dirt or moisture. A lot of guys grab the cheaper above ground stuff and wonder why it rots in 3 years. I'd also check if he used galvanized hangers, those cheap zinc ones turn to dust fast around untreated pine. Might hold up okay if he sealed everything well but sagging in the middle says he probably skipped the midspan supports.

smith.anna22d ago

And @the_hugo's right about the hangers, that sagging's just the beginning of problems for him.