Week 943-945 - Meet the DeckPerts - 09-29-2024

Meet the DeckPerts

Who doesn't like ~~a yellow school bus~~ an outdoor deck?
Whether you live in a little apartment or in a mansion, everyone likes an outdoor deck.

This was our mansion where we were married in 1974 in San Luis Obispo, California. Our mansion was a 12 x 70, two master bedroom mobile home at Willow Creek Mobile Home Park. Pete's 1955 Chevy 210 is in the background and Ellen was the manager of the park for two years. This 8 x 12 deck has it all: two ramps, five stairs, two benches, multi-level planters and a portico.

1974 San Luis Obispo - A two level redwood deck.

Perhaps being the manager drove us to build our 2nd and final home in Atascadero, California. We lived there from 1977 to 2020. It has decks galore.

1) Front 10 x 20 deck with a ramp for Pete's dad who would never use it.
2) Kitchen 10 x 15 deck that was gone from 1986 to 2006.
3) Rear deck built so that a ground level redwood hot tub (that we never had) would be at deck level.

1977 Atascadero - 3 Redwood decks on our home for 43 years.

In 1978 we built a deck on Ellen's parent's Atascadero home. While not pictured, it was a 2 level deck which DID have a redwood hot tub sitting at deck level.

In 1984 we purchased a $200 used 16 x 32 above ground pool. After using ladders and bridges to cross from the patio to the pool, in 2000 we built a $9000 deck around our $200 pool.

2000 - Paver tile deck with redwood arch bridges.

While traveling in the MotherShip, Emily and Chad created a full hookup RV site for us.
They invited us to come and help on many projects. This huge background deck was our first composite deck. It has a clean look as the planks are "clipped" not nailed.

2013 - Rear composite deck - Paradise, California.Deck details

2014 - Front entrance portico.Portico details

2016 - Front composite deck.Deck details

Now, being "pros", Pete's sister Donnalee said "hey, how about me?". Her old deck had two levels but you couldn't get to the yard. The new decks have a view from the top and shade underneath to keep you cool in Redding heat. Speaking of cool, the first build day was 73 degrees, the last was 107!

2016 Redding, CA - Multi-level composite decks.Deck details

Our current home is in Palm Creek Resort in Casa Grande, Arizona.

Typically park models (11 x 35 mobile homes) were built with carpeted outdoor decks. They looked great but over time the sun and rain destroys them. Replacing them with composite decking is a good solution. Our friends Dennis and Jean got a professional quote for a composite conversion. They said no and asked the "DeckPerts" to help. Little did they know our DeckHistory! Together we converted their deck and it can probably outlive them!

2021 Casa Grande, Arizona - Composite deck in Palm Creek Resort.

Large decks can be expensive and really expensive with composite decking. Our friends, Janet and Brad, needed to get rid of a huge deck to put in a pool. So we joined Melissa and removed their deck, trucked it 40 miles to build a deck at Melissa and Mario's 95 acre ranch.

1) We had enough 2 x 6's to create the joists and decking for this 16 x 24 deck.
2) By 2024, the deck's ambiance has been greatly enhanced.

2022 Bradley, California - Recycled douglas fir ground level deck.

Dennis and Jean were so happy with their Palm Creek deck that they invited us to their Port Ludlow home to remodel their front deck.

2022: "We can't decide on materials", so we did not go.

2023: "Not ready, but come on up, we need new house doors", so we went. We played some pickleball, ate some "Ryan ribs" and installed new doors, trim and baseboards.

2024: Voila! It happened, we built the deck. So by now you probably think this DeckaLogue is over? Not a chance, we just gave you the back story.

2024 Port Ludlow, Washington - McDeck, composite deck.

1) We arrived at their house on Oak Bay, part of the Puget Sound.
2) Here is their 30 year old deck. Nice! Two levels, grand stairs, benches for all. But, the deck is old and they need bigger. Who doesn't love bigger?

They graciously housed the MotherShip as we left for our 50th Anniversary Carnival Cruise trip to Alaska. When we got "home" they had removed the old decking, stairs and benches leaving only the pier blocks and beams. We helped to remove trees and bushes for the deck expansion.

New joists were needed to provide 16" spacing for the composite decking. Each joist was covered with flashing to keep the joist tops from water rotting.

We laid down planks to determine where deck butt joints would be. Washington rain slowed us down a little.

When the rain dried we went to work on the upper stairs. Ripping a floppy composite plank takes a lot of helpers. Their son Ryan is careful to rip the board, but leave his fingers.

Everyone is busy as the deck planks are going down. We got to the lower steps and stopped for some step design consulting.

It seemed like a good time to take the day off and have some fun. So, we all took a drive to Poulsbo to visit our RV/Boat friends Jeanette and Lauren.

Their 57 foot motor yacht has two master bedrooms, gallery and large living area. Dennis, an engineer, had to learn about the propulsion of this craft. It has two huge diesel engines which they chatted about. Pete, a software engineer, has no idea what they are saying!

Lauren and Jeanette, the ultimate hosts provided us with apple pie ala mode and great stories.
Thank you LJ, we love you both.

In Poulsbo we also watched the movie Reagan, we highly recommend it.

Now back to work! We figured out the steps and installed all the deck planks. The deck is a mahogany color with granite colored picture frame (borders).

Everyone was pleased with the result.

Colors are great and the deck is huge.

The deck has room for many chairs. Or you can set up lawn chairs and let the band have the deck for the big celebrations!

To Dennis and Jean, "great choice on your design". Thank you for housing us for three weeks, 21 meals, 15 games of swoop and 4 Indiana Fever WNBA games. We'll see you back home in Arizona.

With love, Pete and Ellen
"Have hammer will travel"

Question: "Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?" Because Noah sat on the deck!

Photos from Sep 2024