We were worried it might be too small……

The deck has grown, it’s taken on a life of its own! When we stared marking it out we weren’t sure if it would be big enough to fit table and chairs on, and what about a BBQ? Turns out, when you look at it, it probably will be big enough.

Ian has been working incredibly hard, lifting, cutting, measuring wood, digging holes, and cementing the wood in. There is a deck by the back of the garage, steps up from the house to the raised area, a reasonable size deck, and some steps up that will be useful later.

The frame has taken about 3 weeks in total of really hard work. I’ve merrily supported from my work laptop as I watch Ian become a carpenter. The trip hazard increases daily as it grows and the number of supports you need to climb over multiplies, and to be honest, there have been a few successful attempts by said deck to fell Ian. No major injury fortunately! 

                                        

You get so far and then realise you need considerably more wood to strengthen the structure, so back comes our friendly delivery driver....

I can help every so often, and when it comes to deliveries, I am a master in moving supplies. This load arrived this week, and it all needs moving. What else do you do in your lunch break, other than quickly run in and out of the garage getting the quick set concrete out of the rain? They may be in plastic bags, but you’d be surprised how many have holes in. 

After work a few days later, the final big load needs moving. These decking planks are 4.8M long, but having built up plenty of muscles in the last year of work, I get to work carefully avoiding Agy and transporting them from front to back. Not easy on your own but Ian has been working all day and is exhausted! Before long I hear a voice – “do you want a hand?”, laughing I shout “YES!” I have no idea who shouted, as I am carrying a plank and facing the other direction. I’m not expecting it to actually become help, but before I know it there is our neighbour, grabbing the other end of my deck board. As we head through the gate another neighbour is coming back from walking the dogs and is laughing at us working out how to do this in the most efficient way (to me, to you, you know how it goes). Once we drop off the plank in the garden and head back out our route is blocked… She’s there, with a plank all on her own. No problem keeping a safe distance here, the planks are a great Covid safe length! Now we all know everyone is desperate to know what we are up to in the garden, but they also know they could just ask to be nosy, and they would have helped whether they had seen it all before or not. These really are the best people.

The frame is built, now the decking needs to go down.  A  Friday evening and whole Saturday later and it’s done. It’s exhausting, but so satisfying. Now we need another trip to the DIY store so it can be sealed and treated. 

 And to think, we were worried it might be too small……