Loose Controls
Monday, September 24, 2012
Make a backyard deck and a hardwood plan
(Simple Deck 3)
Years ago, my neighbor across the street Roland Zamorano
knew I was a contractor and carpenter and asked me to help with his backyard
deck project . He also knew I was a drummer and musician and told me about his
two musician sons Ross and Ronnie who’s band, Fondue Monks, I knew about and respected, but that’s another
story.
Roland had collected some materials to build the deck, had
started it, but ran out of materials, as the size he started required much more
than he had collected. He wanted me to finish what he’d started. He’d outlined
and blocked up at the perimeter then nailed some joists inside. The deck had
sat so long partially built, I had to replace most of the pine framing, but the
cedar 2 x 6 decking he had was still good, though it had gone the gray color Western Red Cedar is known for.
After a trip to the lumber yard to buy what was needed, I
made a slight change to the deck’s design. It would still surround a tree in
his yard, and have a step off of the front, but I made the top at a 45 degree
angle design.
This can work in your backyard too, to transform a simple walkout
deck with a pleasing, unique design:
Simple Deck
Layout the perimeter of your deck, nail corners together and
block under all four corners. Then you’ll need to “square” the deck by
measuring from corner diagonally to the opposite corner, then adjusting frame
so the measurements diagonally are exactly the same in each direction. Mark the
blocks so the frame can be resquared easily. Using a four-foot level, level the four
corners with each other by blocking up to the highest point. Once the frame is
leveled, recheck square using marks. Later, we’ll drill holes and pour concrete
around 4 x 4 posts nailed to the frame
under the deck to permanently secure the structure.
(Simple Deck 1)
Run first joist diagonally, corner to corner. End-butt any
joint that might be necessary. Using 16”
spacing, layout and nail into place all joists, running at 45-degree angle to
frame perimeter. Once joists are nailed at both ends, place a connecter-joist,
4’ long, at each end butt, and nail off securely.
Install blocking at opposite corner-to-corner, and put
leveling block at center of structure. Support blocking should be no more than
4’ apart in all directions. As well, midspan blocking should run at 8’ spacing
parallel with each other.
Install decking boards, 2 x 6, perpendicular over joists, with
small spacing. Over time, these cedar boards will only shrink slightly. Not so
with other species of wood, pine should be installed tightly because it will
shrink more and the gaps will be larger. There should be gaps between the
decking boards to allow for water to run through. Decking boards should also
overlap on the ends, so there is a lip over the frame, also aiding water to run
off.
(Simple Deck 4)
Cedar Costs
Photo: Ian Carroll
The cost of using cedar as the decking is prohibitive for
the tight budget. If possible, the cedar will last longer and stay straighter
than almost all other species. Its softer though, so it will be less durable to
foot traffic. Unless your deck is the entry to your house, it probably won’t be
a problem. I’ve worked with most composite decking, and they work well and have
a fantastic life expectancy, but if you really want the feel of natural wood,
and your budget allows, this cedar topped deck will be around longer than the
treated frame.
The color-contrast was surprising when the deck was being
built. Roland also applied a stain to the new lumber, which is the lighter
color, and a sealer over the whole thing.
As for costs, they vary by the market and it usually always
becomes MORE expensive, but currently in Houston, materials needed for a 10 X 10’ deck
constructed with all pressure treated materials, including hardware, fasteners,
blocks and concrete is around $500. That makes the materials about $5 per
square foot. To add the cost of the cedar top is around $400 additional, with
composites about $500 additionally. A
contractor’s bid to install a deck such as the one pictured above is less than
$900. The necessary stains and sealants will be left to the homeowner to
purchase and apply, about $75-100 annually.
If you can begin to collect the boards to finish the top of
the deck, you can get this unique color pattern. Using reclaimed wood is
getting more popular, but it’s cost is rising every day.
Buying Locally
If you are in the market for these or other home improvement
projects, please start your search locally for the materials and supervision of
forces when planning and budgeting. What looks like a bargain usually isn’t in
the long run. I recommend several local outlets for hardwoods in the Houston
area, but if it’s treated pine you want to build with (for obvious cost
reasons), then the ‘box’ stores will be your cheapest choice. For the purchase
of rough sawn hardwoods and cedar, however, I recommend the following
businesses for personal experience reasons. I’ve worked with in the past or
currently with all. In no particular order:
M&M Lumber, South Houston, Pearland
Raul Juarez 713-433-6483
Booth
Lumber, E Mt.Houston
Johnnie Malone 832-971-2426
My Company is Built-Rite Remodeling, and I have built up a large list of
exceptional companies in the remodeling business- everything from concrete
contractors to plumbers, electricians and A/C contractors. I am a builder for over 20 years in the
Houston and Denver area, and would be glad to furnish references and project
photos.
I’d be glad to help you see the successful completion of your
project, in any or every way.
Contact Ian Carroll
(832)-731-5205
¶ 1:53 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
After All That Talk
I've been talking about doing original music again for years.
It's been years since I jammed with Richard Baker doing his originals, and it was 15 years before that that I was in an original band called Popskull (formerly Scatterbrains, but our name was swiped!).
That long and I had never gotten into an original band, only cover bands, which is what I play in now and have for the past three years.
Texas TNT is the best band I've ever been in for many reasons. First and foremost, we work every weekend. With few exceptions we play every friday and saturday night. Most of the clubs are small and we make the minimum (for us!) $400. Some of the clubs pay us better, but after the expenses, we usually get about 100 to 150 each (counting tips, and thanks to all who contribute!). Our sound is another reason to love this band. We bring a professional system into the club, and Ron Pace mixes it as he plays guitar. The equipment is literally top of the line,(it remembers which room we play in and brings the mix from the last session!). Assuming everything is the same as last time, finding the sweet mix is quick, though it is a fine art to mix live music and Ron does great!
But we play only cover tunes! Another cover band... but wait, let me continue on the good points, because it is she, Ramona Gerene who strongly anchors this band. She is an excellent performer, and a multi-instrumentalist not to mention a knockout vocalist. She channels "Janice Joplin" and it brings chills. We've been talking about writing and recording for some time, though most of the emphasis has been on perfecting our set and sound. It's time after three years to write some music! So I've been instigating it again and we are going to make a regular weekly rehearsal just for this. It's been a long time coming...
And speaking of which, this has been a long time coming too! My friend from "Strange Brew" days has gotten in touch with me and invited me to play with him again. Jeff Norem is a great musician in Houston who plays the "Stick". It's called a Chapman Stick or, just a stick. The music is fantastic, though, very jazzy and Jeff's music has such a sweet disposition. We met at an open mic in North Houston, hosted by my buddy and bandleader of Strange Brew, Jeff Schrieber. I sat in on the drums, and it was a giddy experience. I was lightheaded. I seemed to be able to play this free form sort of jazz, and it was so FUN!
The best part of Jeff and the stick is he wants to play a little more to my strength, rock, and write songs that are more upbeat than his acoustic stuff. He liked what I did sitting in, and we've been friends since and talking about forming a band the whole time...
Well here it is! It seems the day is here, I'm going to make a go of it again with Jeff Norem. I don't know what the holdup was previously, because we did practice at his house once or twice, along with Jodie Goez on vocals. It was awesome, but never got off the ground. I have an extremely good feeling about it this time, and maybe Jodie can come into it again at some point.
So here's to original music again, sorry I was away so long.
-Ian Carroll or...katykarter
¶ 12:27 PM 0 comments
It's been years since I jammed with Richard Baker doing his originals, and it was 15 years before that that I was in an original band called Popskull (formerly Scatterbrains, but our name was swiped!).
That long and I had never gotten into an original band, only cover bands, which is what I play in now and have for the past three years.
The best part of Jeff and the stick is he wants to play a little more to my strength, rock, and write songs that are more upbeat than his acoustic stuff. He liked what I did sitting in, and we've been friends since and talking about forming a band the whole time...
Well here it is! It seems the day is here, I'm going to make a go of it again with Jeff Norem. I don't know what the holdup was previously, because we did practice at his house once or twice, along with Jodie Goez on vocals. It was awesome, but never got off the ground. I have an extremely good feeling about it this time, and maybe Jodie can come into it again at some point.
So here's to original music again, sorry I was away so long.
-Ian Carroll or...katykarter
¶ 12:27 PM 0 comments
X-51A Waverider: Experimental Speed to the Extreme
The X-51A is an experimental aircraft developed by the US
Air Force in conjunction with several defense contractors to fly at multi-sonic
speed.
Designed to ride it’s own shockwave, the X-51A boasts an
estimated top speed of more than 4,600mph! That’s over six times the speed of
sound, and roughly 4 times faster than state-of-the-art attack jets in service
today.
It is powered by a Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne SJY61 scramjet
engine which, along with JP-7 fuel, is designed to utilize the oxygen in the
atmosphere to fuel the engine while in flight eliminating the need for large fuel tanks.
On August 15 of this year, the unmanned experimental
aircraft had it’s third test flight, but a failure in the avionics,
specifically a directional fin caused the aircraft to go out of control shortly
after launch from a B-52, sending it into the sea, destroying it before it
could fire off it’s scramjet engine. It was the third of four prototypes and it's not clear when or if the last one will fly. 
In previous tests, the Waverider flew successfully for more
than 140 seconds, attaining a speed approaching mach 5 or almost 4000 mph
setting records and making history.
¶ 12:21 PM 0 comments
