| Most adults had the opportunity to play with building | | | | construction of any exterior installation. The humidity |
| blocks or toy logs to construct a house or towering | | | | alone can cause the untreated wood to fail within an |
| structure as children. Some of these individuals have | | | | extremely short time. Because of the wide selections |
| never lost the interest in building things with their own | | | | of materials available today and each having their own |
| two hands. To listen to all of the home improvement | | | | distinct properties, a professional contractor specializing |
| commercials or lumber desks inside these home | | | | in deck installations or some landscapers should be |
| improvement stores, one would just assume that any | | | | consulted. |
| person has the ability to build a fence or deck. This | | | | The type of hardware to be used should be of main |
| could not be further from the truth. | | | | focus in addition to the above mentioned |
| Building a deck and gazebo is not just a matter of | | | | considerations. Galvanized nails or screws have been |
| placing some concrete footers on the ground and | | | | a long time traditional method of securing board to |
| resting several deck boards across a wood frame. | | | | frame. While nails are a proven piece of hardware, |
| Even an installation as seemingly simple as a pergola is | | | | they will not hold as well as screws. Over one season, |
| not necessarily a project for a do-it-yourself home | | | | nails can begin to pop up from the surface of the |
| owner. There are several factors which need to be | | | | boards. Screws will hold much better and will stay |
| considered in order to prevent creating problems by | | | | much more secure. There are alternatives to screws |
| installing a deck or other structure. | | | | and nails. Newer methods and hardware are available |
| Drainage and the slope of the land is a primary | | | | which will secure the surface boards of the deck to |
| concern. Without considering the slope of the property | | | | the frame without being visible from the top. Some |
| and drainage, building an uncovered deck or covered | | | | particular types of lumber materials actually work |
| deck can cause much of the water from rain to be | | | | better with these newer fasteners. Again, a |
| channeled and collected at the footings and vertical | | | | professional deck builder should be consulted. |
| supports or along the main wall of the home.. This can | | | | Clearly the "nuts and bolts" of a deck offer up a lot of |
| cause inherent weaknesses in the structures or | | | | options to a home owner. The basics will determine |
| accelerate mold, fungus, and rot. | | | | the longevity of the deck and ease of maintaining the |
| The next aspect of building a deck, gazebo, or pergola | | | | home owner's investment. If experienced and wise |
| is to be aware of the type of lumber to use, whether it | | | | choices are not exercised, the home owner can easily |
| is a synthetic wood or pressure treated wood. | | | | find that their "do-it-yourself" project will cost much |
| Untreated wood should never be used in the | | | | more in the future. |