This might be a shorter than normal ramble, because the world is not filled with excitement today. I’ve not a lot to add to the contents of the internet today, to be honest. I just wanted to share that I’ve been working on the deck again. The four pillars are concreted in. And incredibly for me, they’re actually in line. Seriously, they’re actually in line. I can put the joist up that will support one edge of the pallets, and y’know what, it actually touches all four posts. I’m quite astonishingly proud of myself.
I spent much of the day doing unpleasant things to the wood trim that was on the deck until today. I was originally planning to pull it off and attempt to reuse the larch lap type stuff, but it’s nailed in so well that they were just breaking. Having realised what a state the concrete is in behind them, I instead broke out the jigsaw and lopped the top section off. It’ll be hidden under the deck anyhow, so it’ll just provide a ‘nicer’ looking back to the underneath of the deck (which is intended to be ‘shed-y’). I largely managed to prise the actual decking boards off though, so I might be able to reuse them to make the stairs. I;d like to feign feeling butch after breaking out the crowbar, but actually, I mainly felt wussy as I didn’t really have the strength and it was generally a bit of a battle. Still, all but one of the bits I want off is off. Tomorrow I hope to attach the joist, it’s marked up, but I thought that doing something I can’t easily correct if I get wrong after only 2 hours sleep was possibly unwise.
On my way home from work I stopped at one of the places that’s got a stack of pallets mouldering, it looks optimistic and since I have to nip out tomorrow for a package collection I shall endeavour to pop in and ask if I can have some. There’s another place which has more, though, who I might ask first, because I’ve bought stuff from them many times in the past (plumber’s merchant).
I’ve checked the measurements too, and it looks like it should all fit together kinda the way I intended. The only thing that’s changed mid-plan is the way I want to do the stairs – just because I think I’ve worked out a better, nicer way to do the stairs. Although I reserve my right to change my mind back.
It’s quite exciting though.
I’ve also put yet another coat of filler on the section under the stairs that needs more filler. I’m starting to get enthusiasm for these jobs because I want the house finished… basically. Once the house is ‘done’ I can start on other projects, but the house has been hanging around part finished. So it’s time to get it done.
I’m, incidentally, still trying to sort out the recycled denim insulation. And the solar panels.
