Building steps used to require complicated measurements and difficult angled cuts, but the precut pressure treated stringers available at home centers today have made the job much easier.

Allow for a stringer at each end of the steps and at 16” intervals in between. Use corrosion resistant screws and nails to assemble the steps.

Start by measuring the width of the opening, then cut a treated 2”x4” to length to attach to the side of the house as an anchor for the stringers. Remember to take 3” off the length of the anchor board to allow for the thickness of the end stringers.

Position the anchor board on the house, taking into account the thickness of the top tread. Screw the board in place, making sure it’s level with the house. When attaching to brick, drill pilot holes with masonry bit for anchors or masonry screws.

Place the outside stringers against the house flush with the top of the anchor board, checking to be sure they’re level and square, and nail them to the ends of the anchor board.

Cut 1½” off the end of each of the inside stringers to allow for the thickness of the anchor board.

Toenail the inside stringers to the anchor board flush with the top.

Attach a treated 1”x 8” riser to the bottom of the steps to tie the stringers together.

Cut the 5/4” x 6” pressure treated treads to length, allowing for the overhang on each end, and nail them in place. Using two treads on each step minimizes the cracking and cupping that might occur with a single wide board.

Rip 1”x8” risers to width and cut to length flush with the outside of the stringers. Nail the risers to the stringers to complete the steps.

Power tools used on Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford® are provided by Ryobi.

Deck Foundation

Since a wood deck can carry a lot of weight, it’s important to start with a solid foundation. Begin by laying out the location of the deck, making sure it’s square with the house.

After the holes have been dug for the concrete footings, rebar is cut and wired together into a grid and supported by wire a few inches above the bottom of the hole. Another piece of rebar is driven into each hole to mark the top of the concrete.

Steel straps are embedded in the concrete when the footings are poured to attach to the framing for added stability. Once the footings have dried, concrete blocks are laid to form the piers supporting the deck.

Deck Framing

Pressure treated 2” x 6” blocks are cut to cap the top of each pier, followed by 6” x 6” sills. Treated 2” x 10” floor joints are placed on top of the sills and toenailed to them.

Laying Decking

After the framework is in place, 5/4” x 6” pressure treated decking is nailed to it. Since pressure treated wood is usually delivered still saturated with preservative, the boards are installed without a gap between them. As the wood dries, it shrinks, leaving a ¼” gap between the boards. If the lumber that is used has been dried before installation, leave a gap between the boards to allow for expansion.

To keep the boards from splitting when nailed near the end, turn the nail over and blunt the point with a hammer before driving it.

Lattice

The concrete block columns are faced with brick to match the house, and the exposed edges of the floor joists covered with fiber cement planking. Checkerboard style lattice, backed by landscaping fabric, is installed around the perimeter of the deck to hide the area underneath while still allowing air to circulate.

A roof constructed over part of the deck will provide much needed shade during the hot summer months. The columns supporting the roof are faced with fiber cement boards while the ceiling was covered in vinyl soffit.

Wide steps are built from the yard up to the deck and railings installed around the perimeter. To speed up the railing process, spindles are laid out and nailed to the top and bottom rails before the sections are installed.

When constructing handrails, be sure to follow local building codes as to the height of the railing and the distance between the spindles.

Dressing up a Patio

To liven up a bland concrete patio, start by thoroughly cleaning the surface with a pressure washer, then give it character by cutting a series of shallow lines into it. After laying out the pattern for the lines, cut them into the concrete using a circular saw equipped with a masonry blade and using a board a guide.

Since this generates a lot of dust, wear a respirator while cutting.

A concrete stain or paint can then be applied to seal the surface and add a touch of color. While paints work better for covering blemishes, stains are a more durable alternative.

If you want to create an attractive patio from scratch without the time and trouble of pouring concrete, consider laying patio pavers instead.

Installing a Retractable Awnings

A retractable awning is a great way to provide your deck or patio with sun when want it and shade when you don’t. SunSetter motorized awnings extend out 10’ without the need for vertical supports and can be installed in just a few hours.

Start by popping a level caulk line where the awning will be attached to the house, and mark off the locations for the support brackets. Align the brackets with the chalk line and screw them on, using a torpedo level to make sure they’re plumb.

When everything is ready, the awning is lifted into place and bolted to the brackets. Once the awning has been plugged into an electrical outlet, it can be operated at the push of a button from a remote control.

The seamless fabric on SunSetter awnings is coated on both sides to make it waterproof and block out 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Other Tips From This Episode

Since wood decks receive constant abuse from the elements, they require periodic cleaning and refinishing to protect them and keep them looking their best.

Start by applying deck cleaner to all the surfaces of the deck and railing using a pump up sprayer. Cleaners often contain strong chemicals, so be sure to read the warning on the container and protect your eyes and skin from contact.

After allowing the cleaner to work for the recommended period of time, a pressure washer is used to clean the deck. Pressure washers deliver a concentrated blast of water at anywhere from 1,000 to 3,500 pounds per square inch and may be purchased or rented at home improvement centers or rental stores.

Use care when pressure washing your deck and don’t overdo it. Pausing for too long in one spot or holding the nozzle too close to the surface can actually damage the wood. For large open areas, a deck scrubber attachment can make pressure washing even easier.

After the deck has been cleaned, it’s time to perform any necessary repairs. Wood movement caused by exposure to the sun and rain can cause nails to work their way out of the board, so drive any protruding nails flush with the surface or replace them with deck screws. Repair or replace any badly deteriorated boards and use a sander to smooth rough spots—especially railings—to prevent splinters.

Once the deck has dried thoroughly, refinish it with a tinted deck stain or clear sealer. Deck stains come in solid colors to hide the grain of the wood and semitransparent shades that allow the wood grain to show through. Since stains and sealers are much thinner than paint, they can be applied using a pump up sprayer as well.

After spraying an area, go back over it with a paintbrush while the sealer is still wet to work it into the cracks and spread the finish out evenly.

If you maintain your wood deck regularly, you’ll be rewarded with many years of service and enjoyment.

Before

After

While this covered courtyard featured a beautiful brick fountain, it was hard to keep clean and received little use during the hot summer months along the Gulf Coast. To remedy these problems, the homeowners decided to enclose it by adding a fireplace flanked by glass doors.

Framing

Since the outside entranceway was level with the room, a rubber membrane was placed under the treated 2” x 4” sill to prevent water from seeping inside.

The exterior wall was framed using laminated beams to support the weight over the door openings. After the wall had been sheathed in plywood, the arched door units were held in place and the outline of the opening traced around them. A jigsaw was then used to cut out the opening.

Doors

The doors from JELD-WEN Windows & Doors included a special energy efficient Low-E coating on the glass that reduces the transmission of heat and harmful UV rays. This not only saves energy, but keeps furniture and carpets from fading.

After the exterior wall had been covered with housewrap, the doors were set in place using the same rubber gasket material to seal the thresholds to the floor.

When the door units were square and level, the flange around the casing was nailed to the wall. For added security, several of the hinge screws were replaced with longer 3” ones that go all the way through the casing and into the studs.

Fireplace

Openings were cut in the interior framing for the fireplace insert and flat screen TV above it. The fireplace unit is a ventless gas model, which is important since a chimney would have blocked the existing window above it.

Heating and Cooling

To heat and cool the additional space, a separate unit was installed in the attic with vents cut into the room. Since a major renovation project like this can generate a lot of dust, it’s important to change the air filter at least once a week during construction. While an inexpensive fiberglass filter can be used for this, replace it with a high quality filter when the job is done.

Stucco

When the framing had been completed, cement backer board was screwed to the plywood on the exterior wall to provide a firm foundation for the coats of stucco. Since backer board is hard to cut and shape, trim and accent pieces were made from foam sheets with fiberglass mesh used to give the stucco added strength.

Painting

One of the more challenging tasks was painting the vaulted ceiling. Due to its height, scaffolding had to be set up in the room so the painters could reach it. After the walls, floor, and cabinets had been covered with plastic, the ceiling was sprayed white.

Amenities

The room includes a wine bar with a rack for red wine and a refrigerated cooler for white.

The flat screen television above the fireplace can be concealed behind a retractable painting when not in use.

Other Tips From This Episode

Power tools used on Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford® are provided by Ryobi.

We have a patio that is 20+ years old. It is stained from leaves and mildew. It also seems to have small grains of sand coming off it. We recently installed a patio cover and would like to clean and seal it. I have tried cleaning it with muriatic acid and also Simple Green and neither worked very well. My wife would like to apply vinyl or some kind of tile but we don’t know if that would work given the hot/cold of being outside besides the blowing rain and snow on it. Do you have any suggestions of a cleaner/sealer or if tile would work? - Randy

Hi Randy,

There are several options available that could serve to really dress up your patio floor. One of the simplest would be to use a concrete stain. They’re easy to apply, won’t peel, and are available in a wide range of colors. You could also cut decorative score lines in the surface of the concrete before staining it using a circular saw and an abrasive blade for a unique custom look. Use a guide board to keep your lines straight. Porcelain tile is another very nice looking material that should hold up well. Choose a tile that is fairly nonporous, so it won’t crack when it freezes, and is slip resistant.

Good luck with your project!

Danny shares some ideas to help you transform your backyard into a comfortable outside living space complete with an outdoor kitchen for entertaining or simply feeding the family.

Two different approaches to creating an outdoor entertaining area are looked at in the episode. The first one includes an existing pool, covered patio and a new brick outdoor kitchen with stainless appliances, fireplace and granite countertops all of which seamlessly become an extension of the already great-looking backyard. The second project involves building an approximately 1000 sq. ft multi-level deck using TimberTech TwinFinish composite decking with a new concealed fastener system. The 3-level deck also includes a covered bar, swing and benches.

Although very different projects, each looks at how to address foundation and drainage issues as well as how to choose the right materials and when to hire a pro. Without a doubt both homeowners spent much time planning their projects and it shows.

I thought this show would never make it out the door! Seems like there was one delay after the other when it came to building the composite deck down in the St. Pete area. After several delays, though, it finally got kicked off and we were able to meet up with the homeowners and contractor and start shooting footage. The Timbertech material is awesome, to put it mildly. I know it costs more to use composite materials, but it sure is worth the extra cost when you look at the next-to-nothing maintenance you’ll have by using it.

While we’re on the subject of decks, this is one of the most attractive methods for adding an outdoor entertaining space and, in essence, adding on to the square footage of your home. But before you run out and buy some lumber, here are a few things you should consider.

• Before you do anything, make sure you know what you can and can not do in relation to your local building codes. This is especially true for all you do-it-yourselfers out there. Structural stability, location and size are main factors to consider before the first post goes in place.
• Don’t overbuild the deck. A huge deck next to a small house simply doesn’t work. If you really think you need a lot of extra space, build the deck in several layers. This will break up the expanse and also add some character to your entertaining area.
• Spend more for low maintenance. I know I already said it, but it bears repeating. This is especially true if you do a lot of entertaining. The deck needs to be able to stand up to traffic, moving furniture back and forth, kids, pets, line dancing….you get the picture.
• Shy away from boring lines in the deck boards. Mix and match the layout to have some diagonal patterns, inlaid designs or other features to bring some life to your deck. Give it personality!
• Consider functionality. Adding built-in benches, planters even built-in cup holders in the railing can enhance your entertaining space.

Sometimes the biggest hurdle is designing the deck and creating the materials list you need. All I can say is thank goodness for the Internet! Check out this free design service. It won’t provide you everything to really customize and personalize your deck, but it sure is a great starting point.

Finally, for homes without decks, don’t forget that even the simplest additions can create a fabulous entertaining area outside, if only for one or two people! A spot for a couple of chairs and a chiminea, maybe a water feature or a bench beneath an arbor can provide a very nice spot to enjoy the outdoors. Again, look for hints online to create your space. Here’s another website for choosing a chiminea.

Other Tips From This Episode