Recently, after nearly six years in our house, we started the monumental project of renovating our back deck / patio and basement. We persuaded Roy to act as our unofficial contractor with the understanding that Roy would also have the help of several Melton apprentices (Noble, Tillman...and pretty much the rest of us too). And thus we set out - dubbing our project: #RENO WITH ROY.
Here are some of the highlights so far:
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| After closer inspection Roy deemed the existing slipshod deck-extension unfit for use, and began immediate deconstruction. Just thought you'd all like to know that those times we had the whole family crowded around out on the deck, throwing pumpkins off at Thanksgiving - the deck was probably not structurally sound. |
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| A few boulders needed to be relocated to make room for the new pillar and the patio that was to follow. Btw, Noble is using the old pillar (that used to hold up the deck-extension) as a lever in this picture and he BROKE it with his own hands. Makes you feel good about standing on that old deck, right? |
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| After taking the old deck extension apart, Roy and Noble raised a new solid pillar, and then Mike helped them place the new beam. This thing was a beast. |
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| New joists - actually pressure treated, as opposed to the old joists that were warping. |
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| After replacing the decking |
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| We kept all the kids busy for days as the construction went on by giving them the assignment of "cleaning the wall" (essentially painting with water on the cement). It worked liked a charm. |
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| After the new and improved deck was up, the cement guys arrived to frame up the new back patio. I know my whole family is thinking, "didn't we spend a whole Saturday once breaking up SIX TONS of concrete in the Melton's back yard and hauling it away?!" True--- but that was a bad back patio. Really bad. This one is going to be awesome. |
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| Here are the little boys last Saturday rapt in amazement, watching the new concrete being poured. |
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| Cement and pumping trucks. |
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| Our new back patio. It still needs to be acid washed and sealed. |
Next step: the long-awaited steps off the deck (yay!), and finishing touches.
