Thanks!Awesome job! What railing kits are those? I love the lights on them!
I had 17 horizontal and 4 stair railing kits delivered to my place this morning. The "in stock" stuff at my local Home Depot (Veranda). Very much considering returning them and going with something else, but not really sure what yet. I need to make a choice soon, though, decking is going down in a few days.Thanks!
Everything is TimberTech. Railing and lights. I did custom rail packs because I did the square metal balusters. Kind of a pain in the ### with the first one (because you have to drill the holes yourself for the balusters), but it's a breeze after you know how to do it.
Doing riser lights on every step, so hopefully that isn't too bad.
If you don't have the budget or friends with a self-leveling rotary laser, you can use/make an old-school water level for around $10. That's what I used for mine, and it worked perfectly.Posts all set and ledger attached this past weekend. Used a buddy's self-leveling rotary laser for marking the posts from the ledger. That saved a TON of time and was way more accurate than chalk string and a line level (I ran it out on every post to see the difference...all were about an inch off from the laser).
And if you have never used them, I highly recommend LedgerLoks for attaching the ledger board to the rim joist of the house. No pilot holes and testing has shown stronger than 1/2" lags. A box of 50 runs about $35-37, but it was well worth it.
Lumber being delivered tomorrow (I'm like a kid before Christmas). Will be ordering my TimberTech railing and lighting next week.
Awesome job!!!Have stain, stairs and fascia board left to do, but here is my 25x20 so far.
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4 - Lighting
Pic 5 - Lighting
Pic 6 - Picture Frame
Did you get THIS for pulling up the old deck? I got one of these for my demo stage - Took me maybe 2 hours to rip up the whole deck. Fantastic tool. Built like a tank. Buy it - use it - sell it on Craigslist for 95% of what you paid for it. I sold mine for $70 in a matter of days after I was done. I think all I really lost was maybe $5 and shipping costs.Just ordered a crap ton of stuff for my project. Was most impressed with Home Depot, though. Got 74 16' boards of Trex "Tiki torch" color Transcend (their top end stuff) for right at $50 a board. Always ask for discount pricing at the pro desk!
Went with their in stock brand "Veranda" for all white composite railings, but am starting to second guess that. They just seemed too good of a price to be true, and if I don't like them, I can redo all the railings later without having to do anything with the deck itself.
Also ordered the Trex "rain escape" stuff so that the lower deck will be pretty much waterproof - a huge bucked of hidden fasteners - and a sweet deck board puller tool for ripping the old deck up.
Right on. I don't have any experience with other composite railing systems, but I was very happy with the TimberTech stuff. Seems ultra durable. I think the wood underneath would rot away before I saw any issue with the railing.I had 17 horizontal and 4 stair railing kits delivered to my place this morning. The "in stock" stuff at my local Home Depot (Veranda). Very much considering returning them and going with something else, but not really sure what yet. I need to make a choice soon, though, decking is going down in a few days.
Yes. Same price at Sears, though, but with free shipping. Great tool!Did you get THIS for pulling up the old deck? I got one of these for my demo stage - Took me maybe 2 hours to rip up the whole deck. Fantastic tool. Built like a tank. Buy it - use it - sell it on Craigslist for 95% of what you paid for it. I sold mine for $70 in a matter of days after I was done. I think all I really lost was maybe $5 and shipping costs.
Contractor wants me to swap out the Veranda stuff with top end Trex stuff (to go along with Trex decking and the waterproofing stuff I got as well). Calculated the numbers and it's roughly an extra $1k to go that way. All the screws and fasteners and such would be hidden, which is nice.Right on. I don't have any experience with other composite railing systems, but I was very happy with the TimberTech stuff. Seems ultra durable. I think the wood underneath would rot away before I saw any issue with the railing.
Plus, their post sleeves they changed recently (I think). There used to be an issue where the sleeves would be too tight on the 4x4 posts. So, they made the interior of the sleeve larger. You have to shim the sleeves, but I prefer it that way. It makes it easier if your posts are a "little" off plumb or the post has warped after install at all (I had that with one).
I will suggest not going with one of their more inexpensive options if you change to TimberTech and decide to do post lights. I got RadianceRail (their top line product), so the post sleeves are 5x5 with channels inside for running the lighting. If you go with the ExpressRail (and there is another whose name escapes me) you'll have to notch out your post where the light will go so you can feed the wire up the post. Thank God I didn't have to deal with that. Sounded awful.
Contractor wants me to swap out the Veranda stuff with top end Trex stuff (to go along with Trex decking and the waterproofing stuff I got as well). Calculated the numbers and it's roughly an extra $1k to go that way. All the screws and fasteners and such would be hidden, which is nice.
Yes, thinking about a few post cap lights as well as stair lighting. Ok, so I know just about nothing with this lighting stuff for decks. How is it all wired up? How many can you wire together? How is it wired back to the house, and how does one turn them on and off (they won't have a wall switch in the house, right)? Thanks for any help with that you can lend. That seems like something I should be able to knock out myself without my contractor.I did the Trex railing stuff on mine. I can't comment on the TimberTech stuff, but I'm really happy with the Trex stuff. Easy install, and as you noted, you can't see any screws or anything.. The channels for wiring were a little tight, but I also went with a larger gauge wire than I probably needed. Also, if you're looking to do lights, check the two big online deck stores for close-out's. I got the prior year's Trex Lighted Post Caps for 1/2 off. They apparently changed the connector on the new models. I wasn't using a Trex transformer anyway and was going to just cut the wire and connect to my own transformer, so I didn't care. Saved me a bundle.
I have this transformer. It has a built in photocell, so that you can set it to come on automatically for 4, 6 or 8 hours after dusk. It also has a straight on/off switch. You just run your main wire from that to the first light and then chain them together after that. I think a line can hold 40w and each of my post lights is 1.6w.Yes, thinking about a few post cap lights as well as stair lighting. Ok, so I know just about nothing with this lighting stuff for decks. How is it all wired up? How many can you wire together? How is it wired back to the house, and how does one turn them on and off (they won't have a wall switch in the house, right)? Thanks for any help with that you can lend. That seems like something I should be able to knock out myself without my contractor.
The on/off switch is on the transformer, though? I'd like to hide that transformer a bit, but be able to turn on the deck lights when letting the dogs out (if lights aren't on auto timer).I have this transformer. It has a built in photocell, so that you can set it to come on automatically for 4, 6 or 8 hours after dusk. It also has a straight on/off switch. You just run your main wire from that to the first light and then chain them together after that. I think a line can hold 40w and each of my post lights is 1.6w.
Then you just mount the transformer and plug it in to an outside outlet. Way more simple than you'd think.
Yes, it's on the transformer. It's not big at all. It's only 4-1/4" x 6-1/4" x 3-5/8" so it won't look odd if you mount it next to your outlet.The on/off switch is on the transformer, though? I'd like to hide that transformer a bit, but be able to turn on the deck lights when letting the dogs out (if lights aren't on auto timer).
doowain's got the basics.Yes, thinking about a few post cap lights as well as stair lighting. Ok, so I know just about nothing with this lighting stuff for decks. How is it all wired up? How many can you wire together? How is it wired back to the house, and how does one turn them on and off (they won't have a wall switch in the house, right)? Thanks for any help with that you can lend. That seems like something I should be able to knock out myself without my contractor.
The on/off switch is on the transformer, though? I'd like to hide that transformer a bit, but be able to turn on the deck lights when letting the dogs out (if lights aren't on auto timer).
Thanks for the info. At the start, I'll just be looking to do around 8 to 10 cap lights and stair riser lights. Trex makes a decent solar powered cap light, but will need to run wiring for any stair lighting I do. As I'll have a "deck over a deck", the bottom deck will have a ceiling with can lights which will have plenty of light spill over into the backyard, plus we have floodlights on the back of the house which light up the backyard pretty good anyway. I don't think any "landscape" lighting will be needed.Be careful - 12V landscape lighting is addictive. It looks SO good at night. It'll make you feel like you're at a resort or something. I started with 5 path lights, and I've got close to 20 fixtures now, not counting 15 or so deck cap lights.
500 sq ft cost me about $9K. But that is not cutting corners on anything but I made mistakes along the way. Doing 12 inches on center. $1100 of that is lighting. 5K of that is Railing. Rest is pressure treated.so give me an idea on pricing of flooring and railings.
400sq ft
Basic rectangle more or less.
Flooring I see ~ $30 for 12ft board.
Let's say Timbertek railing
I'd strongly consider going with hard-wired for the post caps...I've never seen solar lights that I like long-term. Maybe it's just a personal thing, but they dim faster, don't look as nice, and at some point burn out and need the power storage cells replaced. My old path lights (before I went wired) were solar, and they were garbage. If you've got to run wiring and get a transformer for the stairs, just get hard-wired caps too. Just my $0.02.matttyl said:Thanks for the info. At the start, I'll just be looking to do around 8 to 10 cap lights and stair riser lights. Trex makes a decent solar powered cap light, but will need to run wiring for any stair lighting I do. As I'll have a "deck over a deck", the bottom deck will have a ceiling with can lights which will have plenty of light spill over into the backyard, plus we have floodlights on the back of the house which light up the backyard pretty good anyway. I don't think any "landscape" lighting will be needed.
belljr said:so give me an idea on pricing of flooring and railings.
400sq ft
Basic rectangle more or less.
Flooring I see ~ $30 for 12ft board.
Let's say Timbertek railing
ETA: After doing a quick calculator - I think I'm looking at 4-6K way less than I thought.
My current boards are 45, think I'll go 90 this time.
Yes, it was a big reason of why we got this house. Just over 500 sq ft up top (with a view), and the same size below (though with the 6x6 posts and such to deal with). I should be able to have the ceiling about 8' above the deck, and the area that will have a ceiling will be roughly 15'x30' (it's hard to waterproof around the 4x4 railing posts on the top deck). That's 450 sq ft of "usable space" (can't have lot of electronics or nice furniture) which will be my son's outdoor playroom, a space for my dogs to always be in a shady and dry place, and a fun outdoor space where I can work on my mountain bikes and just hose the floor down if needed. Eventually I'd like to have a large projector and screen set up down there for "family movie night" and football games.I'm so jealous that you can have a space BELOW your deck. I wish my deck was high enough to do that.
I already have a deck and frame is in good shape. Didn't think about the Fascia.Just for comparison, my deck is around the same size. I went with Trex Transcend line all around (decking, rails, cap lights, etc. and I came in at around $15K in materials. I've got a VERY comprehensive pricing spreadsheet that broke it all out if you're interested, I'd be happy to share
I didn't entertain bids for having it done, but I agree with doowain, it'll easily cost you 2x the materials cost to have someone do it.
- PT Lumber (framing, beams, etc) $1,500
- Trex Decking and Fascia (20' boards) $7,000 <-- I had A LOT of one color left. Probably could've been closer to $6,000 or less here. I used it for other things, but I had a lot left over
- Trex Railing/Posts $3,500
- Simpson Metal Hangars and brackets $700
- Other stuff (concrete, nails and fasteners, flashing and water protection, tools and equipment rental $2,300ish.
The house I grew up in had a similar space. It was concrete, and below the deck. Admittedly NOT weatherproofed, but still sheltered. It was a great place to just "be a kid" outdoors, etc.Yes, it was a big reason of why we got this house. Just over 500 sq ft up top (with a view), and the same size below (though with the 6x6 posts and such to deal with). I should be able to have the ceiling about 8' above the deck, and the area that will have a ceiling will be roughly 15'x30' (it's hard to waterproof around the 4x4 railing posts on the top deck). That's 450 sq ft of "usable space" (can't have lot of electronics or nice furniture) which will be my son's outdoor playroom, a space for my dogs to always be in a shady and dry place, and a fun outdoor space where I can work on my mountain bikes and just hose the floor down if needed. Eventually I'd like to have a large projector and screen set up down there for "family movie night" and football games.
Sweet. Mine also has access to the double doors of the "walkout basement." Actually, this is very similar to what I'll have - just with a ceiling for the lower space (and I can't tell if that's wood or stone floor for the bottom section). Still looking at options for lighting, I really don't want to spend over $1k on that part of it, but it's getting hard not to. Each damn cap light is over $50.The house I grew up in had a similar space. It was concrete, and below the deck. Admittedly NOT weatherproofed, but still sheltered. It was a great place to just "be a kid" outdoors, etc.
Sweet. Mine also has access to the double doors of the "walkout basement." Actually, this is very similar to what I'll have - just with a ceiling for the lower space (and I can't tell if that's wood or stone floor for the bottom section). Still looking at options for lighting, I really don't want to spend over $1k on that part of it, but it's getting hard not to. Each damn cap light is over $50.
They don't, as they can't beat the prices that your local Home Depot or Lowes (or other lumber yard) can do, mostly due to shipping. I used them for the other stuff on my recent project, but not for decking myself (went to home depot for that).Did I miss something or does DecksDirect not sell decking?