A unique Patio Deck Project-Part I and PART II

WizeOne

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I'll do this post in two parts due to the number of pictures. 8 years ago I tore out wood deck that had been constructed with dougles fir construction left overs. It was originally painted but deteriorated rapidly. By the time I tore it out, it was rotting and sagging.

I explored all the alternatives to replace it but did not like them, either due to the maintanance or the cost. I stumbled on this process while obtaining cultured stone products for a house refresh project.

It was a lot more work than I intended but turned out quite fabulous. The beauty of it was that it only cost about 20% more than an eight year old material bid for a conventional cedar deck.

Hope you enjoy!

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WizeOne

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A unique Patio Deck Project-Part II, the finale!

A unique Patio Deck Project-Part II, the finale!

Here are the results, and yes, this 24" colored concrete slab (90 lbs each) deck is suspended on 4" sewer pipe! Who'da thunk?

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Bob_VT

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-I

Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-I

It's the season for it :)

We installed a 17 x 15 patio yesterday using those precast patio blocks. I laid 8" of crushed stone, compacted and a layer of manufactured sand. Afeter we placed the blocks we swept manufactured sand into the cracks. It's a start.

I really like your wall surrounding it.
 

i386

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Man that's pretty slick. What did you cap the ends of the pipe with? All those cuts with a hand saw too wow.:eek:
 

WizeOne

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

.....All those cuts with a hand saw too wow.:eek:

A 65 year old handsaw, at that. My daddy half built the house I grew up in with that saw. It doesn't cut wood very good, any longer, but didn't do too bad with the plastic. I've threatened to toss that saw many times. With the advent of carbide blades, saw sharpening shops are far and few between and expensive when you find them.

I strung a string across each row and measured down to the support block, subtracted the end caps thickness then cut to length. It became apparent, pretty quick, that I was having trouble making a square cut but when I got to the last two rows (furthest from the house) I started checking with the outer wall for proper height.

The dimensions were getting critical and I could not shave off small amounts with my homemade mitre box and hand saw. Soooooooo! Off the Harbor Freight I went.

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They had this dandy on sale for $149.95 and it allowed me not only cut square for the remaining pipes but I could shave off a fraction of a blades width with it.

The end caps were made for this. The bottom was just a ring that the pipe sat in and the top had four tabs to receive the corners of the slabs.

Here is a link to the AWS Pedestal System. It has some good pictures and vids.

http://www.appianwaysystem.com/v2/
 

Bob_VT

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

WOW!

Why? The pipes? Was it easier then filling?
 

WizeOne

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

WOW!

Why? The pipes? Was it easier then filling?

In retrospect? It would have taken endless wheelbarrows of backfill. As it was the number of wheelbarrows of dirt I took out for the support blocks and the outer perimeter wall were countless. Lucky I had an old above ground pool depression to dump them in.

For the 5/8 minus gravel alone, to fill the support pad holes and the perimeter trench, took 3 of my little utility trailer loads (1 1/2 yds total) and another countless number of wheel barrow trips to get it to the back.

They delivered 6 pallets of brick and slab and all that had to be hand carted to the back as well.

No doubt it was a lot of work, excluding the perimeter wall, every step was times 70. Dig 70 holes, 140 shovels of 5/8's minus to fill the holes, 70 hits with the monster masher compactor, 70 setting and leveling of the 12 x 12 concrete support pads, measure the height for 70 pipes, cut 70 support pipe pieces....well you get the picture.

Additionally, this patio covers two foundation vents. Backfilling would have blocked them, now they just vent under the slaps.

Eight years ago the bid for conventional cedar deck materials was $1500.oo...Today, my total bill for this deck was just under $2000. The deck is 22' x 13'.
 

ezmobee

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Let me first off say thanks for posting this because it's a very interesting product and your result is stunning! Really really sharp. However, my question is why would you choose this method over a simple poured concrete slab? Seems it would be about half the cost and none of the work. Just wondering.
 

Shizzy

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-Part I and PART II

looks great.

Since Im from the land of cold, what part of the country are you from? My first thought is frost heaving those pads and a mess come next spring.
 

WizeOne

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-Part I and PART II

looks great.

Since Im from the land of cold, what part of the country are you from? My first thought is frost heaving those pads and a mess come next spring.

Thanks Shizzy and good point. We don't have that problem here. We do get some short duration freeze and snow but no frost heave.

As for a poured slab, I figured that it would have cost around 4-5K for a formed perimeter wall, backfill and compact, then a colored slab with stamped pattern with all concrete pumped to the back. It would have taken the project out of the DIY arena.
 

Shizzy

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-Part I and PART II

the grass and trees looked different so I figured a different part of the country. Im used to always digging below the frost line for ANYTHING around here.
 

Mike Robinson

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-Part I and PART II

How high can you go with a deck like this? Neat idea!
 

Tim Frank

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Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

Re: A unique Patio Deck Project-II, the finale!

1) You seem like a pretty hands-on guy, so you might consider sharpening that saw yourself. It is easier than you might think, and a decent saw set and filing guide will set you back less than $25-. For a saw with that much "history" you could almost call it "priceless".

2) I had to cut 60 pieces of 4" pipe at 18" lengths. Someone suggested reversing the blade on the chop saw.....I'd heard that old tip, but never done it. Incredible results....no chatter at all and a really smooth cut.


Nice job!
 
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