Strav's blog

When we moved into the house on Appaloosa Drive, there was an existing deck which had some areas that obviously were going to need to be repaired.  The coloring (dark brown) was not particularly appealing to us either.  I had planned on removing the deck boards, fixing the damaged framing, stripping and finally reinstalling the decking boards.  This, however, was not how this project ended up going.  Many of the deck boards were damaged to the point that they would not stand being removed, stripped and reinstalled.  The framing had previously been "repaired" and had sustained significant damage (rot) and there were numerous structural issues with the way the framing had been done.  Ultimately, *everything* needed to come out, brand new framing put in (resolving structural issues) and where possible the old deck boards resurfaced.  I watched *lots* of videos and read many articles researching the appropriate approaches to take.  Below are links to the main references I used.

Series
Home Renovision DIY - How to Build a Floating Deck Step by Step
HouseImprovements - How To Build A Deck
HouseImprovements - DIY Weekend Deck Project
DIY Weekend Deck Project Part 1 - Deck Board Removal
DIY Weekend Deck Project Part 2 - Framing And Leveling
DIY Weekend Deck Project Part 3 - Laying Down Deckboards
DIY Weekend Deck Project Part 4 - Installing Deck Railings
DIY Weekend Deck Project Part 5 - Skirt, Box Steps And Angled Railings
BYOT - How To Build A Deck: Start To Finish
HOW TO BUILD A DECK : START TO FINISH (Part 1 of 2)
HOW TO BUILD A DECK : START TO FINISH (Part 2 of 2)

Framing
Feature Board Framing
DIY Deck Part 7 - Connecting Corner Joists
DIY Deck Part 8 - Preventing Joist Rot
Installing Deck Joists
Joist Layout Ideas for Stronger Decks
Deck Joist Cantilever Rules and Limits
How to Calculate Deck Spans for the Ultimate Outdoor Hangout
How to Add an Angled Corner and Joists to a Deck Frame

Deck Boards and Layout
What is the Proper Deck Board Spacing
How to picture frame your deck

Restoration and Finishing
How To Protect Your Deck | Never Sand Again
How to Restore a 30 Year Old Deck
How-to Refinish Your Deck
The 6 Best Deck Stain Reviews and Ratings
Restore-A-Deck Cleaner System Review
How To: Prepare Your Deck for Stain
Restore-A-Deck
TWP 1500 Series Review
TWP 1500 Stain
TWP 1500 Stain Surface Preparation
Staining A New Deck
Why Sanding a Deck Can be an Issue

General
How to Fix Your Deck | A to Z
Tips for Building a Deck - 10 Tips to Make Your Deck Last Longer
Build a Floating Deck
Star Concrete (concrete disposal)