Idyllic job site

As summer begins to slip away every year, lingering outdoor jobs become a race against time.

While keeping a close eye on impending forecasts, a day was chosen to replace the top deck boards along the lower tier of the front porch at my clients’ boat-access-only cottage location. Although the early morning seemed rather frigid, the day evolved into a gloriously calm and mild autumn afternoon — perfect outdoor building weather.

Much like the upper tier that had been addressed a few years prior and several other projects later, the process of removing the old two-by-six tops would be done systematically. As boards were removed, new two-by-six top-decking was installed.

Typically, I prefer to complete all demolition and prep before initiating installation. However, it was much easier here to demo and install as I went along, primarily because the old deck surface gave me easy access to lay out and secure the new boards.

Once the first old and rotted deck board was removed, it was clear the nails would not come out willingly. As such, the nails that remained were all then either hammered down or cut off using a reciprocating saw. The new board was then cut to the proper length, positioned tightly against the existing fascia board and fastened in just enough places to ensure the board remains straight and parallel.

As the process of removing the old and installing the new began to unfold, the deck surface slowly began to come to life. Several of the old boards were so rotten, they simply broke apart as I attempted to lift them.

As the project was nearing completion and the final board was to be laid, it just so happened the remaining gap along the front face of the cottage was exactly a single board width, and that last board simply dropped in without the need to rip it narrower to fit. Such serendipitous situations are always memorable, as they greatly speed completion of the day’s tasks.

With the last board(s) in place, the stairs (which were always removable) were repositioned along the area at the elevation difference between the upper and lower tier of the porch. The new top decking was then secured with two ceramic screws above every joist.

Although replacement of top decking on the upper tier had been done a few years ago, the boards have held out quite well and nearly match the newest boards of the lower tier.

No matter, the porch’s top decking is now integral throughout, and the worry of any accidental breaches due to rotten boards can now be dismissed for a long while.

Once the project had been fulfilled, I took a minute to wander down lakeside for a brief repose.

As I looked out across the lake, I marvelled over the beauty of this remote location and contemplated the serenity of this time of year. The birds were chirping their final summer songs, carried by an ever-so-slight breeze that brushed my face with the warmth of the sun. Squirrels and chipmunks were rustling through the leaves that had already fallen, likely gathering and storing their rations for winter.

I hadn’t really had a break all summer, and those 15 minutes spent lakeside seem to have replenished my soul with a sorely needed boost to take on other up-coming jobs on my schedule — a joy for the senses and somewhat of a refuelling by nature.

It is often difficult to conveniently schedule exterior projects. Sometimes the weather simply does not want to co-operate.

On this day however, it seems Mother Nature got the memo and provided a glorious day for working outside. There’s just something special about working at a remote location — I will always remember this day as one of tranquility and rejuvenation, despite having tackled the removal and replacement of deck boards on the porch. It seems the soul also needs a revamp every so often, and that was the best part of the day.

RenoBoss.Inc@outlook.com