This gets the prize .. - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Joe Wood · 08-31-2008, 05:25 PM

for the absolute worst built deck I've ever seen and I just had to post this. . Now look, I never bash another person's work and STG I'm only posting this because of how pathetic it is :-)

So I get a call for a possible job putting cable railing up on a "trex like" deck already built 4 months ago. I get there and see why they need a railing ..

Joe Wood · 08-31-2008, 05:32 PM

I get down and start looking at the framing ..

hmmm, the post's look like fence posts set in concrete, not looking too good, I wonder how deep those holes are .. on this steep slope ..

then I see the 4x4 "beam" and 4x4 "joists" and I start to worry .. "look" I said to myself, how everything's just nailed together, and isn't that post already leaning a bit?

davy crockett · 08-31-2008, 05:36 PM

That's the beauty of Craigslist, it's a great day for a bargain!

Joe Wood · 08-31-2008, 05:38 PM

Then I look up, to see how the rest of the "beam" looks (OK, my first time using an emoticon, and this is just how my face must've looked)

MALCO.New.York · 08-31-2008, 05:41 PM

What are you talking about??? It is a perfectly fine deck!!!

Until you look at the footings, the joists, the railings and the supports!!!!!

Agolk2 · 08-31-2008, 05:49 PM

See that post strap in the background? They must've run out of em and didn't feel like making the trip back to home depot.

Joe Carola · 08-31-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Wood

for the absolute worst built deck I've ever seen and I just had to post this. . Now look, I never bash another person's work and STG I'm only posting this because of how pathetic it is :-)

So I get a call for a possible job putting cable railing up on a "trex like" deck already built 4 months ago. I get there and see why they need a railing ..

Joe,

Not only is that deck a crime, it's a big accident waiting to happen. I would tell the people that. Who gives a sh!t about bashing someone's work. I wouldn't even call it work.Whoever did that isn't even a contractor or should be called one.

You obviously know that you can't even possibly give them a price on putting cables on that piece of sh!t. You can't work on that.

Tattoo · 08-31-2008, 05:51 PM

WOW!!!!

Did the HO's actually pay someone for that. That deck on the side of a cliff is unsafe at best.

Good Luck on that job... I would either convince them to remove and re-build or run as fast as you can.

Cheers

neolitic · 08-31-2008, 06:02 PM

Back here, that would be called
a toboggan.

I would be careful about sticking
my head under there.

Joe Carola · 08-31-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tattoo

Did the HO's actually pay someone for that. That deck on the side of a cliff is unsafe at best.

The HO's probably did it themselves.

j_builder · 08-31-2008, 06:11 PM

Back here, that would be called
a toboggan.

Good Call Neo

Just waiting for the rainy/snow season to arrive, cause that "deck" (if thats what what you call it) has a very short life.

buildenterprise · 08-31-2008, 06:16 PM

I would not even have stopped long enough to take pics, they would have seen me running to my truck, screaming like a girl.

davy crockett · 08-31-2008, 06:20 PM

all it needs is some lattice,,,you guys get carried away

**AtlanticWBConst** · 08-31-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Wood

I get down and start looking at the framing ..

hmmm, the post's look like fence posts set in concrete, not looking too good, I wonder how deep those holes are .. on this steep slope ..

then I see the 4x4 "beam" and 4x4 "joists" and I start to worry .. "look" I said to myself, how everything's just nailed together, and isn't that post already leaning a bit?

Well, how did you end up handling this?

...sneak away? run away? have a nice chat with the home owner? Puke? Ride that thing down the hill?...?

Tell us...

Joe Wood · 08-31-2008, 06:24 PM

you know, I'm actually thinking about doing a "repair' job to it, just to make it safe! Already have it planned out, only problem is, I touch it, and I'm liable for it. Told the owner that, he said he'd sign a waiver, I don't know ..

but like I said work's slow, and I'm always up for a challenge :-)

the only BIG issue is, how deep are those existing holes? I doubt deep enough.

here's a sort of 'footing" on one side of the deck.

mickeyco · 08-31-2008, 06:24 PM

Maybe the homeowner is trying to get rid of his wife, get me the contractor's number.

I see it yet I'm still having a hard time believing it, who? how? why? Under what circumstances would anybody think that that was okay.

You have to find out who did this, take his picture to post here and them smack the guy. I wouldn't be surprised if the builders hat of choice was a sombrero, I've seen some real fancy work around here by illegals, although it usually looks good on the surface.

.

**AtlanticWBConst** · 08-31-2008, 06:25 PM

The only way I'd work on that deck, is by starting with demo-ing the whole thing....I'd be wary of putting my name on it and "owning" the widow-maker...

Jason W · 08-31-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neolitic

Back here, that would be called
a toboggan.

OCRS · 08-31-2008, 06:32 PM

Board off the edges and fill the f__ker with concrete

At least the toboggan will hold 10 on the way down

dkillianjr · 08-31-2008, 06:36 PM

Wow thats some nice work

Maybe if the home depot offered a deck building book in spanish they would have been better off!

Dave