How does one remove a middle board on a wooden deck?

[MOXJO7282]

I have a friend who is insisting I use the dremel because he thinks it will be hard for me to use the jig to cut a straight line and also miss the joist. I do see his point so reconsidering using the jig saw. I'm also leaning to a sister joist and starting to think its the best way to go.

Its raining here today so I have another day to mull it over.

 

[csxjohn]

I have a friend who is insisting I use the dremel because he thinks it will be hard for me to use the jig to cut a straight line and also miss the joist. I do see his point so reconsidering using the jig saw. I'm also leaning to a sister joist and starting to think its the best way to go.

Its raining here today so I have another day to mull it over.

I'm glad you came up with the right wording, it escaped me. For me it makes it much easier to cut off the old board flush with the joist then just nail into the sister joist.

A scrap piece of 2x4 treated material will work, securely fastened to the existing joist with galvanized nails. I pre-drill holes in the sister a little smaller than the diameter of the nails I'm using and start the nails before lining up the sister.

Pre-drilling keeps the piece of wood from splitting. I'd do the same with installing the new surface board.

 

[easyrider]

A dremel will give you a uneven cut, imo. Use a speed square or lag a piece of board down to the deck to use as a saw guide. I use a speed square. Set the jigsaw at 45 degrees. Draw a line 1/4 inch into the opposite side of the joist. Pull you nails or screws if you can. Line up your guide with the saw blade. You might need to drill a pilot hole for the jigsaw blade. Make the cut.

If you would rather do more work then add a nailer. If your doing this just cut even with the outside edge of the joist leaving the old deck over the joist. This will leave a gap in the deck because of the butting together of the deck instead of bevel cutting as the board shrinks.

Bill

 

[MOXJO7282]

major success!!

I'm happy to report a jig saw worked perfectly without the need for another tool. I carefully angled the blade to make a small hole at the edge to insert the blade up and down and then just cut straight across. Made a nice even cut especially with the splinter giard in place on the jig saw. Used sister joists with pre-drilled holes, which was a good tip.

The guy at Lowes even cut my boards although they usually don't cut deck boards I guess. They boards fit like a glove and I screwed them in using deck screws.

I must admit I surprised myself because I used to be a guy with 2 left thumbs due to having 4 older brothers and never getting a chance to fix anything growing up so I never would've even attempted in the past but with a daughter in college who wants to study abroad for a semester every little savings helps.

Thanks again for all the great insight from my TUG friends. I couldn't have done it without you that is for sure.

Next is replacing the water value in my refrigerator. At first glance replacing looked like a big challenge but one search on Youtube and it should be an easy job that saves me at least $125 in labor. Too bad the small little replacement piece is $100.

 

[Rose Pink]

Glad it worked out so well for you.

 

[csxjohn]

Good job! On to the water valve.

 

[MOXJO7282]

So another lesson I learn as I try to become more handy. Don't assume parts are proprietary.

This $80 water value that I paid GE to express ship for an additional $20assuming it was the only source can be found on Amazon for $25. I was going to have to return the GE part to save the money and expected to eat the express shipping costs and shipping back to them but luckily the part arrived damaged.

I told the Fed Ex guy I'm not accepting so I'll get a full refund including the express shipping so thank you Fed Ex for damaging my package that I overpaid for.

So if I can successfully replace this part we will have saved about $175. I'm really liking this handyman stuff.

 

[csxjohn]

So another lesson I learn as I try to become more handy. Don't assume parts are proprietary.

This $80 water value that I paid GE to express ship for an additional $20assuming it was the only source can be found on Amazon for $25. I was going to have to return the GE part to save the money and expected to eat the express shipping costs and shipping back to them but luckily the part arrived damaged.

I told the Fed Ex guy I'm not accepting so I'll get a full refund including the express shipping so thank you Fed Ex for damaging my package that I overpaid for.

So if I can successfully replace this part we will have saved about $175. I'm really liking this handyman stuff.

This is where I order appliance parts. Never thought about looking on Amazon.

I found them while looking for an oven igniter.

https://www.midwestapplianceparts.com/

 

[Elan]

So if I can successfully replace this part we will have saved about $175. I'm really liking this handyman stuff.

Absolutely. I save enough every year via DIY to pay for multiple vacations. BTW, eBay is great for appliance parts. Just find a highly rated seller with feedback in the thousands.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Water valve replaced. Very easily I might add. At first couldn't figure out how to remove the hoses. After tugging and twisting for a few minutes I again turned to youtube and it helped again.

I learned that there is a ring at the end of the valve that you pull back and at the same time you pull the hose and just like that it popped out. Connecting new was real easy. Inserted the valve back into the fridge, connected with a hook and a screw and job accomplished.

So for $28 it is all repaired. To think I almost said yes to a $99 service call +$95 part.

Probably the best part was my soon to be 14 yr old son has been looking over my shoulder the whole time so he's working through these challenges with me and learning a lot more than I ever did at his age.

 

[GrayFal]

Well Joe, you are obviously much handier then you let on. Good for you!

 

[vacationhopeful]

As a young person, I did chores because I had limited funds.

As I got older, I realize that having funds to hire people became a royal pain as they professed GREAT KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS, they usually truly lacked one or both.

As a semi-retired person, I started to realize, I knew how to do many repairs fall away better and it cost me WAY LESS money to just take my time and do it myself.

I guess you, Joe, figured out a stage of life I never was in --- you have kids in college or about in college. You are back to limited funds and know that GOOGLE has the great knowledge you need.

Way to go ... my sister is google'ing her home repairs also - she retired and just has too much time.

 

[csxjohn]

...Probably the best part was my soon to be 14 yr old son has been looking over my shoulder the whole time so he's working through these challenges with me and learning a lot more than I ever did at his age.

That's how I started to learn much of what I know about home repairs. Later reading books on home repairs and now the internet. Good job!

 

[dioxide45]

As a young person, I did chores because I had limited funds.

As I got older, I realize that having funds to hire people became a royal pain as they professed GREAT KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS, they usually truly lacked one or both.

As a semi-retired person, I started to realize, I knew how to do many repairs fall away better and it cost me WAY LESS money to just take my time and do it myself.

I guess you, Joe, figured out a stage of life I never was in --- you have kids in college or about in college. You are back to limited funds and know that GOOGLE has the great knowledge you need.

Way to go ... my sister is google'ing her home repairs also - she retired and just has too much time.

I fixed a burnt out dryer element using Google and YouTube. Of course there was the $80 part, though much cheaper than a house call from a repair person. Rather easy, though perhaps not everyone is handy and/or is willing to just pay to avoid the trouble.