DIY Disaster - Attempted Deck, Got Humbled Real Fast

4d ago1 min read

Decided I'd build a small deck in the backyard. Watched some YouTube videos, had a plan, rented tools. Measured once, cut twice. Posts weren't level, boards weren't straight, nails I used were too thick and split some boards. My neighbor came over and was very nice about pointing out my mistakes. Ended up paying a contractor to fix most of it because I realized I had no idea what I was doing. At least I learned that lesson before it became a safety issue with the kids playing on it. Sometimes knowing when to call a professional is the best DIY move.

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Comments(6)

DDerekRegular3d ago

YouTube deck videos are like 90% misleading. They make it look so easy because they've built like fifty decks and they don't show you the mistakes. What went wrong? Bad measurements or did something get structural?

MMasonNew Dad4d ago

Man, I feel this in my soul. After a long week of work I tried to fix our fence last month and had to call someone to redo half of it. At least you're out there trying, that's what matters.

MMatt J.Regular4d ago

Hey, learning the hard way beats not trying at all. My deck is still standing but barely, so you're already ahead of some of us. Keep at it!

BBrandon H.Regular3d ago

This is the kind of project I want to do so bad but my wife keeps stopping me because she knows it'll turn into a three month saga. How bad was the damage when you realized the plan wasn't working?

DDerekNew Dad3d ago

Been there man. Built a fence once and it looked like a toddler's art project. The good news is if it doesn't have to be pretty it can still be functional. My deck is slightly wonky but it holds up.

MMason T.New Dad3d ago

I respect the attempt though. Most people wouldn't even rent the tools and try. Sometimes getting humbled is how you learn what you actually need to know. Did you end up finishing it or is it just sitting there now?