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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1986-04-16, Page 48PAGE 22 A new deck can do a lot for home and yar A new deck can do wonderful things for your home's appearance and your outdoor lifestyle. But before you dive into the pro- ject, take time out to do some thoughtful planning. Your project will go quicker thee long run, and you'll be happier results. First, analyze your needs. What's the main purpose of the deck? Is it for sun wor- ship or dining al fresco, to dress up an entry or provide a private getaway? getaway?. Knowing the deck's function is essential to a good plan. You may find you need several areas or levels — one for entertainment and outdoor cooking, one for supping. While rectangular and square decks are easiest to build, the simplest design may not be the best for you. Multiple levels can add more flair and function than one large plat- form in some situations. Stake out the deck Begin by drawing to scale on graph paper a top and side view of the house. Include ma- jor landscaping, driveways, doors, and loca- tion of utility lines underground. Then lay out the deck on paper. Try to design it in increments of 2 feet since lumber comes in these even lengths. It will save you a lot of sawing and extra expense. Now go outside with tape measure and 1 x 2 stakes and lay out 'tbe deck on the site. Determine width, then length and height by Measuring the side of the house and mark- ing where you want the top of the decking. Tap stakes into the ground along the hon es where the ledger strip will go and a p somewhat beyond the exact points where be e pposts will be placed. Mark the strtng felt pen exactly at the posts positions. Check for square To check the corners of the deck cfor square, use this simple surveying procedure with two fixed lines forming a right angle. This will be your guide for measurements. Line No. 1 is always parallel to the house or other structure the deck is built against. If the deck will be detached, just run a straight line along one edge of the proposed site. Line No. 2 will intersect line No. 1 (see drawing). Take three stakes and a nylon line and lay out atriangle. Line No. 1 should be 8 arallel to the wall. Stake the line et loin,, p alsocoat pointsB aeA and in toapoint 6' from A. Attach to stake A, running the line to point C several feet beyond. Check the distance from stake C to stake Panasonic has done it again! All conventional electronic typewriters and copiers are now obsolete NEA(! Panasonic FP -3030 Editing Copier N EW ! Panasonic KXE-700M Modular Typewriter N EW ! Panasonic E25 Editor Show. Specials ELECTRONIC SELF-CORRECTING TYPEWRITERS Save $100. $299. Plus Fantastic Savings on Computer Supplies! Panasonic, nasonicice Automation , Of Authorized Dealer Grayhurs t Business Supplies Ltd. 18 East Street, Goderich. 524=26481.800.265.5191 A deck is easy to build if you startd with a good plan. B, the hypotenuse of the right triangle. When its measurement is 'exactly 10 feet, your corner will be square. Double check at stake A with a carpenter's square. Then, us- ing stakes and string, lay out the entire deck,repeating the process to check each corner for square. If building a detached deck, you can form line No. 1 by placing stakes along a line parallel to one edge of the deck site. Select materials Your next decision is what kind of wood to use. We recommend pressure treated lumber for all your outdoor project needs. Why? Several reasons: low cost, low maintenance, resistance to decay and in- sects, handsome finish qualities, and workability. A process which forces preservatives deep into the cells of quality lumber makes G -P pressure -treated lumber a solid choice for decking, joints and beams. it's essential to use only pressure-treated for posts to resist decay. Use stainless steel fasteners and hot -dipped galvanized nails to resist stains. Know the code Also, don't forget to check your local building code before beginning construction to be sure you meet local requirements. Be sure to follow manufacturer's instruc- tions when using power tools. And don't forget to wear safety goggles when using hammer or power tools. Bulbs add a touch of colour September and October are the tradi- tional bulb -planting months here in Ontario. Most bulb stock comes from Holland where the mild springs and cooler summers allow the small bulblets to form and develop at the base of the mother bulb. "Our climate just does not allow for the commercial production bulbs - although lily bulbs may soon become the exception, says Horticulturist John Hughes of the, On- tario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's plant industry branch. Currently, all our Easter lily bulbs and garden types come from the northern California -southern Oregon area - again an area• where .a -favorable micro -climate exists. For the best show, plant bulbs in clumps or mass plantings. Three to five bulbs every metre or so, ran- domly spaced, will give a good color spot for. tulips and daffodils. "You will notice on each package a par- ticular planting depth for each type and this is usually expressed, for example, as two to three times as deep as the bulbs' height," Hughes says. Some years you can get away with plan- ting bulbs, right up to freeze-up time. But as a general rule, it is better to plant the bulbs in early fall so that they have a chance to develop a primary root system; this helps them survive .over winter. All bulbs prefer a de$p, well -drained Soil but they will tolerate a wide soil type. In addition to the traditional tulips,, daf- fodils, narcissus and hyacinths, try growing the early -blooming crocus. There is a wide range of exotic bulbs too for those who want something different. Anenome,, for example,'in single or mixed colors, the fragrant garden freesia and gay feathers (or liatris spicata) which grows to heights of 121 centimetres to 182 cm add variety to the flower border. Try growing some garden lilies too - many are truly spectacular