to build a deck....

...one must have patience and skill.  I have about half-a-dose of each, but I think the new addition turned out pretty good.  I would have liked it to be more rigid - the word 'trampoline' comes to mind when you walk on it - but it serves our purposes and is another nice touch to the backyard.  See below for a time series of before and after.

Nothing wrong with our old deck - but in the summer, our big wooden chairs and the chiminea covered up all the sliding doors to outside.  No good.

Ps. you can see the outline of the planned deck addition in white string

Tools - check. Lumber - check.  Good weather - check.  Someone who knows what they're doing - ummmm....

Framing coming along...

Starting to lay the decking

The nearly finished product, going for a test run