Houselopnik Update

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

Continuing my thread from Old Oppo, 2 minor updates.

For those who did not see it or do not recall my deck started here:

and ended here:

earlier this year. Luckily I got in just before lumber prices went into the stratosphere and we got to enjoy it through the cooler days of summer (not July, holy shit) and fall.

For my wife's birthday in mid-October I bought her a gift

It's a propane fire pit, for many reasons I am not comfortable with a wood burner that close to the house. Eventually I want to connect it to the house gas supply and not worry about tanks. Today is not that day though.

Also, finished up the grill. Had plans, scrapped those plans, and instead used only leftovers from the deck build that were taking up space in the garage. The rest is still taking up space, maybe I'll find a use for it soon. Or make a back panel just to use the deck boards. IDK.

Only piece I had to buy was a length of aluminum angle to mount the grill base to some 4x4s and get rid of the grill legs entirely.

Maybe this weekend we'll wrap the pergola in Christmas lights

[trivet]

Sweet! LOVE the grill base!

[Vondon302]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold looking good!

[Tripper]

Really nice work! I love what you did with the grill, I'm taking that idea to the bank!

[A Former User]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold Lumber prices only rose 70%, no big deal.... I like the deck and the elimination of the railing, it really looks good and opens up the space. I also love a pergola. Hope the fire pit helps extend the season!

[RacinBob]

Planning on translucent stain next? BTW we also did a 2 side step like yours . They are very convenient and greatly enhances access to the yard.... Also, it makes it a lot easier to clear snow for 4 season grilling.

[MisterButtercup]

That looks great! Wow!

[Snuze]

That looks gorgeous! Love the grill base and the fire pit.

I am thinking of doing a gas fireplace soon, it would be Mrs Snuze XMas present, she's always wanted one. I could care less, but she did sign off on the Camaro, so...

[MattHurting]

We have a pergola on our back patio, love it. Pergolas FTW!

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@tripper I would like commission on the idea. I take payment in car parts or upvotes

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@racinbob I should have done a stain over the summer, everything dried much faster than I expected. Probably a tinted stain, was going to do a light gray finish to keep it cool (love being out there barefoot) but the wood looks really nice and I don't want the pergola gray so I'd be buying multiple stains. The wife will decide, I'll do the work (you know, the usual)

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@snuze We have a gas fireplace inside, use it when it gets colder out so it's been on more often. Does a great job of heating the main part of our house

[Snuze]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold Our neighborhood isn't plumbed for gas, so I will have to get a tank. The previous home owner had a cheap gas insert in there, so there is a line in place already, I just need to get the new fireplace and sign up for a gas service to bring me a tank.

But first I need to get my chimney inspected to make sure everything is good to go. I got a name for a chimney sweep and am going to be talking to him this evening to setup an appointment.

[VincentMalamute]

@Zaphod-s-Heart-of-Gold Nice! When you get around to it, is there an easy technique for running a new gas line to the fire pit without disassembling the deck?

[rctothefuture]

Looks great! Did you seal it or plan on painting it? Just re-did my deck this summer and did a quick seal job as we plan to paint in the spring.

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@rctothefuture I have not but I used pressure treat everywhere. Plan to tackle that next year once it warms up some

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

@vincentmalamute I don't know, not sure I'm going to pull that off myself. One side of ours is open but it's close to the ground, I'm willing to pull up a few boards if need be to get access for a line drop underneath. We're not on a slab so they can toss it out from under the house, then it's just accessing from there

[rctothefuture]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold Good on you, we did the same here. If you do end up painting/staining let me know what you use. Our previous deck was red, so the rest of the trim is red. We will probably use barn paint but I'd like to see what other folks use.

[RacinBob]

I do translucent stain, once a year. I've had the deck for 16 years and it still looks good.