Grills need space

For some time, I’ve wanted to add on to our deck. While the deck has already seen one addition since we originally built it, a second addition had been elusive, until now. The reason was simple. The grills need space.

I’ve had lots of ideas through the years, but this one sort of cropped up on a Sunday afternoon. Beer may, or may not, have been involved in the thought process.

The idea was simple, which is good, as my construction planning and follow through is limited to fairly basic shapes, like squares. We were going to drop the deck down another step, and square it up with the first and second “editions.” The new spot would square up great with the setting western sun and more importantly, free up space closer to the pool. The only thing needed next was ten planned trips to Home Depot and ten unplanned trips. It’s how I roll.

When the first deck was built 15 years ago, I performed a wee bit of overkill. Instead of designing and building a casual two level deck, we built something strong enough to withstand a hurricane. It has more post holes than I can count with my shoes on.

Since then, I’ve learned…a little. First, I’m all about the one man post hole digger.

Years ago, it was a one-man auger. Auger is loosely translated as wrist breaking machine. Deploying an auger next to large elm roots pretty much means wrist casts for a week. It was horrible.

This hydraulically assisted digger, backed up by moist soil and a realistic definition of “sturdy,” meant my six holes were dug in thirty minutes. It was a breeze.

With the holes dug, the piers were poured.

Next, the beams were bolted together, and the beams were added.

While the word “square” is loosely used to describe certain parts of the deck, the outward corner of the new deck is most definitely square.

I should know, I checked it at least twenty times before finalizing my cuts.

With the beams down, the decking was knocked out in a couple nights.

Oh, and yes, those are kneepads I’m wearing. I’m also old.

With the decking down, the ends were trimmed off. Zoë stained the deck over the course of a day, and once that was dry, grills were moved into place. The biggest challenge was moving the Summit, but thanks to furniture sliders, it took only a matter of minutes, and that included a step. If you have never used these small plastic cups for moving furniture, I highly recommend them. If they can move a grill, they can move anything.

Just today, I extended the natural gas line to the Summit Grill Center’s new resting place.

While working under the deck was less than spectacular, the cramped efforts were well worth it.

With another sun sail in place and all the grills up and running, the deck is done. I still need to add some LED lights to highlight the step-down, as I have a pretty good idea of how my friends will not navigate it when it’s dark. Until then, I’m ready for warm nights and multi grill meals. While my outdoor kitchen station is still on the summer radar, I’m happy to have this much done so early in the season. Sure, the square footage of deck is getting equal to the first floor of the house, but as I’ve been documenting on Twitter, the #grillsneedspace. Now they have it.