From Rotted Boards to Backyard Bliss: Our New Deck Adventure
After 35 years of wear and tear, our old deck had officially earned its retirement. The boards creaked with every step, the sliding glass door barely slid, and the 10′ x 11′ footprint felt more like a postage stamp than a place to relax. It was time for a change—and what started as a simple upgrade turned into one of the most surprising (and rewarding) home projects we’ve ever tackled.
The Contractor Chronicles
Finding the right contractor was an adventure in itself. Over two weeks, Leigh and I met with everyone from guys in beat-up pickup trucks to polished salesmen in suits. Each had a pitch, a price, and a personality. In the end, we chose a local contractor who wasn’t the cheapest or the most expensive—but he was the one we both felt comfortable with. That gut feeling turned out to be spot-on.
Panic at the Teardown
The real drama began when the old deck came down. What we thought was a routine demolition quickly turned into a structural horror story:
- The deck wasn’t attached to the house—at all.
- There was no flashing installed.
- It had been built directly over the vinyl siding, allowing water to seep into the wall for 35 years.
The result? A completely rotted-out wall. And to make matters worse, that wall was directly behind my basement office—where all my computer equipment lives and a flat-screen TV is mounted to the studs. Miraculously, nothing was damaged. We had no signs of water intrusion, no musty smells, no visible issues. But behind the scenes, the wall was a soggy mess.
Rebuilding the wall added a major cost to the project, blowing our budget wide open. But our contractor didn’t flinch—he worked with us to keep the project moving forward.
Demo, Rebuild, Repeat
Once the shock wore off, demolition and reconstruction went smoothly. In just two days, the damaged wall and deck were gone. Seeing the extent of the rot and water damage was unsettling, but also oddly satisfying—like finally solving a mystery we didn’t know existed.
Over the next three weeks, the new wall and deck took shape. The crew was professional, tidy, and respectful. Every day they left the site clean, and every step of the build felt like progress.
Moose’s New Routine
The biggest disruption? Our dog, Moose. He was used to going out the sliding door and down the deck stairs to do his business. Suddenly, that route was gone. At first, he was confused—standing at the door, waiting for stairs that no longer existed. But Moose is a smart pup. He quickly adapted to the new routine and was back to his usual self in no time.
The Finished Product
Now that it’s done, we couldn’t be happier. The new deck is three times the size of the original and wraps around the back of the house. The sliding door glides like a dream, the wall is solid and dry, and the space feels like a true extension of our home.
Leigh is already shopping for new deck furniture (which, let’s be honest, is a whole new budget category), and Moose has claimed his favorite sunspot. Whether it’s morning coffee, evening grilling, or just sitting outside and enjoying the breeze, this deck has become our favorite place to be.
