Building a Deck

We need a deck.  I know you are thinking, why would you add a deck to a trailer?  Lot's of reasons actually.  We need some more storage for outside gear, We need a place to put our shoes on and off.  We need a better place to walk into our trailer instead of crowding on the stairs.  Plus this will give us a little spot to enter that is covered and we won't drag the snow in.  So this is going up.  It is a free standing deck with stairs and a small metal roof.  

Here are the details on building. 
 First we Put up 4x4 posts and made a platform.

Next we added support beams using 2x4's and support brackets.

 

This is all we finished on day one.  It rained for a few days so we were put on hold.  When the sun came out we finished up.  Unfortunately, I sprained my ankle that morning so Brian ended up finishing the rest by himself. The deck flooring was laid next. 

Doesn't it look nice?  We used 4x6's here. 

Then the roof was built.  He put support beams in and used a corrugated metal sheet for the roof.  I love the way it looks.

And lastly we built the stairs.  Brian had to build the stands for the stairs because the pre-made ones at the hardware store wouldn't work with our measurements.  Then he put 2x6's for the stairs.  He ended up making them the whole 8 feet across the front.  I think it looks so good that way. 

So that we can use it for storage we added doors on the ends that we can lock up.  I'm so happy for the extra storage.  

Here is what the completed deck looks like.

It took about 2 days to complete.  It was fun working together on a project to get our new house feeling like a home.  

The kids played outside most of the time we were working on it.  

       Of course they had to play right where we were working.

              This is what happens when they play inside alone.

We still need to paint and stain the deck but that will have to wait till we get a few dry days.  We are also hoping to find a deck box to set by the door to put our shoes in. 
The spot we are staying in has so many goat head stickers and this will help us not drag them into the trailer on the bottom of our shoes.  Next up?  Fix that dang water line on the toilet.

Miles of Love,

         Stacey