On 18 things I learned building a deck over the past 11 days

Thinking Hat 1 Minute
  1. Use leverage whenever possible.
  2. Walk away before you get frustrated.
  3. You can use your drill chuck to pull off stripped screws.
  4. I need to buy a crowbar.
  5. Put tools back in the same place once you’re done with them. (Otherwise you waste hours of walking around grumbling over the whereabouts of the orbital sander.)
  6. Impact drivers are awesome.
  7. Measurement is a pain in the butt.
  8. But do it twice (or thrice).
  9. Buy more than you need. Of everything.
  10. Buy twice as many screws as you think you need.
  11. Buy a ton of sanding discs. You will need them someday.
  12. Beer tastes better after building something in the sun.
  13. Wasps like to build nests on decks. Be careful when ripping up old decking!
  14. Don’t force the miter saw through the piece. When you hear the saw slow down, raise it and then lower again. Repeat until through!
  15. Let the circular saw do the work for you. It will pull in a straight line if you focus on keeping the shoe flush to the piece.
  16. Don’t buy tools from the bargain bin at Ace. They won’t work when you need them.
  17. Miter cuts are tricky.
  18. Building a deck is impossible without a good clamp.
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Published by T Coe

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