By Clint Thomas
A friend recently called me and asked for some suggestions for a new deck that he was building at his lake house. Turns out I had plenty of suggestions and recommendations for tools and building materials. This unique and beautiful setting also presented several challenges. The new deck sits a few feet from the shoreline and will be exposed to all the elements year- round. These conditions demand the use of the right tools and materials to build a lasting and safe structure.
When building with wood in this type of outdoor environment, it is important to use # 1 grade pressure treated pine that is rated for ground contact. Wolmanized® Outdoor® Wood was sourced from United Treating and Distribution for this project.
This deck is being built on a hillside with a forty-five-degree downhill slope. Plus, the terrain is extremely hard and rocky. This makes the traditional method of auguring out a hole and cementing the support posts into the ground much less appealing.
CAMO offers a product known as CAMO BLOCK that was a perfect solution for this project.
CAMO BLOCK functions like a concrete deck block, but CAMO BLOCKS are made from Polyolefin which is both durable and lightweight. CAMO BLOCKS won’t chip or crack even in cold weather, they’re stackable which makes them a breeze to transport, unlike cement deck blocks, and they’re also vented in the bottom to help eliminate any water buildup.
The project plan called for an 8′ x 8′ deck that was virtually level with the high side of the slope and would sit on several pressure treated 6″ x 6″ posts on the low side of the slope near the water’s edge. The builders used the CAMO BLOCK Variable Height Deck Plan (available on the Camo website). These instructions were a huge part of the project preparation and execution of the build.
The construction began by smoothing a line on the high side of the slope and horizontal to the water’s edge that was wide enough to hold the CAMO BLOCK. Then the basic square 8′ x 8′ frame was built and fastened together with CAMO’s structural screws. These screws are specifically made for deck construction and sport the PROTECH Ultra 4 coating that helps to eliminate the risk of corrosion that is frequently caused by exposure to the elements. With the basic frame constructed, several CAMO BLOCKS were placed under the frame on the high side of the slope. The frame on the low side of the slope was held in place and checked for level. Temporary support was provided by simple batten boards.
CAMO BLOCKS were then placed under the two corners on the low side of the slope. Two were also placed in the middle of the deck. This provided additional support after some simple leveling of the ground where each CAMO BLOCK would sit. Aligning the CAMO BLOCKS in position involves the simple use of plumb line and a little bit of patience waiting on the plumb-bob to stop moving. 6″ x 6″ Wolmanized® Outdoor® Wood pressure treated posts were then notched and fastened into each outside corner.
With the basic frame now fully supported and fixed in position, it was time to install the floor joists. Each joist was screwed in place from the side using CAMO’s structural decking screws. Joist hangers were then fastened on each end of the joists, also using CAMO’s structural decking screws. The two center 6″ x 6″ support posts were then notched and slid into place to provide structural integrity to the design.
Normally, once the frame is constructed and permanently supported on its foundation the next step would be to install the decking boards themselves. However, this project is unique because of it being on the lake’s shoreline and being on a steep slope. As previously mentioned, the high side of the deck was essentially level with the ground where it met the sloping hillside. This meant that, eventually, water would wash dirt and other debris down the hill and slowly accumulate against the outside edge of the stringer. Water will cause damage to the pressure treated lumber if you don’t add that extra layer of protection from the elements.
CAMO manufactures a product that is designed for this type of situation. The CAMO Joist+ Ledger Deck Tape is a self-adhesive butyl tape that can be applied to the frame as a shield to the elements. It comes in widths of 1 5/8″, 3 1/8″ and 6″. The 6″ width version was applied to the outside edge of the stringer on the high side of the slope and all the top edges of the entire frame were also fitted with joist tape.
The final step in this part of the project was the installation of the decking boards on top of the frame. Traditionally, decking boards are attached by screwing decking screws through the top of the board into the frame causing the screw holes to be visible. CAMO has created a special tool called the CAMO Marksman Pro-X1 that attaches to either side of the decking board itself. This tool allows you to drive CAMO’s self-auguring screws into the edges of the boards instead of the top of the board. Originally designed to install composite decking, the CAMO Marksman Pro can also be used on hardwood and cedar. The CAMO Marksman Pro-X1 is specifically designed for use with pressure treated lumber and fits any size decking board from 5 1/4″ to 5 3/4. It is designed to be used with their Edge Deck Screws that sport a smaller head than normal deck screws. 2 3/8″ screws were used on this project to coincide with the 5 1/4″ decking boards that made up the floor of the deck.
If you’ve ever worked with pressure treated lumber you know that the pieces will often warp, bend and curve. Thus, making installation a challenge at times. Shear brute strength is often not enough to pry a warped piece of treated lumber into position due to a lack of leverage. The CAMO LEVER is an awesome tool to help provide the needed leverage. It attaches around the joist and then by pulling the lever, warped boards are easily forced into place.
Decks are fun because decks envision ideas of good times and fun in the sun. But when building a deck, it’s important to think about safety first. Sourcing and using the best products and materials available are the keys to building a safe and long-lasting structure. This crew was extremely confident that the CAMO products, accessories, and tools used in this project along with Wolmanized® Outdoor® Wood met those expectations.
Next steps for this project include anchoring the deck frame and adding stone steppers, plus decorative skirting. Stay tuned for those articles.
View a video of this project here.
Where to buy CAMO BLOCK:
Special thanks to Danny Hayes and Bryan Buchanan of HHI Building and Remodeling for their work on this project and for sharing their expertise on this subject.
Photography/Videography by Strides Media Group
