dreamed of building your own deck, but were hesitant to tackle

We expect a lot from an outdoor deck. It needs to rise to various challenges -- assaults by the elements, furniture being pushed around, and lots of foot traffic -- and still look terrific. But years of abuse take a toll on the wooden boards. "Luckily, you can renew most decks with a thorough cleaning and resealing for a lot less than it would cost to replace them," says Jeff Wilson, host of Restore America and Build a Deck, shows on the HGTV and DIY networks, respectively. Following is his advice for giving an aging wooden deck a fresh face-lift. Outdoor deck Choose the right cleaning agent for the job. If you've kept up with regular maintenance, a basic deck wash will remove dirt, fungus, and traces of sealant. A heavy-duty deck cleanser will do all of that, plus eliminate spots and semitransparent stains. To battle heavy soils or remove waterproofing and opaque finishes, you'll need a deck stripper. Cedar and redwood boards require a brightener, which restores the natural wood tones as it cleans. Pour your solution into a plastic pump-action garden sprayer. Tackling a decking project can quickly become a daunting task. The Bowrench outdoor deck tool is designed to take some of the headaches out of your work by saving your body and helping you work more efficiently. This one-person tool prys warped boards into plane, leaving your arms and legs completely free to walk along and screw the plank into place. It's capable of bending several boards at once, and the leverage of the arm takes the grunt work out of laying decking. Tongue-and-Groove material is also a snap to install with the Bowrench. If you've always dreamed of building your own deck, but were hesitant to tackle such a large, complicated construction project, we've got some good news. We asked This Old House general contractor Tom Silva to demonstrate the proper techniques for building a small, simple on-grade deck. All you need are some basic carpentry tools and the desire to invest a little sweat equity. Wood plastic composite Decking The deck shown here features a pressure-treated floor frame that's supported by a ledger board and concrete piers, and topped with 5/4-inch decking. And because the deck is only a one step high, no railing was required. Now just follow Tom's tips and build your own backyard oasis. It's a great way to make your neighbors jealous. If you're considering hiring a contractor to build your deck, the first step is to have a vision. Are you envisioning an outdoor entertainment hub for frequent barbecues and gatherings? Do you dream about having a hot tub or fire pit? Or do you simply seek a place to relax at the end of the day? In a miamiheatshop ddition to the intended purpose for your deck, your contractor will want to know how big you want the deck to be, what your budget is, and how many people you plan to accommodate. Where you ray allen jersey  locate the lebron james jersey  deck is also important, especially if you plan to use it as an extension of your indoor living space. For homeowners who are tired of trying to find a place to safely store furniture cushions and covers, umbrellas or other deck items, AZEK Building Products has a unique solution. The manufacturer of AZEK Deck, the leader in low maintenance decking, introduces the AZEK In-Deck Storage Kit, which unlike typical unattractive deck storage boxes, is concealed within the deck. This clever deck accessory allows design creativity, provides functional dwyane wade jersey ity for the homeowner, and adds overall value to a deck project. wood plastic composite panel