Taking down a Deck

[crokett]

This weekend will be tearing out the old deck. I finally got tired of piece-patching. Been wanting to do this for two years. Want it to be efficient yet satisfying. I do not plan on saving any of it. So... I've decided my sledge hammer will be involved. After that, the usual shop tools or is my chainsaw overkill?

[SARGE..g-47]

Mornig Crockett...

Probably over-kill on the deck. I just got through doing it with a wrecking bar and a reciprocating saw which is safer and gets in nooks and crannies a lot easier... I had it down and sized for the city to pick up and on the street in less than an hour. If your deck is made from standard size lumber ( I have a neighbor that built a gaint one with 6 x 6 and 2 x 12 stock, the "re-cip" would be a better and safer fit IMO!

Regards...

[TheRic]

I think the chainsaw might be more fun!

[Tequila]

If you're tearing it completely down, the chainsaw will be fastest, but you've got to be very careful of nails & screws since they can go flying off a chainsaw.

If you're just replacing the boards, I'd go with the recip. That will make it a lot less likely that you'll damage the joists in the process.

I'm tearing out a deck next weekend, and I'll be using a recip, if that answers your question.

[Stan]

I'm thinking a truck with a snatch-em strap. Once you get the whole thing pulled away from the house -- go slow for a little ways (limit the demolition).
Then once your a few blocks from the house -- drop the hammer and you'll have it apart and in pieces in no time.

Around 3:00AM would be a good time for this to happen.....

[mschrank]

Hey David...I'm doing the same thing this weekend.

I'll have some help as I invited my parents down to "see the grandkids," but told my mom to pack Dad's crowbar and drill/driver when he's not looking.

I'm replacing all the decking with 2x6 cedar....jeesh I didn't realize it would cost so much!

[MikeMcCoy]

I'm thinking a truck with a snatch-em strap. Once you get the whole thing pulled away from the house -- go slow for a little ways (limit the demolition).
Then once your a few blocks from the house -- drop the hammer and you'll have it apart and in pieces in no time.

Around 3:00AM would be a good time for this to happen.....

I have a cousin who used the snatch-em method a couple of years ago and he failed to notice the deck was attached to the house with a ledger board.

[mikel]

Chainsaw does sould like fun...

Recip is what I too would use.

With long agressive blade.

...m

[Hellrazor]

On a save nothing job...

1. Chainsaw if you are really in a take it out on something mood. Beware of nails.
2. Reciprocating saw using a wood only blade. Switch blades only if you have to cut nails.
3. 3' pry bar
4. Hand sledge
5. Sledge hammer
6. Hammer
7. Gloves and safety glasses
8. 5gal bucket to throw the nails in
9. Cordless impact to loosen the nuts on the ledger and posts

[Stan]

I have a cousin who used the snatch-em method a couple of years ago and he failed to notice the deck was attached to the house with a ledger board.

I sincerely hope he had you hold the beer...

[jlake1998]

I took one out several years ago, It was 8x8. Used a circular saw running perpendicular to the decking cutting it in 1/2 between the the joists. Cut the outer frame on each end. with some help loaded the 2 pieces in the pickup for the dump. Oh on the railing i would cut it off just above deck with sawall or chainsaw.

Enjoy building the new one!!

[JSCOOK]

At our last place when we put on a new deck, I used my Stihl chainsaw with an old chain that wasn't up for much to destroy the old existing one first ... neighbours thought I was a little nuts

[TheRic]

At our last place when we put on a new deck, I used my Stihl chainsaw with an old chain that wasn't up for much to destroy the old existing one first ... neighbours thought I was a little nuts

Did you notice they didn't bother you or argue with you as much afterwards?!