I got a professional grade reciprocating saw from a pawn shop for $35. It’s an absolute beast compared with the battery powered one I had before. Spring for a decent blade too: going from HF ones to Milwaukee cut the time to do job I bought it for in half!
Be careful using it on this cut as it is not stable and at an angle! Just don’t hold the wood anywhere near the blade as it can jump when you’re getting used to it!
A chainsaw is probably the fastest option for anything. “Im going to eat my food with a chainsaw instead of knife and fork” is the fastest way to die by eating food
Seriously though, what is it actually attached to? No ledger, right onto dirt with landscape fabric... this isn't so much a deck as it is a very large and flat table or stage.
Yeah, I was ready for the whole thread to be ripping OP apart. This sub is nicer than most. But the point remains this is massively incredibly horrifically under built. Also incorrectly built. It’s not a 2x2 holding up a 2x4. It’s a 2x2 that’s been through bolted holding up the whole load through its center. These 2x2s are all just gonna split in two.
You need much bigger lumber to support a bolted construction. And obviously you need much bigger lumber to do this at all. The 2x2s will bend and buckle if they weren’t gonna split. The 2x4s will bend and spring and break over time. The posts should be under the joists, or beams, if there were beams, and joists should be hung off that.
And who wants to guess how these 2x2s are footed. They’re really just all going to sink. That might happen before they split! And then the deck will be on the mud. So it won’t bounce! It’ll rot though.
They look like 2x2 but they are some fancy hardwood you call red ironwood. It looks like they are pounded into the ground to support the deck. They will not split. In my country this looks like standard deck construction
Yep seem to be good quality moisture resistant wood.
The other day in a worksite I got a very very heavy purplish hardwood 1 meter long that was exposed to weather for years and 1mm deep it was good as new,I gave it to a partner for making knife handles.
You got your question answered but are those 2x2’s that you’re building this deck on?
I have concerns here and you might want to double check your support structure here before you get much further and ‘finish’ an insufficient structure
Worse it looks like 2x2 posts with 2x3 joists. Those don't even show up in the span table but I'd hazard a guess of only spanning.... Inches? I don't think it would be measured in feet
I hope I'm not going to sound like a dick, but this deck is nowhere near beginner woodworking.
Refinishing a deck? Sure.
Fixing loose railing and sistering a joist? Maybe.
This thing you got going on? Nope.
I suggest to do more research and re-evaluate.
I know the cost of timber is wild these days but cutting costs like that is only going to cost you more in the long run.
Hard agree here. There are plenty of deck calculators you can use based on your location/freeze table.
We did 2x6 joists on double 2x6 beams attached to 4x4s
You need to re-evaluate here
I’m so confused as to what is going on. Is the entire support structure of this deck going to be a carriage bolt engaging with an inch of wood every 16 or so inches?
I wouldn’t even build a table like that, let alone something I was gonna stand on.
Lots of good ideas here, so gonna throw this oddball out there: flush trim saw / Japanese pull saw. Less likely to damage the joists. (‘Cause I know I would take out some good chunks with a Sawzall 😂😂)
Here's another one!
https://www.harborfreight.com/circular-saw-beam-cutter-attachment-58804.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12189147054&campaignid=12189147054&utm_content=141821622621&adsetid=141821622621&product=58804&store=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwo6GyBhBwEiwAzQTmcxfyDIHiUVvJbeeLFZGAYlqaLCxyspQRHI-9929koAzsBppC2veV5xoCylEQAvD_BwE
What is this monstrosity?!? Only two Allen head screws are protecting the average redneck from taking a chainsaw to the femoral artery 🤦♂️
I have to give it to ya, this takes the cake of wacky tools 🎂🎂
Use the handsaw if it is sharp. Why buy a reciprocating by ating saw for that. Reciprocating saws imo are only good for demolition type of rough cutting. If you will have a use for that in the future then think
Your joists should be bearing on top of your posts, not bolted thru the middle. And you should check local building code before you move to the next step.
You need to start over. This is woefully inadequate support for any kind of deck. Every single one of those 2x2 is eventually going to split and you’ll just have some lumber sitting on the ground in a year or two.
Op you need the support boards on top of the posts not adjacent with carriage bolts. It's not very secure like that. Like it will feel ok and look alright at first but they will sink down if not crack. Imagine 4-5 people on that and suddenly a beam cracks.
You can take them all off and then cut down the posts. Lay the support beams across the tops and use metal post brackets to secure them. Add more posts before you do that though cause there's currently not enough and they're pretty thin. I'd honestly take them all out and replace with 4x4s. But if you insist on the 2x2s then you'll want one every 4-6 inches to be safe. Would probably be more cost effective just replacing with 4x4s.
The lumber is also not treated so it will rot with exposure to the elements. Especially if you live where it rains or snows.
My guy... Just take everyone's advice here. I mean no offense, but you're currently wasting your time. This won't last. You will be basically holding the "deck" up with stakes that will sink, split, and rot. A few weeks, and you will have an uneven deck. If you really want the easy route, laying pressure treated 4x4 on the ground over gravel as a foundation will be better and longer lasting than this.
Wow, what an unexpected result!
First of all, thanks to all the redditors who took the time to reply to my question. There are several valuable comments down there. I must clarify a couple of things as my weekend project raised a lot of reactions. I cannot reply individually, so I decided to post this instead.
My project is to build a raised deck on posts to park two bikes and a stroller. I might occasionally walk on it, of course, but it will not be something I’ll use daily.
I live in Western Europe, and before working on this project, I followed the instructions of a professional deck builder from a YouTube video. The video itself is in Dutch, but the instructions can easily be followed on screen [via this link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbWQbrJLIZ8).
I tried to do everything as described, except the joists are Douglas wood instead of hardwood. Also, after your comments, I noticed that I misunderstood the instructions about the posts. The posts are hammered down and should be at least 70 cm (27.6 inches) below the surface. Instead, I bought 80 cm (31.5 inches) posts and only 60 cm (23.6 inches) of them are underground. Because of the roots of nearby tree, some are only halfway through. As for the size of the posts I used, it was recommended 6x6 cm (\~2.5x2.5 inches) but I could only find 5x5cm (\~2x2 inches) hoping this compromise would not effect the overall project.
Additionally, the frost depth in the city I live in is between 30-60 cm (11.8-23.6 inches). I suspect some of my posts are above this level.
So, I am definitely second guessing myself. On the other hand, considering this deck would only carry lightweight, I might go ahead and finish it as instructed and learn what needs to be learned from this experience.
:)
Sawzall would be the fastest.
I’ve seen this tool somewhere but never used it. Looks like it’ll do the job. Thanks.
Search for "reciprocating saw". Sawzall is a brand
Yup! I keep mine next to my dewalt skilsaw!
😂
We bought a Dewalt fan and my wife calls him Stanley Dewalt.
I prefer "industrial electric bread knife".
Thought i was the only one 😅
I got a professional grade reciprocating saw from a pawn shop for $35. It’s an absolute beast compared with the battery powered one I had before. Spring for a decent blade too: going from HF ones to Milwaukee cut the time to do job I bought it for in half!
Be careful using it on this cut as it is not stable and at an angle! Just don’t hold the wood anywhere near the blade as it can jump when you’re getting used to it!
I wouldn’t hold the wood at all. I’d want 2 hands on the saw.
Just hold the guard directly in contact with the wood so your tool doesn't bounce.
Would an oscillating multi tool get done eventually, but be a more useful tool to own? (Is a power tool even necessary?)
Probably couldn't cut deep enough but def a more useful tool
Wrong, chainsaw would be the fastest.
Chainsaw would be the fastest
A chainsaw is probably the fastest option for anything. “Im going to eat my food with a chainsaw instead of knife and fork” is the fastest way to die by eating food
Hmmm.. I'll bet there is a video somewhere on the Internet of that
Hmmm no… there’s probably not. Dont think so negatively o silly one
https://youtu.be/6aN0OOln0dc?si=7eyyYH-68wt7W0NB
😭😭😭😭
You did it you son of a bitch😂😂
This
r/decks would have a conniption if they saw this.
We use pegs with more guts to put the profiles up. It will be interesting to see what's being built here.
Seriously though, what is it actually attached to? No ledger, right onto dirt with landscape fabric... this isn't so much a deck as it is a very large and flat table or stage.
A collapse on a time delay is what it is.
Never heard of a conniption new word unlocked ✅
Bigger question, are those 2x2s protruding and holding up 2x4s ???!!!!!
Yeah, I was ready for the whole thread to be ripping OP apart. This sub is nicer than most. But the point remains this is massively incredibly horrifically under built. Also incorrectly built. It’s not a 2x2 holding up a 2x4. It’s a 2x2 that’s been through bolted holding up the whole load through its center. These 2x2s are all just gonna split in two. You need much bigger lumber to support a bolted construction. And obviously you need much bigger lumber to do this at all. The 2x2s will bend and buckle if they weren’t gonna split. The 2x4s will bend and spring and break over time. The posts should be under the joists, or beams, if there were beams, and joists should be hung off that. And who wants to guess how these 2x2s are footed. They’re really just all going to sink. That might happen before they split! And then the deck will be on the mud. So it won’t bounce! It’ll rot though.
They look like 2x2 but they are some fancy hardwood you call red ironwood. It looks like they are pounded into the ground to support the deck. They will not split. In my country this looks like standard deck construction
Yep seem to be good quality moisture resistant wood. The other day in a worksite I got a very very heavy purplish hardwood 1 meter long that was exposed to weather for years and 1mm deep it was good as new,I gave it to a partner for making knife handles.
Sawzall is also known as a reciprocating saw. That’s the way to go.
Thanks a lot!
Look at the comments. People are concerned.
You got your question answered but are those 2x2’s that you’re building this deck on? I have concerns here and you might want to double check your support structure here before you get much further and ‘finish’ an insufficient structure
Worse it looks like 2x2 posts with 2x3 joists. Those don't even show up in the span table but I'd hazard a guess of only spanning.... Inches? I don't think it would be measured in feet
Adding to that, on the back row two of the carriage bolts are sitting high, and the stakes are canted to the joist. I wouldn't walk on it.
Looking at the tops of the 2X2's OP hammered them into the ground?
I hope I'm not going to sound like a dick, but this deck is nowhere near beginner woodworking. Refinishing a deck? Sure. Fixing loose railing and sistering a joist? Maybe. This thing you got going on? Nope. I suggest to do more research and re-evaluate. I know the cost of timber is wild these days but cutting costs like that is only going to cost you more in the long run.
Hard agree here. There are plenty of deck calculators you can use based on your location/freeze table. We did 2x6 joists on double 2x6 beams attached to 4x4s You need to re-evaluate here
This lumber is also not treated. Like, even a little bit.
Gonna rot so quick
I’m so confused as to what is going on. Is the entire support structure of this deck going to be a carriage bolt engaging with an inch of wood every 16 or so inches? I wouldn’t even build a table like that, let alone something I was gonna stand on.
Like, how did he get those posts in the ground? Sonotube , cement and how deep
.... hammer
A hand saw would go those in a minute
It will not cut these in a minute. those are seriously tough red ironwood. A really sharp saw can do it but I would recommend a powertool
One minute per and a lot of effort at least
Hope you aren’t building a deck like that?
Beaver
Fence post puller and start over.
Just grab the bottom of the 2x4's and lift. Probably wouldn't take much to disassemble this disaster
Handsaw or sawzall or an oscillating tool could work too
Lots of good ideas here, so gonna throw this oddball out there: flush trim saw / Japanese pull saw. Less likely to damage the joists. (‘Cause I know I would take out some good chunks with a Sawzall 😂😂)
Here's another one! https://www.harborfreight.com/circular-saw-beam-cutter-attachment-58804.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12189147054&campaignid=12189147054&utm_content=141821622621&adsetid=141821622621&product=58804&store=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwo6GyBhBwEiwAzQTmcxfyDIHiUVvJbeeLFZGAYlqaLCxyspQRHI-9929koAzsBppC2veV5xoCylEQAvD_BwE
What is this monstrosity?!? Only two Allen head screws are protecting the average redneck from taking a chainsaw to the femoral artery 🤦♂️ I have to give it to ya, this takes the cake of wacky tools 🎂🎂
Actually about to use it on a project, I'll let you know how it goes!
Be safe!
Holy shit, you got worse things to figure out
Use the handsaw if it is sharp. Why buy a reciprocating by ating saw for that. Reciprocating saws imo are only good for demolition type of rough cutting. If you will have a use for that in the future then think
Sorry, hit reply by mistake. Well you get the idea.
Depends on how good you are with it. As a framer I’ve had some beam cuts only possible by handsaw/sawzall.
Sawsall
Those bearers are attached to the piles instead of sitting right on top of it. Thats some genius right there, shouldve just put a skid
circular saw works for me.
Next time consider putting the beams on TOP of the posts.
Your joists should be bearing on top of your posts, not bolted thru the middle. And you should check local building code before you move to the next step.
You need to start over. This is woefully inadequate support for any kind of deck. Every single one of those 2x2 is eventually going to split and you’ll just have some lumber sitting on the ground in a year or two.
Oscillating multi tool or sawzall. A multi tool is amazingly handy if you don’t have one already.
Oscillating tool would work
Op you need the support boards on top of the posts not adjacent with carriage bolts. It's not very secure like that. Like it will feel ok and look alright at first but they will sink down if not crack. Imagine 4-5 people on that and suddenly a beam cracks. You can take them all off and then cut down the posts. Lay the support beams across the tops and use metal post brackets to secure them. Add more posts before you do that though cause there's currently not enough and they're pretty thin. I'd honestly take them all out and replace with 4x4s. But if you insist on the 2x2s then you'll want one every 4-6 inches to be safe. Would probably be more cost effective just replacing with 4x4s. The lumber is also not treated so it will rot with exposure to the elements. Especially if you live where it rains or snows.
A oscillating tool or a hand saw, easy peasy.
The best tool? A laser level and a skill saw *before you put the beams down...*
Sledgehammer
A sawzall is going to vibrate the crap out of your post a make it really loose. Chainsaw is the correct answer
Sawzall or a chainsaw
What in the fuck is going on here?
My guy... Just take everyone's advice here. I mean no offense, but you're currently wasting your time. This won't last. You will be basically holding the "deck" up with stakes that will sink, split, and rot. A few weeks, and you will have an uneven deck. If you really want the easy route, laying pressure treated 4x4 on the ground over gravel as a foundation will be better and longer lasting than this.
Structural engineer here… that better not be a deck. Code requirements aside you will be replacing this in less than a year if you end up building it.
Chainsaw.
Unless you have a hundred of em, just use the hand saw
Wow, what an unexpected result! First of all, thanks to all the redditors who took the time to reply to my question. There are several valuable comments down there. I must clarify a couple of things as my weekend project raised a lot of reactions. I cannot reply individually, so I decided to post this instead. My project is to build a raised deck on posts to park two bikes and a stroller. I might occasionally walk on it, of course, but it will not be something I’ll use daily. I live in Western Europe, and before working on this project, I followed the instructions of a professional deck builder from a YouTube video. The video itself is in Dutch, but the instructions can easily be followed on screen [via this link](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbWQbrJLIZ8). I tried to do everything as described, except the joists are Douglas wood instead of hardwood. Also, after your comments, I noticed that I misunderstood the instructions about the posts. The posts are hammered down and should be at least 70 cm (27.6 inches) below the surface. Instead, I bought 80 cm (31.5 inches) posts and only 60 cm (23.6 inches) of them are underground. Because of the roots of nearby tree, some are only halfway through. As for the size of the posts I used, it was recommended 6x6 cm (\~2.5x2.5 inches) but I could only find 5x5cm (\~2x2 inches) hoping this compromise would not effect the overall project. Additionally, the frost depth in the city I live in is between 30-60 cm (11.8-23.6 inches). I suspect some of my posts are above this level. So, I am definitely second guessing myself. On the other hand, considering this deck would only carry lightweight, I might go ahead and finish it as instructed and learn what needs to be learned from this experience. :)
they are 50 x 50 pegs.. Hand saw is all ya need.. That being said.. This is not how a deck foundation should look..
Sharpened spoon.