DIY treehouse inventor creates Ewok world in rural Oregon

iOS Applications

There are couple of free iOS mobile applications that might you find useful for landscaping and decking.

One is Green Garden by the Aquarium of the Pacific. This lets you visually plan a garden. It gives you more than several ground covers, shrubs, flowers, and trees to choose from. Using the touch feature of your iPad or iPhone you can add or remove a digital representation of the plant easily. Each plant listed comes with a description and a link to its Wiki page. When you feel satisfied with a design you can simply save it to your iOS camera roll.

The decking related app is called Deck Visualizer. It's not a above ground pool deck app, but it's free and somewhat useful because it gives you a good picture of what different decking colors and styles will look like. The best thing about it is that you can upload a picture of your home or backyard, which gives you a quick visual preview of your future deck in a real setting. It could be useful during your above ground pool deck planning phase.

As always, enjoy your pool.

Regards,

Paul
How to Build a Pool Deck

Cork Floor

Since it's the off-season for building above ground pool decks it's safe to change to a relevant off-topic.

The latest project around the home is a kitchen refacing. You've been there or someday will be. Whether you've got a galley or "a kitchen" there comes a morning when you walk in to make your breakfast and you realize the kitchen is gone. The laminate or linoleum is old and worn, it's not on the comeback trail. Mopping does little good and the runner can't cover up the reality that your floor is simply gross. The splash tile has endured way too much splash over the years and whoever installed the cabinets back in the 1970's or 80's clearly phoned it in.

To top it off, you've yet to consider the style of the place which may or may not have much style at all. You've always known this but it never really hit you before. Why is not important. You were likely busy working or doing fun stuff. Maybe you were on a roll socially or you're a star on Twitter. Either way it was denial, because in one moment you realize the kitchen has stunk for a long time.

Welcome to my kitchen. If this describes yours, I sympathize.

Refacing is the simple and less expensive way to give your kitchen new life. My ragged cabinet frames will have to stay but refacing will make the place look new. Eventually the floor will have to get a face lift too. Currently I'm leaning towards a cork floor.

Here are some features of a cork floor, courtesy of Kraus promotional material:

- Mold, mildew, and odor inhibiting
- Scratch, scuff, and stain resistant
- Factory applied joint moisture protection
- 32 year residential wear warranty
- Indoor air quality certified

Cork looks good. In person and from a slight distance it looks similar to a hardwood floor. Only at closer inspection will you notice the subtle differences. One thing you'll also notice is that it's a bit softer than hardwood. If you've ever injured your foot or knees like I have this is much appreciated.

The nice thing about any home improvement project is that you get to see relatively new stuff or something you've just never considered before, like how I saw cork floors and thought "oh, well of course". This can turn what is sometimes a nerve wracking, mind numbing, or exhaustive process into something creative and fun.

Could your pool deck ever tweet you?

Lately I've been reading a lot about the "Internet of Things". This is a colloquialism used to describe the linking of multiple devices and other elements of nature on the Internet. They can speak to one another and to us through social media.

I'll leave the tech speak and possible benefits from this to people at places like Arduino and Pachube, where they're far more knowledgeable on the subject than me.

But there are examples that a layman can understand. For example, the garden sensor Botanicalls can be placed in a plant and it will tweet you when it needs watering. A quick look at their Twitter stream shows "Water me please", "Urgent! Water me!", and "Urgent! Water me! You didn't water me enough" tweets from one of their plants.

In the DIY universe there is the Garden Bot. According to its website, the Garden Bot is a open source garden monitoring system and provides tutorials on how to build a soil moisture sensor, among other things. The goal is a complete garden monitoring and automation system.

There is technology similar to this already and other garden automation projects in the works, but the allure here is the DIY spirit as it applies to electronics and home use. Combine that with the ability to share ideas and discoveries quickly on social media and you have the makings of serious DIY fun.

How does this relate to pool decking and swimming pools? I don't know for sure. But that's the point. This is about innovation and sharing ideas. And it's perfect for DIY enthusiasts.

It wouldn't surprise me to one day see people using a sensor in their swimming pools that tweet you and your pool service company when chlorine levels are low or if algae is emerging. You can also imagine sensors on above ground pool decks or other decks that alert you when there is stress or mold that may require your attention. Not only will it alert you, but the data can automatically be shared with other deck or pool owners giving us aggregate real-time data that could be very useful.

Some of these products will be available to buy like anything else. But the open source and DIY spirit of some will mean faster and efficient innovation that benefits everyone. It's also a tremendous opportunity for serious DIY makers or part-time hobbyists. In other words, the smart garden sensors and other home improvement "Internet of Things" will be made smarter by people like you.

Meanwhile, my small contribution to the open source network - an eBook on above ground pool deck plans and how to build a pool deck - is still available to you for free.

Enjoy your pool!

Mobile apps for building a pool deck?

Well, I haven't found anything specific in the Apple store yet. But there are some apps that you might find useful.

1. DIY Chat Room -- a social networking app that lets you chat and ask questions with other DIY builders.

2. DIY Tool Box

3. Ugly Pools -- an iPhone app that offers tips on how to care for your swimming pool.

I haven't used these apps yet and I make no claims on their function or reliability. These are apps I stumbled across while browsing Apple's app store today. If you've gone mobile it's probably a good idea to see what other decking or DIY apps are out there.

Speaking of mobile, the free eBook "How to Build a Pool Deck" looks great in iBooks!

Enjoy your pool!

Pool Deck Stairs

This was the fifth email of the Createyourdeck.com newsletter covering the basic difference between your pool deck stairs rise and run and what their typical measurements are. For some of you this information might be redundant, while others might be looking for basics.

All steps in a pool deck stairway must be the same height and depth. Otherwise, it will make your guests feel clumsy as they try to navigate an unbalanced stairway. And it could be a safety issue as well.

Here are some initial basics regarding deck stairs to help you get started in the right direction.

Rise and Run refer to the actual physical attributes of the stairs.

Rise: the height from one tread, or step, to the next.

Run: the depth of each tread, or step, from front to back.

Other terms you might use are "unit rise" and "unit run" referring to the measurements of one step. "Total rise" and "total run" refers to the total vertical and horizontal distance of the stairway.

TYPICAL MEASUREMENTS

A typical deck stairway should have a rise of 6" - 8" and a run of 10" - 12".

This will be the same formula regardless if you build a standard stairway or one with different dimensions for large group parties on your pool deck.

Regards,

Paul

P.S. - In the free "How to Build a Pool Deck" eBook there are step-by-step construction basics of a whole pool deck, including stairs.

10 ways to build a deck that lasts

Ten important ingredients to building a deck.
by Lawn Care Service

Building around a pool deck safely

This was the fourth part of the Createyourdeck.com email series. You'll learn the standard personal safety precautions you must take in order to prevent an accident or injury while building your above ground pool deck.

Before starting your project and during the construction of your pool deck you should always have a "safety first" mentality.

Building an above ground pool deck should be something you really enjoy, but a preventable injury can turn into a bad time quickly.

Here are some standard personal safety precautions to remember:

1. If you don't know how or you're not sure how to do certain tasks or handle certain tools, ask someone who knows.

2. If you need to rent any tools, or buy any power tools, ask a staff member at your local home improvement center for instructions and a demonstration.

3. Wear safety glasses. Especially when using a saw or hammer.

4. Always pay attention to your work. Pay special attention when using a power tool.

5. Wear knee pads when working on one or both knees.

6. Do not leave tools of any sort on top of a ladder.

7. Wear a dust mask when doing any task that raises dust, like sawing.

8. Wear tighter fitting clothes because loose clothes are at risk of tripping you or being caught in machinery.

9. Wear hard-soled work boots, preferably steel toed.

10. Know your ability and your physical limitations. Take breaks.

These are generally accepted personal safety procedures. You might discover more good safety procedures through your own pool deck building experience and research.

Most importantly, by following these general safety rules you will reduce your chances of an accident or injury and go a long way to ensuring that your deck construction remains safe and fun.

There is more on above ground pool deck plans in the free open license ebook "How to Build a Pool Deck".

Pool Deck Building Codes

This was the third sending of the Createyourdeck.com newsletter.

Before and during the construction of your pool deck you'll have to get to know and comply with your local building codes. Do the research before you plan, double check as you plan, and check again before you start building.

Also, expect your local building inspector to visit your site during construction.

Checking codes two, three, or even four times might sound like overdoing it. But I've learned that you can never be too prepared and never too informed, especially when investing your time and money into something like the construction of an above ground pool deck.

I can't stress this enough. Don't defy the codes (1) (2) (3) or your local building inspector! While some of it may be a hassle and seem unreasonable, most building codes are there for the safety of you and your family.

1. BUILDING CODES

Most cities will have building codes to make sure your new pool deck is safe, secure, and of good quality. Some cities will consider your pool deck a permanent addition and will require specific materials, heights, depths, etc.

Visit your local building department before you start planning.

2. EASEMENTS

Right-of-way rules ensure that your local utility companies have access to their lines.

This could prevent you from building a deck where you initially wanted. Some communities have strict easement laws so knowing where you can legally build your above ground pool deck before construction is an obvious time and money saver.

3. ZONING ORDINANCES

This regulates the use of your property and the addition of new structures to it. Generally, this includes minimum distances from property lines and the size of your deck.

4. DEED RESTRICTIONS

Some cities have restrictions on architectural styles so they can maintain property values.

This doesn't mean that you can't build a good pool deck that suits your needs. It just means that there may be a few checks and balances for some design aesthetics.

Please remember to do some research regarding building codes and visit your local building department before planning and constructing your deck because codes vary by city.

Regards,

Paul Ottaviano
Createyourdeck.com -- How to Build an Above Ground Pool Deck

Your Pool Deck: Private retreat or play area?

This was the second of the Createyourdeck.com newsletter.

Today I'll show you some key considerations you'll need to think about as you decide how your above ground pool deck will be used.

When thinking about what you would like your above ground pool deck to be, it's best to decide what your primary intended use is.

Of course you're going to swim. But...

1. Will your above ground pool deck be a private retreat?

2. Will it be used for entertaining neighbors and friends at a party?

3. Will the deck be a safe place for your kids to play in and around the pool?

These types of intended use questions will be very influential in helping you make decisions during your deck planning stages.

For instance, it wouldn't make a lot of sense for you to build a lot of privacy screens, fences, and grow tall trees if you want to be the envy of your neighbors and have them over for parties. But it would make sense to have those features if your primarily wanted your pool deck to be a quiet place for private family gatherings or personal relaxation.

Here are a couple of key elements to include in your planning as you evaluate your personal needs and then compare those with the natural landscape of your backyard.

1. Make Room for Foot Traffic

Remember to add space for walking paths if your deck will be between your house and other items in your backyard, i.e. trees, storage, etc.

2. Preserve Picturesque Views

If your yard has a beautiful view or natural elements worthy of being a focal point don't block them.

Plan so your above ground pool deck naturally invites people to admire that view by placing furniture in that direction. Use decking that will have lines leading guests to your focal point of choice.

Good luck and enjoy your pool!

Best regards,

Paul Ottaviano
Createyourdeck.com - How to build a deck around your pool

How to Test Your Pool Deck Site

This was the first of the former Createyourdeck.com newsletter.

How to easily test your above ground pool deck site. You'll know that your vision for the pool deck will be compatible with your backyard.

Hopefully everyone who thinks of building an above ground pool deck wants it to be a good fit for their backyard.

Some people know for sure what they want, others have an idea, and some just don't know yet.

Regardless of which of those describes you, here are some basic steps you can take that will help you discover if the deck you have in mind is a practical fit with your backyard.

With that said, this is also a great way to get some ideas going if you're still trying to figure out what you want.

STEP 1 -- Rope Off the Proposed Pool Deck Area

Use a string, a long garden hose, or a rope if you have one.

What you want to do in this step is rope off the proposed deck area so you can get a visual clue as to what your deck would like in that spot.

STEP 2 -- Place Furniture or Equipment in that Area

You don't have to have all of your planned pool deck furniture, equipment, or amenities ready now.

What many deck builders suggest is to place in the deck area any furniture or equipment you already have, or plan to use. This will give you a visual idea as to how furniture and equipment will look on your deck.

If you don't have any deck furniture or equipment yet then use something like a lawn chair as a temporary substitute during your planning stage.

TIP: Plan around two square feet for each chair plus another foot to push it back from a table.

If you don't like the look of something, continue to rearrange until you see a placement you like.

STEP 3 -- Think About Your Privacy and Decoration

An important element of your pool deck plan is to think about where you'll want your plants and trees to go, if any will be used.

• Are you going to use tall trees to enhance your privacy, rather than a fence?

• Instead of planning for more privacy, do you just want potted plants to give your deck a focal point or another nice decoration?

You don't have to know for certain exactly what trees or plants you're going to use now, if any, but now is a good time to start thinking about where any trees or plants will go.

Many deck builders recommend putting small flags that will stick into the ground or tie down balloons where you want trees or plants to be.

Once again, rearrange until you like the look of something. But be realistic, know where power lines and pipes are, etc.

And always check your local building codes before starting construction of any kind.

These important planning steps can be and really should be a fun activity that you can do in one day with your friends or family.

Best regards,

Paul Ottaviano
Createyourdeck.com - How to Build an Above Ground Pool Deck

P.S. -- Once you have found a pool deck plan that looks like it represents what you want and is practical for the natural layout of your backyard, sketch the plans on paper. The sketch doesn't have to be sophisticated. Just get the layout down on paper. Also, consider taking pictures just in case you misplace your sketch.

Newsletter Deactivated

The createyourdeck.com email newsletter has been deactivated. To those of you who subscribed and read the newsletter, I thank you. I hope the information helped you build a nice deck around your pool.

Createyourdeck.com will continue but it's clear that the free eBook "How to Build a Pool Deck" is what people really want and is the best way to go moving forward.

I'll eventually take the content of the newsletters and post them here for you.

Best,

Paul Ottaviano
Createyourdeck.com

Free is Good

What have I learned so far about the world of open license content? That people like free eBooks!

In a perfect world all eBooks would be free and publishers could still find ways to make money so they can stay in business, or at least get a just reward for a job well done. Economic law and reality show that cannot always be the case. But in the case of my pool deck eBook it was time.

I am wondering though, are any of you are actually interested in the open license aspect of it? I've yet to see anyone step up with their own version of the eBook. Perhaps it is still too early in the building season and people are too busy working.

Remember, you have permission to update or remix the eBook and after those edits you can then share or distribute your new version non-commercially as long as you link to me as the original source. This is something I'd like to hear more about if any of you are doing that or are considering it.

That said, the rate that people are opting to receive the How to Build a Pool Deck eBook has far surpassed my expectations!

Curiously, there are still people out there who apparently don't like the idea of getting a free eBook. If this is you, go to the site and get it. It's not too late to get started on your above ground pool deck project this year.

As always, enjoy your pool!

Regards,

Paul Ottaviano
Createyourdeck.com

Wood Stair Repair

My story today has nothing to do with a deck but is relevant to your pool deck project.

The stairway inside my home is about thirty years old. Its tread is lumber wrapped in carpet (poor excuse for tread) that are basically just attached to stringers. There is of course a run, but there is a space where the rise would be. A few steps in the middle of the staircase have started to loosen.

My staircase is an odd contraption. I doubt it's up to code now and I would be surprised if it was when built a long time ago.

There are no screws or metal step connectors connecting the tread. Instead, it just has a slim section of wood sticking out that fits into some kind of notch on the closed stringer. It looks like it was simply nailed in somehow... it's difficult to see because of the carpeting wrapped around the tread. Strange.

I'm currently in no mood to replace the whole staircase, although I suppose I'll have to do it eventually. But for now I decided to go with a band aid.

I fastened metal step connectors beneath the three suspect treads. It's not perfect, but when I walk or stand on them it does feel stronger compared to what it was before. This is temporary but it should get some extra mileage out of my stairs.

Remember, when you're building stairs for your above ground pool deck know the difference between a closed and open stringer. Closed stringers won't need a notch for the treads and you can use metal step connectors. Open stringers will need notches. Also, remember to use fasteners that are appropriate for treated outdoor lumber.

Best,

Paul Ottaviano
Createyourdeck.com - DIY Above Ground Pool Deck

Bonus eBooks

In addition to it being good karma if you donate generously - or "tip" me - for giving you the "How to Build a Pool Deck" eBook free you'll also get three bonus eBooks for doing so.

Visit the Createyourdeck.com home page for more information.

Createyourdeck.com Store

The Createyourdeck.com store is now open! I'm going to give you quality swimming pool and deck building tools at good prices.

Also available are my favorite decking and above ground pool maintenance books, plus anything else that seems relevant.

I plan on integrating it with the website and hopefully there will be some user-generated feedback or reviews on different products offered at the store.

Best,

Paul

eBook Now Available with Newsletter

The free and open license eBook "How to Build a Pool Deck" is also now available with the "Know Your Pool Deck" newsletter.

The "newsletter", for lack of a better word, is a 10 part series where you'll get free tips on building a deck around a pool and swimming pool maintenance. It's designed for those of you who sometimes just want quick information on the go or just occasional reminders that nudge you along with your own decking project.

Best,

Paul

"How to Build a Pool Deck" eBook Site Feed

Now also available via Feedburner. Click on "atom posts" at the bottom of this page or click on post header.

Best,
Paul

It's Free! The "How to Build a Pool Deck" eBook is now open license.

That's right, all 70 pages of my above ground pool deck building information is now free.

You can get it at Createyourdeck.com.

The reason I have chosen to do this is because it's always been about providing the best pool deck building tips possible.

And since the Internet was founded as a user-generated medium any content that gives you the ability to share and contribute to new content creation - with credit going to the original creator - makes open license a compelling distribution method.

What is "open license"?

Open license - or "open source" in the software world - is freely given content that gives people the option to share or possibly remix the original content. So the very restrictive and traditional "all rights reserved" copyright is essentially liberalized and some rights are reserved by the creator.

The type of open license given by the originator of the content can differ and is determined by that person or company.

For more information on how this works and how it fits into an international legal framework please visit Creative Commons.

What's the open license for the How to Build a Pool Deck eBook?

The eBook has a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

You can view the legal stuff at Creative Commons.

But what this basically means is that you can freely share the eBook with anyone you wish and you can remix and share again... just as long as the license remains the same, it's non-commercial (more on this below), and you credit Createyourdeck.com for the original content.

You can add you're own decking knowledge, pool deck building photos, or anything you think is important but we might have missed.

In essence it's about making the eBook the best it can possibly be and if you want to, you can help do it. We might even help you publish an updated version of the eBook and you'll get credited for it too.

If you're in the decking business or if you're a contractor, this could be something you give to clients. Creating your own version and asking us to help publish it could give your business more exposure.

Just respect the "non-commercial" part of the license, meaning don't re-sell the eBook without our permission. Contact us if you're interested in resale rights.

That's it folks! The future of "How to Build a Pool Deck" is now in your hands.

Enjoy your pool!

Best regards,

Paul Ottaviano

Big Change Coming to Createyourdeck.com

Within about one week I'm going to change how our eBook "How to Build a Pool Deck" is distributed. In short, it's going to be free.

Also, you'll be invited to share your above ground pool deck experiences and deck building tips in future versions of the eBook.

More to come.

Update 3/8/10 10:15 PM PST: Everything is close to being on schedule. I think the eBook should be ready within the next two days and other general housekeeping tasks done by the weekend.

Best,

Paul Ottaviano
Createyourdeck.com - Above Ground Pool Deck Guide