New Front Deck

We have a new deck!  This past week, Chance and our neighbors busted out the front steps in front of our house in preparation for building a new deck.  Our siding and windows are being re-done starting next week and we wanted to get the deck built first.  When we busted out the concrete, we found a lot of rotten wood behind the steps - we even saw insulation that's in our basement walls :(

The steps were created with very thick concrete so it took a long time to get it busted with the jackhammer.  Our neighbor Jeremie and his son Briggam all took turns with Chance using the jackhammer - it took hours! 

Before

Once they got the concrete away it revealed tons of rotten wood - all the way to the foundation.  Guess that's what happens when concrete sits against wood, and any water that hit the concrete flows down between the wood for almost 40 years!  Chance worked until late Thursday night clearing concrete and rocks (with the help of our friend John and his tractor!) and it was ready to go on Friday morning!

Chance's Uncle Greg is a contractor and he brought his crew up on Friday morning to build our new deck.  They had to cut away the rotten wood and replace it with new boards before they could start building the deck.  After that, the deck building went pretty quickly!

I only got a few shots as it was going up since I was working inside AND trying to take care of Henry...

New support boards

All framed up

Finished!!

Greg and his guys finished it all in one day and we are so thankful he was able to help us.  It's nice having handy people in the family :)  Now all we need is some new patio furniture, but that will have to wait until the siding and windows are finished next week.  This was all of us last night enjoying the new deck.  Love it!