Overheard my neighbor say he built a deck in one weekend with no plans

Last Saturday I was out back grilling and heard my neighbor bragging to his buddy about how he built his entire deck in one weekend using only a YouTube video and no actual blueprints. He was real proud of himself until I walked around and saw the thing. The stairs don't even line up with the door and there's a three inch gap between two of the boards. I didn't say nothing to him because I'm not trying to start a feud but I just stood there thinking about all the fails I see online from people who skip the planning. Anyone else got a neighbor or family member who pulled off a DIY project that just looks like a total disaster waiting to happen?

3 comments

3 Comments

sage_ramirez423d ago

Three inch gap is just extra drainage, dude. My grandpa built his whole house without plans back in the 50s and it's still standing, so maybe YouTube guy is onto something. Who really needs stairs to line up anyway, adds character right?

charles_kelly433d ago

Wait, your grandpa built a whole house without any plans? Like no blueprints at all? That three inch gap might not be drainage, it sounds like he just forgot to measure the risers right and called it character.

reesea492d ago

@charles_kelly43 you're probably right about the risers, my own neighbor tried to fix a sagging porch with zip ties and a prayer. That three inch gap is going to collect leaves and critters until someone trips and blames the whole thing on a lack of blueprints. My uncle once "winged" a treehouse for his kids and the floor collapsed during their first sleepover, so I'm on your side with this one.