Bruce McCrory

This deck was replaced twice. I had twenty-five years to design the latest action:
There would be no butt joints. Planking is 45-degrees to joists. It's cedar and joist spacing had to be reduced from 16" (more), even with going to 5/4 thickness. I hated all of the exposed nails. Attachment is by specialty toenailed screws.

I underestimated the detail of cutting and fitting each plank (~150) about 4 times before alignment of ends was good enough.

Two years later I am still debating how to finish it. Wood, not physically shielded from weathering lasts about 20 years with or, without the best preservative. A finish just makes you feel better.