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I'm not a carpenter damnit!
Topic Started: Mar 4 2012, 03:09 PM (92 Views)
Andrul
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Ancient Wyrm
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Let me preface this by saying that I'm fighting off a cold and feel like crap today so am making no claims to mental brilliance or even competence at this time.

Got the risers all painted and ready to go in. Went to Home Depot this morning and picked up new end posts for the steps handrails. I got to looking closer at the old ones and decided their condition was just too crappy. Got home, realized I forgot to get longer screws for the end posts because I prefer the screws going in straight from the outside of the post rather than trying to toe them in,sent Barb back to the store. Then figured out the old risers had the concrete poured around them so there's a level difference between the old and new so the old ones will have to be taken out after all.

If you'll excuse me, or not, I'm now going to go take a nap.
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lgm
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Demogorgon
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We typically use lag bolts or lag screws for posts but recently discovered a new product at HD. They are special screws that are extremely long that are meant to do the same attachments as lags but are far easier to deal with plus come out cheaper than buying lags + nuts + washers.

I also have to take back what I said about HD lumber. I've been noticing their stock going downhill. I don't know if it's the suppliers or not but I've seen quality degrade at another wholesaler we've used which makes me wonder if it's the raw manufacturers.

Is it possible to just cut down your riser so it fits on the concrete and then sister up some support for it within the risers to hide it?
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Andrul
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I though of cutting down the bottom of the riser. Just gotta be really careful not to cut too much. Either that or find a tool I don't mind ruining to chip out the slots in the concrete and just let it sit down on the dirt again. At least this time the wood will have some paint to help protect it.

Honestly, it seems like lately whenever I've gone into Home Depot and passed through the lumber area the wood has been even worse than what I bought. But Lowes still seems to be nicer. Maybe they're using a different supplier?

Barb got some really long, heavy wood screws with the same torx head for a good solid grip with a drill to drive them in. I don't have any fear about my 1/2" drill being able to push 'em through :)
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lgm
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Demogorgon
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Don't use regular wood screws. The chemicals in pressure treated wood will eat them away. Last year we nailed down an entire deck because all the nails weren't correct and the pressure treatment dissolved them away. I don't want to hear about you or Barb hitting the ground in a few years!

She may have gotten the correct ones but if not, an HD guy should point you to them. And of course they are more expensive than standard exterior screws.
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Andrul
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These are the coated ones that are supposed to be "rust proof".
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lgm
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Demogorgon
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They should specifically state they're for pressure treated, decks or something similar sounding. It's not rusting that's the issue. The change from arsenic to other chemicals 5 years or more ago caused this new issue.

I wish it was advertised better at stores and on the news because it can create dangerous situations.
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Andrul
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Well crap. I'll look at the boxes when I get home. They're not bare metal but have some kind of coating that looks like ceramic material.
Edited by Andrul, Mar 8 2012, 08:11 AM.
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