One Room Challenge: Spring 2022 Week 2
Hello and welcome to the blog!
We’re in week 2 of the Spring 2022 One Room Challenge, and I completed a massive project this week! I would say this was my most extensive build EVER. This week’s list of things to accomplish: Demo the hot tub, remove part of the current deck, then build a full deck. The plan is to turn this unused hot tub area into a workout space! So let’s get into it.
Goodbye hot tub
Before
The hot tub had a few small holes and broken equipment; I don’t know the last time it was in working order. Last year I disconnected the electricity that runs to the hot tub, threw away the broken equipment, and capped off the pipes that ran from the pump to the hot tub. The only thing left to do was get rid of the tub!
Hot tub demo in progress
If you are removing a hot tub, make sure the electricity to the unit is off, wear PPE, and be aware of where your equipment is. The equipment for my hot tub was completely separate from the tub itself, but that is not always the case. Know what you’re working with before starting. I used a sawzall (also called a reciprocating saw) with a carbide tip blade to cut the hot tub into smaller pieces. I used a 6’’ blade because that is what I had, but a 9’’ blade would have made the job easier.
It took a while to find the most effective method for demoing the hot tub. What worked for me was to cut down vertically and then slowly curve the cut to be horizontal. Then I moved further down the tub and made another downward cut until I reached the horizontal cut. Once I had a chunk of the hot tub removed, it was much easier to cut horizontally. Then I just continued until everything I needed was removed. I didn’t have to completely remove the hot tub because the plan is to rebuild a deck over that area.
Demoing a portion of the deck
Demo complete
Once the hot tub was removed, I needed to remove the small decking boards around the hot tub. I used a hammer and crowbar to pry the decking from the joists underneath. Most of the decking was attached with nails, so they were easy to remove. A few boards were nailed and screwed down; those were difficult to remove and required multiple attempts with drills, pliers, and eventually a sawzall to cut through the screws. After removing all the necessary decking boards, it was time to build the new full deck.
Building the new deck
2’’x6’’ joists attached to beams
Extra blocking added between joists
Just a reminder that I am not a professional, and this is my first time doing this. From my research, I determined that I should use pressure-treated 2’’ x 6’’ boards as the joists for my deck (same as what was already there) spaced 16’’ apart or closer. The existing joists were spaced much farther apart, so I added new joists between them to make everything consistent. I attached my joists to the existing beams using joist hangers with 1.5’’ and 2.5’’ exterior grade Strong-Drive SD Connector Screws as recommended by the manufacturer. I also added some extra blocking between the joists, which from my research, was not necessary for the size deck I was building. Still, I wanted to add them for peace of mind.
Laying out the decking
For decking, I used pressure-treated 5/4’’ x 6’’ boards. I needed the 12 ft length because my deck is about 11.5 ft wide. I measured and cut each piece of decking individually because I noticed that the existing decking on either side of the new decking was not quite the same size. This worked out well in the end, all the boards are within an eighth of an inch of each other, and it looks good. I attached the decking to the joists using 2.5’’ exterior grade deck screws. There is conflicting info online about whether you should use nails or screws to attach decking to joists. I chose to use screws because I prefer driving in screws more than nails. I would’ve felt fine using nails if I had a professional nailer.
After
Overall the deck build took me two days by myself, which was pretty good for my first time! The deck is very sturdy, and I love how it turned out. It makes a huge difference in the space already; it feels so much bigger! Unfortunately, I have to wait for the wood to dry out before I can paint it, so that may have to wait until closer to the end of ORC.
Thank you for following along with this project. This was a big one for me, and I feel so proud that I completed the hot tub demo and BUILT A DECK by myself! Like whatttt, who am I? There is still so much left to do to complete this space, but building the deck was a major milestone! Be sure to check back in every week to see what I’m up to next.
And if you want to see more of what I’m working on day to day, give me a follow on Instagram! I post a lot of stories, and all of them are saved to an ORC Spring 2022 highlight.
Lastly, if you’re looking for more DIY and design inspiration, take a look at the One Room Challenge blog. There are tons of great projects happening this season!
Thanks for reading!