New Deck is Finished

Well, it was finished about a month ago but I'm slack (or sleep deprived...damn you tiny baby teeth).  As promised, here are some photos of the process and the finished product.  The only thing that would make it better is if we could find some outdoor furniture that won't blow away, isn't ugly, isn't uncomfortable (I'm looking at you wooden chairs), doesn't have a wafer-thin glass table top and doesn't cost a small fortune.  I'm not fussy, really!

Here's my post before we started, just in case you wish to admire the awesome rottenness of the original deck one more time.

Once the uprights were concreted into place, the builder knocked some of the original deck off.  He only really had to threaten the handrail with the hammer and it was more than willing to fall down.  When finished, he walked inside, shook his head and said "amazing...." - and I don't think he meant it in a good way.  

The builders were well supervised throughout the process.  At one point they were wiggling their tape measure back and forth so Zari could attack it through the glass.

Once concrete was set, they knocked off the rest of the deck.  At this point they confirmed that the water issues we'd been having in our bedrooms downstairs were due to water getting in via the rotten joists.  That's all sealed up and has brand new weatherboards over it now, huzzah!

Then we got some framing...

And some decking.  Cats of course felt it best to sit as far out on the individual planks as they could.

Old deck!

New deck!

Zari for scale next to middle upright.

The tiny human and the not-so-tiny cats all approve of the new play area.

And then Basil figured out that he could do this.  I've seen him almost fall off twice, but it is quite hilarious watching him run along the rail after the birds in the tree.  I'm sure it's just bad luck and not his complete failure at stealthiness that's kept him from catching any.  Dork.

And one more before/after shot, because I can.

What a year to drop to one income - we've spent about $28k on the house this year.  BUT with the new deck and new windows the house is weathertight at last!  It's almost like we can finally sit back and enjoy the summer.  At home.  Because we're too poor to go anywhere.  :(