WOW you have your work cut out for you. That is one beautiful deck. Lots or work and it shows. Please post finished pic.

Did you know what you were getting into when you started? lol! It is looking good. Love the stone retaining wall. Your turtles look great on top of it. I can see with the terrain around your house why the deck would be a good choice.

Regarding your carpenter/wood bees ... over time, if you get enough of them, their nesting in your wood can be destructive. Staining and/or painting will help since they prefer plain wood. Painting is actually preferable to staining to deter them. I have heard of "houses" for mason orchard bees where holes are drilled into untreated wood so they can lay their eggs in the holes. I haven't seen anything like that for carpenter bees though. It would seem a shame to kill them.

Been wondering when you'd come back, Big D. Good to see you again. That is one fantastic deck you're building.
VERY nice!
As for the Carpenter Bees, I really enjoy them myself. I find it entertaining how curious the males are and buzz around seeing what you are doing. The ones in my backyard have staked out some old driftwood pieces that I decorate with in my gnome garden. Here's the info off the 'Net for them.

"Carpenter bees do not consume wood. Rather, they feed on pollen and nectar. Carpenter bees are important pollinators of flowers and trees. Carpenter bees typically are just nuisance pests that cause cosmetic rather than structural damage to wood. Carpenter bee damage to wood initially is minor, and carpenter bees seldom cause consequential structural damage. However, their repeated colonization over years, of the same wood, can eventually cause considerable wood damage. Carpenter bees preferentially refurbish and enlarge an existing tunnel instead of boring a new one, and a gallery can extend for 10 feet if used by many carpenter bees over the years.
Carpenter bees are noisy, which may be bothersome. These large bees create alarm when they dive-bomb or fly erratically around humans. In actuality, these are male bees, which are territorial but harmless because they lack a stinger. Only females have a stinger. Female carpenter bees are docile and are reported to sting only if handled."

hugs, Karen

Wow, you sure did tackle a huge project. It's to die for tho. There will be many years of enjoyment with this deck. Nice job and enjoy.

My SIL had a log home that had to have an exterminator come out every year and "Tent" the house and exterminate the bees. The tent keeps the bees from flying away and infecting natural habitats. The buzzing in the wood was there every year just like clock-work.

GIT-R-DONE!!

I've decided that I am just gonna let the bee's exist and still have lots of flowers and maybe limited fruit! They do not sting and my step-daughter is petrified of bee's, so perhaps she will be around as often! (Ask Marlene, I am an a__hole).

And yes, it is a large project. That's why my nic is Big_Deck. When it is finished and I send (post) the next images, you will see why! The water slide like toy the grand kids are going to have on it stands 12 feet tall and will take over about a third of the back portion.

There is a method to my madness (sometime).

Written by my dear friend about what an a_shole is:

Ok, so I'm an a__hole.

A - Accountable
S - Sincere
S - Special
H - Honest
O - Obstinate
L - Loving
E - Exceptional

:-)

Big_deck, if carpenter bees would keep some people away, I'd have to ask you to send me some! lol! I can imagine them being bad for a log house but your deck should be okay. Can't wait to see the "water park!"

I updated the pictures this afternoon. Anything to keep from having to deal with some realities in my life at the moment. London Bridges Falling Down.

Anyway, I have to say that there was one major hurdle to this project (beside Mrs. NO) and senorita Marlene's very significant other helped me through that.

And I am Really sorry about the carpenter bee that I killed Saturday morning (even if Oscar was also scared - thanks to her over cautious mother) - but once I caught one (those little guts are QUICK) and proved to her that they do not sting she was ok with them. I kind of miss having them dive bomb me while I work up there.

The next post on this big old deck project will be the final shots and I will post it as a new thread and IN HERE!!

Thanks for all the coments. I missed you too!

Here is a link that might be useful: Next to the last post on this matter

Opps, and yes I knew what I was getting into - just not that it would take so *&$(^% long to get it done. Thought I was going to get some help along the way, but I do happen to like working alone.

The smile on Emily's (Oscar's) face will be worth absolutely every second, every penny, every drop of sweat and every bandage it has cost.

What an undertaking!! I love it!!

The fact you call your cute little granddaughter "Oscar" totally cracks me up!! I love that too!!

~Sandy~

Awesome deck! And I'm jealous, wish I could get a huge playhouse built for my grandbabies! Would love one shaped like a castle!!
kudzu

Two things here:

First, Oscar is Oscar because when she was an infant and I almost raised her, she would not sleep. Pappy Brian would pick her up and we would dance to The Little Old Baby from Pasadena Jan & Dean song, then I would put her head on my shoulder and sing her the theme song from the Oscar Mayer Weiner commercial. In spite of my singing, she would go right to sleep.

Sunday we were at the Dairy Queen and she started to run into and out of the line, so I had to say Oscar, come back. The lady behind me said "Oscar"? Emily said her name was Emily Rose and Only Pap can call me Oscar!

As Mrs. No keeps pointing out, Emmy is only going to be three for a year - then only 4 for a year - etc. So I confessed my ulterior motive :-) This playhouse is really going to be my woodshop away from yelling distance of the house. She'll probably never get off the deck and all the playground stuff I am going to put on it for her!

Two things here:

First, Oscar is Oscar because when she was an infant (and I almost raised her), she would not sleep. Pappy Brian would pick her up and we would dance to The Little Old Baby from Pasadena Jan & Dean song, then I would put her head on my shoulder and sing her the theme song from the Oscar Mayer Weiner commercial. In spite of my singing, she would go right to sleep.

Sunday we were at the Dairy Queen and she started to run into and out of the line, so I had to say Oscar, come back. The lady behind me said "Oscar"? Emily said her name was Emily Rose and Only Pap can call me Oscar!

And, as Mrs. No keeps pointing out, Emmy is only going to be three for a year - then only 4 for a year - etc. So I confessed my ulterior motive :-) This playhouse is really going to be my woodshop away from yelling distance of the house. She'll probably never get off the deck and all the playground stuff I am going to put on it for her!

Two things here:

First, Oscar is Oscar because when she was an infant (and I almost raised her), she would not sleep. Pappy Brian would pick her up and we would dance to The Little Old Baby from Pasadena Jan & Dean song, then I would put her head on my shoulder and sing her the theme song from the Oscar Mayer Weiner commercial. In spite of my singing, she would go right to sleep.

Sunday we were at the Dairy Queen and she started to run into and out of the line, so I had to say Oscar, come back. The lady behind me said "Oscar"? Emily said her name was Emily Rose and Only Pap can call me Oscar!

And, as Mrs. No keeps pointing out, Emmy is only going to be three for a year - then only 4 for a year - etc. So I confessed my ulterior motive :-) This playhouse is really going to be my woodshop away from yelling distance of the house. She'll probably never get off the deck and all the playground stuff I am going to put on it for her!

Ok you...so I think you might have hit the send button a few too many times! ;-)

It kept giving me a message rejected error! I am not that stupid am I.

Well - it's done, so the next post will be finished project, less the seal as I need a few dry, sunny days to get that accomplished.