I am not sure if I should start this thread, "Once Upon A Time" or "Dearly Beloved", but here goes;

A couple years ago, I noticed a large sink hole on the side of my yard, I thought it was from my drain spout so I caved it in and filled it up.

In Aug 05, my wife called me at work and said the basement was flooded (unfinished side). Luckily we were home, we were suppose to go on vacation that week. I go home to find out that the septic pipe is over flowing. I shut off my well pump and the water eventually stops. I go out to my septic tank and dig out the cap while my wife mops up the basement. I look into my spetic tank and it is clear and almost empty (I do get it emptied every year).

I then call a spetic company to come out and clean out my tank (just in case). The truck comes over and tells me its not that full. The owner comes over and tells me that most likely the septic pipe broke off at the house. The only way to get to it was to take up part of my deck and dig. We did just that. We dug down about 6' and there it was broken off ot the house, but half the pipe was still aligned with pipe going into the house. So half my waste was going into the septic tank and the other half was flowing under my deck. As I took up more decking I noticed that there was a washout along my house. It went down about 2 feet. The sinkhole I mentioned earlier, thats where it came from. The septic foreman said that it had to be like that for a couple years that it wasnt showing until some papertowels got clogged, which we fished out from the cap on the inside of the house.

I then had to refill the washout so I decided to put a new deck. As I took up the exisiting cedar decking, the joists and footers we loose. Some of the loading beams were just laying on the ground (we are on a slight slope and there are several stairs to the deck) witht he joists nailed to them. Some of the footers were only 8"-10" deep. I decided to take them up and rebuild the entire deck.

The deck is about 2100 sq ft. 62' (along the side of the house) x 48' out towards the pool/yard area. The deck is not square so thats why the measurements are about 2100'.

I then bought a bobcat, they wanted $1000 per month to rent. I did alot of work with it then sold it for more than I bought it for.

I then need a shed to put all my tools and equipment that I had laying around inside the garage and unfinished sunroom. I thought I would be able to just lay the deck on my property and move on. It didnt turn out that way, where I put it was on a slope so I had to grade the area. I had to put in (5) 6x6 on one side to level the area. I then built a frame of 6x6 and many tons of rocks for drainage. I moved a about 6-8 cypress trees (and they died). People tell me you cant kill a cypress, well I did it x 8. The area turned out very well and built tight. I then took in about 50-60 triple axle trucks loads of dirt to fill in the slope. I ran electric out to the shed (50amps).

Back to the framing of the new deck. I ended up digging about 50 footers. Used an auger with the bobcat and it saved me alot of time and backaches, although you still have to dig out the dirt and the dirt fall back into the the hole. Using a pole digger to get the loose dirt out plays with your head, you do things backwards.

It started to get cold out so my wife wanted me to work on the sunroom since we now "I" have a shed. I am using Aztec plastic for the ceiling and walls. Its turning out nice. I built an octogon on the ceiling for the light/fan.

We then had "another" leak. This time in the kitchen. The upstairs water return for the toilet leaked within the wall and went right to the kitchen ceiling. I called a plumber who came out and fixed it. I then fixed the ceiling in the kitchen and all was well. But of course not, the plumber didnt seal the piping well enough and we came home from the weekend with pretty much the entire kitchen ceiling falling down. Short story long, I had to replace the enite kitchen ceiling, crwon molding, lighting and painting.

Since it was getting really cold now and the sunroom is not heated, and the kitchen is done, my wife decides to replace the carpet in the office. So I then took everything out, took up the carpet and repainted the room.

The den was next, since it was still cold (winter 06') and I did the same thing to that room. Ceiling, crown molding, etc.

The entire Spring/Summer/Fall (06) it took me to get the framing done on the deck and all the other stuff (grading, moving shrubberies (lol), etc.). I made three new planters (octogon) and are using then as footers to tie my joists into. I put a new ledger on the house, used 2x10 joists at 12"oc.

I have been reading this and other forums for the past 18 months picking up tips and recommendations. I will be going with Ipe. I will be installing it at 45 angle. I have a couple concerns. One being ventilation. The depth at the house is about 12"-14" and at the spa it 4'-5' then tapers back up to 12"-14". I will put in some vents in the decking at the house and on the risers every where else.

I will stop this War and Peace novel now. I am uploading tons of pics on flickr as I watch the Patriots play the Colts.

I am not a carpenter by any means. I am an electrical engineer (white collar type) but I can figure things out. If anyone needs some info on how I did something or why, please ask as I will be asking many questions.

Oh, I almost forgot, I just finished the installation of an engine generator for my home this weekend..

Thanks for reading, if you like it, thank my wife. If it puts you to sleep, sweet dreams and thank me.. :)

Jim (Maryland)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimswork/