[Hank70SS]

I mentioned in another thread about having the main beam replaced on our 2nd story deck. That was interesting watch them raise that 700 lb I-beam in to place and remove the old wooden one. First 2 pics are with the new steel I-beam in place. There were 4 steel posts, 1 each end beyond the new posts in the pics. Also 1 to the left of the doorwall about where the green chair is and another to the right at about the edge of the doorwall. A lot less cluttered now with only the 2 posts. The I-beam and face board above it will be wrapped with aluminum trim, probably box the posts in with wood.

I removed the screens before the beam was replaced. I didn't want the frames buckling when they lifted the deck. It also gave me a chance to paint the posts the holding the roof up and the board above them. I don't have an extension ladder that will reach that high. Plus after fracturing my pelvis in 3 places a couple of years ago, me and extension ladders aren't on the best of terms.

Also put T1-11 paneling on the house wall inside the deck. That's the only part of the 2nd story we didn't have sided when we did the rest of the house.

3rd pic is the wall my son and I built. There is a cement patio with a stone wall under the wood deck. Cement was cracked and a previous owner put the wood deck over it. The wall was sinking and leaning into the lower patio. Wall was around 16" thick, first load of rock and cement that went to the dump weighed 5,000 lbs. We sunk the 4x4's, 2x6's on the back side. A foot of pea gravel, a drain pipe and another 3 feet of pea gravel so the rain doesn't wash out the new wall.

The OSB leaning against the wall was just to protect the cement patio as the wall was busted out. I have to get rid of that and decide what to face the patio side with.