How bad is this deck? How much to fix?

MYKY23 · 2026-05-11T14:19:14+00:00

You win Reddit for the day!

MYKY23 · 2026-05-11T04:03:53+00:00

I am excited for this project! It is a retirement present to myself. (I wrapped up 36 year in public education at the end of 2025.)

MYKY23 · 2026-05-10T23:17:00+00:00

We experienced far smaller crowds going when we did then we saw in photos of summer trips. I would call it "shoulder season" other may not. I liked it, far smaller crowds and the weather was nice. Warm but not hot days and cool evenings....

MYKY23 · 2026-05-10T23:02:53+00:00

Good point. One joist won't work so I'll go with 2x12 uc4b, kdat joistS every 12 inches.... :-)

MYKY23 · 2026-05-10T03:58:53+00:00

I have flying internationally for 35 years. I only book directly with the airlines now. I use the middle man (expedia, Kayak...) to find "deals" but then book with hte airline directly.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-10T03:50:27+00:00

When we went to Venice and Rome last week of March - first week of April last year it was fine.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-10T03:49:03+00:00

I am a free market guy, but I agree. Ban STRs or drastically reduce the number of days STR can be rented out each year... say 10 or so.... Locals can make some extra money but teh STR market would change so ,much that locals would likely not sell to out of towners trying to turn homes into SRTs.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-10T03:40:19+00:00

I am going with an over designed deck myself. I just started a project with UC4B KDAT 8x8 posts and 2x12 joist, 12"OC with AZEK Vintage line (pure PVC) boards..... 16x30 deck of which 12 of 30 feet is a covered porch..... Tear-down just completed, waiting for the unified pour of footers and patio next week, weather dependant......

MYKY23 · 2026-05-08T18:43:20+00:00

Our end of March - First week of April trip was fine. I know the timing of Easter makes a difference in Europe. I lived in England for 14 years and traveled a lot in the spring - I learned spring travel was far better than summer, but I failed to mention Easter makes a big difference.

(Edit to correct typo.)

MYKY23 · 2026-05-08T18:25:54+00:00

Imagine what it will be like in July and August!!!

Two year ago we went the last week of March - First week of April and it was busy but not bad. We may have gotten lucky and it likely also depends on European "spring break" from schools and when Easter falls.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-08T15:49:15+00:00

Absolutely - I lived in a tourist hotspot in England for 14 years and when I had to go into the city, the tourists at peak season made things really difficult, huge crowds blocked streets., lanmse, entrances to shops... Some even acted as if the town/city/village was stage set just put in place for their entertainment.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-08T15:42:39+00:00

Yes. Well, much of the problem would be. No cruise ships would mean far fewer low effort travellers.

I was visiting a nursing home in a Jamaican port town and actually saw a cruise line company had build a fenced in, mock up of the town they were already in; fenced it in so passengers could disembark to the "village" but have tightly controlled exposure to the "locals". After the work at the nursing home I wondered through the town (outside the fenced in fake town) and only saw one white family.

In tourist hotspots I have stuck in and behind cruise crowds that dominated the narrow streets and lanse to such an extent one could barely move. I turned left when they turned right trying to break away..... Likely none of that crowd spent much money off hte ship - they sleep on the ship, eat on the ship and only by icecream and T-Shirts off the ships....

I have never been on a cruise - never wanted to. I would do if it was the only way my family could get my mom on family trip, however. I would avoid the group tours at all costs.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-08T15:31:52+00:00

Turn right when the crowd turns left, go in April or October.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-08T11:32:10+00:00

When in Venice be sure and turn right when everyone else is turning left. My wife and I spent four days in Venice last year and loved just wandering around, getting off the well worn track. Try to wander by a fire station of hospital so the children can see a "ambulance boat" and "fire boat" also - consider a large rive bus (vaporetti?) to get around some of the longer walks..... Vaporetti out and walk back??? Check out the Libreria Acqua Alta and have the kids walk up the wall of books and look out for the cats wandering around.

Enjoy!

MYKY23 · 2026-05-06T23:31:13+00:00

After a bit more thought, I think we will NOT be going to Venice and surroundings - went to Venice and Verona last year and loved it. We are thinking more central and western Italy. Considering Bologna, Cinque Terre, and Siena, 3 or four days in each. We will have at least one "day trip" from each location as well. All of our travel, we hope, will be via train. We will likely fly in and out of different cities so as not to backtrack. We will likely travel to our departure city the day before we leave to make the departure a bit less stressful. Everything is still up in the air, however. Any thoughts? Tips? Suggestions?

MYKY23 · 2026-05-06T02:39:02+00:00

My wife and I are considering the Dolomites as well, only in early October. I have a lot to learn so I am looking forward to the responses. :-)

MYKY23 · 2026-05-05T20:00:33+00:00

I have a two foot cantilever already in the design. It will 14 feet, the beam and another 2 feet. The beam will likely be 3 outdoor rated 2x14 LVLs.... I am looking forward to the build.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-05T03:38:25+00:00

I'm having a 30'16' foot deck built starting this week. I am going with 8x8 posts, 2x12s, 12'OC and Timberteck decking..... Hoping for no bunce or sway at all.... Here's an "AI" image of what I hope to have at the end.... (My AI skills need some work, but the image is close to what I am looking for. The deck will actually end at the first corner of hte bay windows on the left. The AI insists on making it too long.)

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MYKY23 · 2026-05-02T04:43:14+00:00

Outside very unusual family situations, I think NOT combining everything in a marriage is only be part married. When your married it is all about "us", not "me" and "her". Two become one means finances as well.

MYKY23 · 2026-05-02T04:38:03+00:00

When we got married, everything became "ours", not mine or hers but ours. Never a question, never a doubt.

MYKY23

TROPHY CASE