Answer Hub
Homeowner answers
Straight answers from an architect-trained craftsman about decks, pergolas, wood restoration and outdoor living in North County San Diego.
Showing 121 to 150 of 202 answers, newest first RSS feed
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How long do exterior wood finishes last near the coast in San Diego?
Shorter than the can says. Within a few miles of the ocean, salt air, daily wet-dry cycles from the marine layer and strong UV wear finishes faster than…
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Should I resurface my old deck with new boards or tear it down and rebuild?
Resurface if the frame is sound, connected to the house and footings, and can be brought to the joist spacing your new decking needs. Rebuild if the ledger is…
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Should I use stainless steel or galvanized fasteners for a deck near the ocean?
Near the ocean, use stainless steel for anything visible and anything in contact with redwood, cedar or hardwood, and hot-dip galvanized at minimum for…
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How is rotted fascia or a rotted barge board repaired?
Short sections of rot are cut out back to sound wood and a new piece is scarfed in, primed on all sides, and painted to match. Longer runs are replaced whole…
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What should I do about the fascia and the open space under my deck?
Fascia is the trim board that covers the outer rim joist and the cut ends of the decking; skirting is whatever closes the space between the deck and the…
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What climbing plants work on a pergola in North County San Diego, and will they damage the wood?
Our climate grows vines enthusiastically, which is both the appeal and the problem. Star jasmine, bower vine, Lady Banks rose and grape are manageable choices…
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My house was built before 1978. What do I need to know about lead paint before refinishing wood?
Assume any painted wood on a pre-1978 home may contain lead until it is tested. Sanding, scraping or heat-stripping lead paint creates dust that is hazardous…
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Why does sealing end grain and cut ends matter so much for outdoor wood?
End grain is where wood drinks. A board absorbs and releases water through its cut ends many times faster than through its faces, so ends swell, shrink, check…
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My fence post rotted off at the ground. Do I have to replace the whole post?
Not always. If the post is sound above the rot and the fence panels are in good shape, a steel post repair bracket or a treated sister post set in the footing…
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What stain color and sheen work best for wood on a stucco house?
Warm medium tones work best against stucco: honey, cedar, chestnut and walnut browns pick up the warmth in most stucco colors and hide dust between cleanings…
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Which way should deck boards run, and what is picture framing?
Deck boards usually run parallel to the house, so the lines lead the eye along the deck and the joists can run straight out from the ledger. Running boards…
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Can I add shade cloth, slats or a canopy to my pergola for more shade?
Yes, and it is the most common upgrade we make to an existing pergola. The lightest touch is a second layer of slats or purlins across the rafters, which…
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How should I prepare my yard before a deck or pergola project starts?
Clear the work area and the path to it: move furniture, planters, grills and anything fragile, trim plants that overhang the footprint, and agree with your…
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Will a pergola hold up to Santa Ana winds and the marine layer in Carlsbad?
Yes, if it is built as a structure rather than assembled as a kit. Santa Ana winds arrive from the east and northeast in fall and winter and gust hard, so a…
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How do I know if my deck ledger board is rotting, and how is it fixed?
Look at the joint between the deck and the house. Water stains or peeling paint on the wall below the ledger, a gap opening between the ledger and the wall…
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When is refinishing exterior wood not worth it?
Refinishing is not worth it when the wood underneath has failed. Soft spots from rot, splits that go through the board, fasteners that no longer hold, members…
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How often should I clean, seal or stain my deck in Carlsbad?
Wash every deck once or twice a year with a soft brush and mild cleaner. For wood decks in our sun, a penetrating oil finish typically needs a fresh coat every…
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When is the best time of year to build a deck or pergola in San Diego?
San Diego lets you build outdoors almost year round, so the best time is driven by scheduling rather than weather. Footings and framing go most smoothly from…
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How do I know if my second-story balcony or elevated walkway is safe?
Check from below and from above. Warning signs are soft or stained joist ends, a railing that moves when pushed, sagging or a change in slope, rusted hangers…
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How do I keep water and moisture from rotting the underside of my deck?
Give water a way out and air a way in. Slope the ground under the deck away from the house, keep soil and mulch off every post and joist, cap the joist tops so…
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What is the best finish for a wood pergola: stain, paint or oil?
For most pergolas we recommend a pigmented penetrating stain. The pigment blocks the sun that grays wood and breaks down finishes, the oil soaks in rather than…
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My wood fence has gone gray. Can it be refinished, or does it need replacing?
A gray fence can usually be refinished if the posts are solid. Gray is just weathered surface; posts rotted at the ground line are the real end of a fence…
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What should I consider about my HOA and neighbors before building a deck, pergola or fence?
Check your HOA's architectural guidelines before designing anything, because many North County associations regulate height, color, materials and visibility…
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Why did my balcony rot where it meets the house, and what is flashing?
Flashing is the metal or membrane that directs water away from the joint between a balcony or deck and the wall. Without it, every rain runs down the wall…
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Can composite decking be refinished or stained?
Modern capped composite decking cannot be refinished or stained. The outer shell is a plastic layer that nothing bonds to reliably, and sanding it off destroys…
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How high does a deck railing need to be in California, and what are the stair rules?
Under the California Residential Code a guard is required where a deck surface is more than 30 inches above grade, and California's amendment sets the minimum…
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Do pergola posts need concrete footings if I am building on dirt or lawn?
Yes. A freestanding pergola on soil needs a poured concrete footing under each post. The footing spreads the weight, keeps the frame from settling unevenly…
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What should a good deck or pergola proposal include?
A good proposal describes exactly what will be built and how. It should name the dimensions and layout, the species and grade of every visible material, the…
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How do you anchor pergola posts to an existing concrete patio slab?
Use a standoff post base, a galvanized or stainless bracket that lifts the post about an inch off the concrete, anchored with expansion or adhesive anchors set…
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How do you fix a deck or porch post that is rotting at the bottom?
The post is cut back above the rot to sound wood, the roof or deck it carries is shored, and the post is re-set on a standoff base or a masonry pedestal that…
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