BlueMountainEagle.com
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
A7
Home & Garden
Decks
Continued from Page A6
“Trex is more expensive,
but it cuts down on main-
tenance,” Averett said, add-
ing that he chose Trex for the
deck at his home in Canyon
City.
An option to a deck is a
ground-level patio made from
paver blocks. Again, the fi rst
step is to design the layout.
Homeowners should check
local building codes and cov-
enants before starting and
check for underground utilities
before digging.
A typical patio installation
has several layers, including
a 6-inch gravel base, a 1-inch
layer of sand, paver blocks and
polymeric/jointing sand to fi ll
the gaps between pavers.
“Patios are more labor
intensive,” Averett said. “But
when they’re fi nished, you
have another great outdoor
living area. It also cuts down
on weeding and adds to the
appearance of the property.”
As with any construction,
stakes, strings, levels and
batter boards can be used to
ensure the layout is square
and level. Patios should slope
gently away from a house for
drainage purposes — about 1
inch per 4 feet.
If landscape lighting or
other utilities are part of the
patio design, they need to be
installed per code after sod is
removed and before gravel and
sand base layers are placed.
Eagle photos/Richard Hanners
Red retaining wall block can add color and texture to an outdoor deck project.
A power compactor can be
rented or a hand tamper can be
used for small areas. A layer
of landscape fabric should be
placed beneath the base layers
to block weed growth. Pavers
and retaining wall blocks can
be cut using a special concrete
blade on a circular saw, but eye
and ear protection is advised.
Patios and decks can be
dressed up with adjoining
landscaping or garden beds,
bird feeders and fountains,
innovative lighting and dec-
orative railings. Then set up
a grill, a dining table and out-
door furniture and invite over
the neighbors or family to
inaugurate the new addition.
A knotty pine panel door adds a rustic fi nish to an outdoor
deck project.
Electric and pneumatic power tools for deck construction at
the Grant County Building Supply in Canyon City.
Every
Drop Counts
With the summer temperatures rising, water
conservation is important. Make sure you
aren’t wasting water with faucets or pipes.
Andy’s Plumbing
& Sports
119323
245 N Canyon City Blvd. | Canyon City
541-575-2144 | Open Mon-Fri 8-4:30
After hours by appointment
Find your
Find spring savings on everything you need
to spruce up your home, inside and out!
120 E. Main Street • John Day • 541-575-0629
M-F 9-6 • Sat 10-4 • Closed Sundays
IF IT’S NOT INSULATED, NEITHER ARE YOU.
REPLACE, NEVER REPAIR DAMAGED EXTENSION CORDS.
Helping members use electricity safely,
that’s the power of your co-op membership.
Learn more at www.otec.coop.
BowTech Equipment
PSE Equipment