Enough of COVID...what are you doing to the house?

[Mad Mike]

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What happened with footings?

I kicked around the thought of a simple roof over the BBQ but got informed, hopefully wrongly, that any raised deck or roof structure needed massive footings and posts.

What happened to a drilled hole, shovel of crushed stone and a concrete filled Sonotube with a 4X4 PT post?

Digging for a 300 X 300 mm footing is a ton more work than a 12" drill and fill.

If it a permanent structure, especially an open sided structure, you need a foundation. You don’t need a traditional footing, all you need is correctly sized denotes set 4’ below grade. Say you used 4 corner posts, 6x6 needs a 10” sonotube 8x8 needs 12” tube. Don’t use 4x4.

Open sided structures are trickier to build safely. Without walls, wind creates incredible uplift and twisting forces on roofs - so good anchoring is important - to the ground and the roof to the frame.

You want a bbq shelter, not a kite.

 

[Mad Mike]

Toronto allows for sheds up to 160 sq.ft without a permit. Sir, that is not a BBQ cover it is a sideless shed.... that I have not done the siding on yet.

Of course sheds need to be a min distance from the house so it may not be where one wants a BBQ cover.

Building something that doesn’t require a building permit does not exempt you from bylaws or building code.

A open sided shed will get more scrutiny from a building inspector.

 

[mimico_polak]

Good timing for all this shed / gazebo talk along with leveling paver area a few pages back.

Got this hot mess at the cottage that is effectively unusable in the heat / rain / any weather besides overcast. There was a tree that gave lots of shade, but that tree split in half so we had to cut it down.



Recommendations to make this nicer? I'm thinking to tear up the stones, add some gravel (it hasn't shifted in 30 years), and then add an additional 3 pavers from another section at the cottage where they're useless.

Once that's done, I'm thinking of building a gazebo above it to allow for use and allowing some shade.

I'm not against putting a wood deck atop this that's currently there.

Next steps...how does one go about extending a deck? Current deck is nice...but a little narrow with all the junk dad built (benches on the edge, large sofa frame, table, etc) that one cannot even get around when there are more than 3 people there. Thinking to add another 2-3ft outwards to still be under the cover. Remove the bench on railing, and then add normal guardrail and some patio furniture to make it more usable for groups larger than 3. Don't have a pic unfortunately.

 

[JC99]

Sojag make great gazebos and BBQ shelters. We have one of each. Bolted down to the deck. Zero issues, very well made. The gazebos are sometimes on sale from Costco, we may have gotten the BBQ shelter online from there too. We had a tornado warning a few days ago and another last night. Nothing shifted, nothing blew away. Solid as a rock.

 

[mimico_polak]

Sojag make great gazebos and BBQ shelters. We have one of each. Bolted down to the deck. Zero issues, very well made. The gazebos are sometimes on sale from Costco, we may have gotten the BBQ shelter online from there too. We had a tornado warning a few days ago and another last night. Nothing shifted, nothing blew away. Solid as a rock.

We have the Yardistry 11x13 at home and really like it. Honestly with the price of wood...may be cheaper to buy a ready made one instead of building one.

However, they thin aluminum roof of the Yardistry concerns me for Wasaga winters as snow load can get up there pretty quickly if not maintained and kept in check.

 

[Gary]

Good timing for all this shed / gazebo talk along with leveling paver area a few pages back.

Got this hot mess at the cottage that is effectively unusable in the heat / rain / any weather besides overcast. There was a tree that gave lots of shade, but that tree split in half so we had to cut it down.

View attachment 79316

Recommendations to make this nicer? I'm thinking to tear up the stones, add some gravel (it hasn't shifted in 30 years), and then add an additional 3 pavers from another section at the cottage where they're useless.

Once that's done, I'm thinking of building a gazebo above it to allow for use and allowing some shade.

I'm not against putting a wood deck atop this that's currently there.

Next steps...how does one go about extending a deck? Current deck is nice...but a little narrow with all the junk dad built (benches on the edge, large sofa frame, table, etc) that one cannot even get around when there are more than 3 people there. Thinking to add another 2-3ft outwards to still be under the cover. Remove the bench on railing, and then add normal guardrail and some patio furniture to make it more usable for groups larger than 3. Don't have a pic unfortunately.

Why not pressure wash it? It's likely mint.

 

[GreyGhost]

Good timing for all this shed / gazebo talk along with leveling paver area a few pages back.

Got this hot mess at the cottage that is effectively unusable in the heat / rain / any weather besides overcast. There was a tree that gave lots of shade, but that tree split in half so we had to cut it down.

View attachment 79316

Recommendations to make this nicer? I'm thinking to tear up the stones, add some gravel (it hasn't shifted in 30 years), and then add an additional 3 pavers from another section at the cottage where they're useless.

Once that's done, I'm thinking of building a gazebo above it to allow for use and allowing some shade.

I'm not against putting a wood deck atop this that's currently there.

Next steps...how does one go about extending a deck? Current deck is nice...but a little narrow with all the junk dad built (benches on the edge, large sofa frame, table, etc) that one cannot even get around when there are more than 3 people there. Thinking to add another 2-3ft outwards to still be under the cover. Remove the bench on railing, and then add normal guardrail and some patio furniture to make it more usable for groups larger than 3. Don't have a pic unfortunately.

If it hasn't shifted in 30 years, why lift it? That seems like a huge make-work project that probably leaves you worse off than you started. If you are adding to size, I would set the new ones properly and match the height of existing.

 

[mimico_polak]

Thanks @Gary and @GreyGhost ... you're both right.

I can just add the last row/column to make it slightly larger and then build up the gazebo / pergola around it.

And if it shifts...well it'll be empty b/w the posts so I can take care of it at that time.

 

[mimico_polak]

Got an initial quote of 4k for trenching for the upgrade to electrical service at the cottage. Thought I was going to puke...

36in trench for approx 120-150ft (need to route around some trees).

Any other recommendations? I can buy a trencher for that price from what I'm seeing online.

Can also rent one from HD for $250/day or so...which may be the route to go.

How hard are these things to operate? I know OneCall must be the first step in this process.

Steps:

1. One Call
2. Trench
3. Lay base in trench
4. Lay conduit in trench + rope in conduit
5. Get inspection by CSA
6. Rest

 

[GreyGhost]

Got an initial quote of 4k for trenching for the upgrade to electrical service at the cottage. Thought I was going to puke...

36in trench for approx 120-150ft (need to route around some trees).

Any other recommendations? I can buy a trencher for that price from what I'm seeing online.

Can also rent one from HD for $250/day or so...which may be the route to go.

How hard are these things to operate? I know OneCall must be the first step in this process.

Steps:

1. One Call
2. Trench
3. Lay base in trench
4. Lay conduit in trench + rope in conduit
5. Get inspection by CSA
6. Rest

In no world would I be buying a trencher if I can rent one for $250.

I think trench needs to be a bunch deeper than 36". I think you need at least 35" of cover above the top of the conduit. 36" trench plus base (probably 3" sand) plus 4" conduit leaves you more than 6" too shallow. Did they tell you the depth required? Are you allowed to use Big O for conduit or do you need to use something much more expensive and labor intensive? Do you need to put a plank above conduit? You probably have to fill half the trench and then install buried wire caution tape and then fill the rest.

 

[mimico_polak]

In no world would I be buying a trencher if I can rent one for $250.

I think trench needs to be a bunch deeper than 36". I think you need at least 35" of cover above the top of the conduit. 36" trench plus base (probably 3" sand) plus 4" conduit leaves you more than 6" too shallow. Did they tell you the depth required? Are you allowed to use Big O for conduit or do you need to use something much more expensive and labor intensive? Do you need to put a plank above conduit? You probably have to fill half the trench and then install buried wire caution tape and then fill the rest.

Requirements:







Maybe I'll throw a GTAM bbq and trench digging party in Wasaga...

 

[JC99]

We have the Yardistry 11x13 at home and really like it. Honestly with the price of wood...may be cheaper to buy a ready made one instead of building one.

However, they thin aluminum roof of the Yardistry concerns me for Wasaga winters as snow load can get up there pretty quickly if not maintained and kept in check.

Not had an issue with Kingston winters but I’m around to move deep snow off it from time to time. If you’re concerned they probably sell a snow load kit for it (basically a central ground supported pole that supports the centre of the roof members). We have that for the gazebo and it works perfectly.

Edit: I think the roof sections are steel as I use strong magnets to hang things on them.

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