When I’m on a deck or porch site, the way I usually figure out that a scraggly bush needs to be limbed or removed isn’t by observation and planning. That’d be too smart.
Check out more from Mark & Theresa in Professional Deck Builder.
Related Posts
81/4-Inch Saw Speeds Up Production
I learned deck building from a production deck builder. While he could build decks quickly, he could have been even faster if he’d used more…
25 Feb 2011
All About Fences
Three Fences Designing, detailing, and installing fences for looks, quality, and production speed Mark Clement If I said I didn’t like building fences, I’d be…
19 Feb 2011
Designing a Pergola From the Ground Up
I’ve heard people call a pergola anything from an arbor, a colonnade, or a trellis to “one of those garden things.” But regardless of what…
14 Feb 2009
Versatility and Accuracy in One Package!
For porches – think beaded ceiling material and crown – a miter saw is a must. I use a DeWalt DW718. DeWalt nailed this tool:…
28 May 2008
Sub compact Loader: Deck Builder’s Dirty Work
The first sub compact loader I ever used arrived by accident. I’d ordered a full-sized skid steer from the rental yard, but instead the delivery…
04 Jun 2009
Check Out Mark’s ‘Miter Saw Workstation’ Featured in Professional Deck Builder
Miter-saw set-ups can range from just a couple of sawhorses and a truck bed to something so nitpickingly complicated that I would break it in…
19 Mar 2013
Mark shares his work glove criteria with Professional Deck Builder
I have specific criteria for work gloves. First, the gloves have to fit, meaning that when I’m wearing them, the answer to the following questions…
16 Apr 2013
Tool Kit: Lightweight Hammer
Today, of course, our hammers hang from our belts, and we drive most of our nails with pneumatic tools, so who cares if there is…
25 Oct 2011
How To: Time-Saving Deck Guardrails
No matter how you slice it, installing effective, good-looking guardrails takes time. Cutting, plumbing, shimming, and fastening the numerous individual parts is not full-speed, turbo-charged…
03 Aug 2008
Manage Small Parts and Fasteners
It’s been said that the Romans were able to conquer the known world because they were organized. I don’t know if that’s true, but I…
28 Aug 2010
Lightweight Hammer
If you’re old enough, you remember nailing off decks with fistfuls of hot-dipped-galvanized sixteens. Your bags were loaded with pounds of nails, and your hammer…
01 Oct 2011
What is the best way to remove a steel railing from a concrete stoop?
Hey Mark— I have a steel railing I need to remove from my front stoop. Problem is that the posts are set in the concrete. My…
05 May 2010
Tool Review: Bostitch LPF33PT Framing Nailer
TOOL KIT Light and Compact Framing Nailer By Mark Clement Stanley-Bostitch 800/556-6696 bostitch.com Street price: $250 As dependable as screws are for decking, about the…
06 Jan 2013
Making the Switch From a PC to a Mac
Like most small-business people, I’ve used personal computers (PCs) to manage my business. My wife, who runs the office, has also used PCs. Plus, I…
19 Feb 2011
Under-Deck Drainage Systems
Building a deck creates two distinct spaces. Topside, gleaming deck boards and guardrails invite customers to enjoy the outdoors. But if a deck is far…
03 Nov 2008
