Protecting a deck during construction?

[3PedalMINI]

I have built a deck, and due to the distances, etc that deck needs to be finished before siding and trim can go on for ladders. The deck will be out of cedar (I know I know, I hate composit decks) because the yard is all dirt and everything I don’t want that tracking on the deck until I can finish it.

What is the best way to protect the deck? I would prefer not to have to pull up sheets of plywood every time. I preferably would like to get the deck boards installed and lay something overtop if it until I can finish the siding and trim and the construction around the building before finishing the deck with stain!

 

[Wooden Skye]

I'm just throwing something out, but may be way off base, but what if you did 2 layers of roofing felt.  You could staple on the sides of the deck to keep tight and then when doing work with ladders maybe then put down ply if you think it is needed.

 

[3PedalMINI]

Brilliant! I think I’m going to  take that idea and run with it! It’s just me doing the work so i know to be careful with it!

Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I was thinking about ram board but that stuff disentigrates when it gets wet.

Thanks!

 

[Wooden Skye]

[member=17435]3PedalMINI[/member]

Let me know how it works, I get about 1 great idea a year so who better than another Jersey guy to pass it on to.

 

[3PedalMINI]

[member=17435]3PedalMINI[/member]

Let me know how it works, I get about 1 great idea a year so who better than another Jersey guy to pass it on to.

Lol! Will do. Have a bunch left over from the roof! What part of jersey are you from?

 

[RKA]

I would finish the deck how you like and lay out a sacrificial sheet of marine ply when you have tools and materials out (in case you drop something).  But the ladders I would prefer to be planted on the deck boards.  I wouldn’t want anything in between creating a possibility of a slip.  If it’s just you doing the work, odds are you won’t cause damage with the ladder.

 

[Wooden Skye]

[member=17435]3PedalMINI[/member]

Let me know how it works, I get about 1 great idea a year so who better than another Jersey guy to pass it on to.

Lol! Will do. Have a bunch left over from the roof! What part of jersey are you from?

Off Exit 9 of the turnpike in South River.

 

[Brice Burrell]

RKA is right, finish the deck first if you can.  If you decide to go with the felt route, put something under the felt or it might leave "tar" residue behind. 

I've done this same sort of thing a few years ago and I decided to use Tyvek, taped seams, with luan ply on top.  You probably won't want to spend the money on tyvek and the tape so a thick plastic would be a good choice, with a piece or two of ply in the areas that need more protection.   

 

[Naildrivingman]

Regardless of protection or not, finishing now or later, remember that the sun will change the wood’s color characters.  If you protect the surface, you will be well advised to protect the entire surface. If you protect only the work area and that area is exposed to direct sunlight, there is every possibility that a sharp exposure line will be created between the shaded and the exposed area.  Finishing now may minimize this effect, but I can’t say for certain.

 

[Pnw painter]

Cover it with Masonite. It’s pretty cheap and provides some dent resistance if you drop something on it.

Ram board is another option as long as it doesn’t rain.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mikeoutrage]

I would advise if it will take long than a day or two to repair/replace the siding I would lay the plywood on the just the joist and work off of that. Finish the replacement using a piece of the cedar decking as a gauge to set the first piece of siding or j channel off of and then run the rest of the siding. Then after you finish you can install the railings, decking and stain. No color change from fading from partial covering because naildrivingman is right, it will happen.

 

[3PedalMINI]

thanks guys! Its a deck off of my shed overlooking the creek so the slope is very steep. (was very challenging to build the deck) its 6X12. There is no way to work on that side of the shed without decking material. Its tough because I really do not want to bring plywood in and out every time im working on it. There is some extensive trim work that im doing so its not just a normal 2 hour siding job. Coupled with all the rain/scheduling issues I just figured it would be best to just lay the deck boards and cover them some how....

Maybe you guys are right, maybe I should just eat the cost of wasted ply and cover it up with felt to protect it for the time being....in the long run plywood is cheaper then cedar if something gets messed up!

 

[Bob D.]

6x12 is only three sheets of ply. as you pointed out cheaper than replacing cedar decking.
put down a layer of felt and overlay with the ply, securing it against wind. you could fish some
#9 wire through a pair of holes in the ply about 2 inches apart. Then run the wire to the
underside of the cedar deck passing it through the gaps in the decking, then secure on the
underside. No damage to the face side and your walking/working surface is not going to move
or blow away or become a safety hazard.

 

[Koamolly]

If it rains much, it seems like whatever you cover the deck with will allow water to reach the finished deck and possibly stain it.  I like the idea of installing the deck boards where needed and screwing ply to joists until siding is finished.  Then install rest of deck boards.