Sometimes it is time to take out the power tools and fix something.
This time, it was 3 deck boards at my in-law’s house.
I love a good jaunt with power tools, but I have to say I can be a bit snobby about the brand. Specifically, I have a bit of a bias against Ryobi’s. During my time with SBP working on houses in New Orleans, I quickly learned to do whatever was necessary to get my supervisor to stock my site with Dewalt tools for my volunteers. Ryobi cordless drills were clunky and heavy. The batteries never lasted. They were too big for my hand–all things that added to frustrations while installing drywall or framing walls.
All this to say–I was casually reminded of my disapproval for Ryobi when the sawzall gave me this juicy blister. Thanks for designing your tools for man-hands, Ryobi.
Tool brand aside, I still managed to get the job done.
Most of the screws were easily removed with the drill, but a few stubborn screws made the process slightly frustrating. A reciprocating saw (sawzall: favorite tool alert!) made easy work of breaking down the boards enough to get a pry bar between the joists. Rotten boards fall apart pretty quickly! I took a hammer to the screws that were left standing in the joists. By hitting them on the side, I was able to easily break them off.
With the sweaty part over, I cut the new boards to size and installed them. I finished the job with the deck stain, and a beer.
