A Touch of Dutch

Orlando Deck V

2009-12-15T15:41:00.001-08:00

The trim for the posts is cut with this router bit. The trim on the top of the post is 8" tall and the trim on the bottom is 6".

The center of each post has a pressure treated 4x4" beam in the center that has the water line for a mister, a 12 volt line for the low voltage light, and a 110 volt wire for the outlet that will be on the top. The hole in the post is for the eye bolt that will hold the sail in place.

This is the cedar that will wrap around the center post.

The pieces of cedar are glued together and reinforced with biscuits. This machine is a biscuit cutter that will make the half round cut in each piece of wood.

This is the biscuit in one side of the wood. Glue will be applied to the biscuit and the wood that is joined. This makes for a very strong joint.

The fluting for the posts is cut into this piece of wood. I am using a 1/2 inch core bit and a jig that wil cut the flutes in a straight line.

Orlando Deck IV

2009-11-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

This is the location of the deck. The spa is already installed, and ready for use.

The sod is removed and the area is ready for framing. I will be using pressure treated 2x6" boards for the framing.

This is my supervisor on the job, Bilioux.

This is a better look at the spa. It is 8 x 14', and almost 4 feet tall.

Orlando Deck III

2009-11-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

This is a new version of the layout of the deck. The spa is made by www.swimspamanufacturers.com.

I changed the blade on my bandsaw to a resaw blade, and set it up to cut some 2x6's and 2x8's in half for the trim around the posts.

This is the same scrap of wood cut in half... I will plane the wood to clean it up and I will end up with some 1x6" and 1x8" boards that I will rout and use as trim.

This is a sample of what the trim will look like. It will go around the five posts, on the top is the 8" trim and on the bottom the 6" trim.

This is a sample of the edge of the deck, there will be a 2x6 around the deck, and the decking will overhang by a bit. The edge wil have the decorative 'ogee' edge.

This is the detail work for the posts. The fluting will be cut in all 4 sides of the posts. The posts will be made up of a pressure treated 4x4 that will be cemented in to the ground for strength. (the posts will eventually hold a shade sail over the deck) The 2x6 cedar boards encase the post.

Orlando Deck II

2009-11-04T17:40:00.000-08:00

Anyone seen my workbench? I have unloaded the Red Cedar from my trailer in to my workshop. The smell of Cedar is so nice, I love it. I have to run all of these boards through my planer, and sand them all down. I will round over the edges of each board, and transport them to the site for installation.

Orlando Deck

2009-10-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

A client has purchased a large spa (8x14') and over the last few weeks we have designed a deck that will complement the cedar spa and their house. The foundation will be made out of pressure treated wood, but the decking will be red cedar. I am using 2x4's and 2x6's and alternate them to get a very different looking visual affect. The drawing will show the layout of the deck and the placement of the spa, and the layout of the decking boards. Site photo's will follow, as I get this project started...

Oakland Pergola IV

2009-07-29T13:15:00.001-07:00

The delivery and installation of the Pergola went well.

I set it up on sawhorses, and slowly raised it in place. Then attached it to the wall, and installed the two front posts in a concrete footer.

Here is a before view of the house,

...and this is the house with the Pergola installed. A great place to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning!

Oakland Pergola III

2009-07-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

After much sanding the pieces are ready for assembly. The black squares make sure that the pieces are perfectly square when they are attached.

The cross members are attached. The screw holes will be filled in with a matching Red Cedar plug that I cut out of a scrap piece of wood.

Here is a view of the Pergola after all of the pieces are assembled. The far side by the truck will be attached to the house, and the closest part to the camera will be supported by two 4x4" posts.

The Pergola is completely stained with a clear Australian Timber Oil, to protect the wood and give it the natural look. The small slats need to be installed across the top, to give the desired shade effect, and then the Pergola can be installed!

Oakland Pergola II

2009-07-12T06:49:00.000-07:00

All the wood for this project is planed and cut to length. You can notice the difference between the rough wood and the smooth planed wood. It also shows the grain of the wood a whole lot better.

The ends of the rafters are cut, using a template to get even results. All other pieces for this Pergola are cut and just need to be sanded before assembly can start.

Oakland Pergola

2009-06-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

I am starting a new project, this time in Oakland again. I am going to build a Pergola in front of a house, covering a small patio. The Pergola will be approximately be 10 x 12 feet, and will be constructed of Red Cedar. The challenge this time is the limited space over the window, and I don't want to cover any of the window either. But I have the perfect solution. As usual, I woke up in the middle of the night, and it all came to me...

Trellis and Bench V

2009-02-28T12:51:00.001-08:00

Today I installed the Trellis and Bench in the Ocala Forest. The structure here is the foundation for the trellis. I will dig holes and lower it in to the ground. Than it will be leveled and concrete will get poured at each post.

The trellis is mounted to the foundation and the project is complete.

House Number II

2009-02-24T18:52:00.001-08:00

The house number after it was installed.

It matches the Pagoda and looks great with the paint color of the house. Contact me if you want to know where to get the tiles, and I know someone who can make a nice frame for them...

Trellis and Bench IV

2009-02-19T16:35:00.001-08:00

The bench is completely cut and assembled here.

And here it is stained and it sits in the completed Trellis. Just some more staining and this project is complete.

House Number

2009-02-19T15:47:00.001-08:00

I had a client who bought house number tiles. Very nice, but not easy to hang on the wall. The idea was to create a frame that would hold all of them, and match the Pagoda that was installed before. (see posts on Pagoda) So I created this frame, and will hang it on the outside wall.

Trellis and Bench III

2009-02-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

I planed some rough boards down to 5/8 and ripped them down to 1.5 inches, to make the lattice for the sides and back of the Trellis.

Almost completed with the installation of the lattice.

Trellis and Bench II

2009-01-31T12:03:00.001-08:00

I started cutting the pieces for the Trellis...

...and assembling them.

Trellis and Bench

2009-01-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

The next project that I will be working on, is a Trellis and a Bench, for the clients in the Ocala Forest. The Trellis will match the Arbor that I have build them earlier. The materials are going to be the same as well, pressure treated wood with a Mahogany Australian Timber Oil finish.

Pagoda X

2008-12-30T16:38:00.001-08:00

Today I installed the second Pagoda. I used my hoist this time, to lift the Pagoda in to the tight area and slide it in to place.

As you can see, the Pagoda fits nicely around the window.

And this is the completed second Pagoda.

This is a before,

...and some after images.

Pagoda IX

2008-12-28T05:33:00.000-08:00

Over the last few days I have been working on the second Pagoda. I have not posted any details, it is the same as the large Pagoda. The challenge this time is however the confined space that the Pagoda will be installed in.

This is the top of the Pagoda, as it will be installed...

..and on the back is the opening to go around the window.

And as usual, I had my little helper with me in the work shop, building on her own project.

Pagoda VIII

2008-12-23T05:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I arrived at the house, and backed the trailer in place.

I positioned the Pagoda where it had to be, and slowly backed up to the wall.

Slowly but surely I raised the Pagoda up to its final height. (don't try this at home...) This took hours, inch by inch.

But here it is, in place, bolted to the wall and stained. Now it is back to the shop to finish the second Pagoda.

Pagoda VII

2008-12-21T05:05:00.001-08:00

The arch is attached to the top,

and the top rails are installed, completing the assembly of the first Pagoda.

The Pagoda is ready to be transported to the site and installed over the garage door.

Pagoda VI

2008-12-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

Things are taking shape! I finished sanding the smaller pieces today, and assembled them. The top is almost complete, minus the three 1x2 strips that go over the very top. I am sanding the arches some more, and they will be added tomorrow. I am shooting for a Monday installation!!!

Pagoda V

2008-12-19T04:42:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I continued to work on the long beams, and I cut, shaped and notched the short pieces that go over the long beams. I have a total of 17 for this Pagoda. Today I will be sanding them, and than I can start the assembly process.

Pagoda IV

2008-12-17T15:57:00.000-08:00

Today I have cut, shaped and assembled the two long beams for the Pagoda that will go over the double garage door. The total length of the pagoda is 21'10". So I had to joint two pieces. Since the front beam is very visible, and has a seam in the center, I thought that it would look better if I add an architectural detail. So I am adding a bow tie. Used in furniture making to add strength to a joint, here it will only be a quarter of an inch thick and strictly for decoration. The real strength of the joint comes from the 12" half lap joint.

I start by slicing a 1/4 inch piece of wood off of a scrap piece, with my band saw.

I than cut out a bow tie.

I also cut out a bow tie out of the beam...

...and lay the 1/4 inch piece inside. Tomorrow I will sand it flush, and that is it!

Lion Fountain

2008-12-16T16:18:00.001-08:00

Today I installed this custom carved Lion Fountain for a customer in Lake Mary.

I had to use my hoist to get the pieces assembled. The center piece with the four lions is at least 450 pounds!

There are holes in the mouth, as well as a bubble on top of the fountain. I had to make a splitter that fit inside the shaft of the lion piece to feed all four of the lion heads, as well as the top.

But the result is a nice fountain with a lot of splash!!!

Pagoda III

2008-12-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Today I continued working on the support arches. As the pieces are glued up, I have some time to work on the blocks that will support the arch to the wall.

This is the block that with the inside screw holes will be attached to the arch, and with the outside holes to the wall. This will be clearer in a later photo when the assembly is complete.

I cut some plugs out of a same color scrap piece of wood, to cover the screw hole after the
block is attached to the wall. This will cover the hole, and make the screw almost invisible.
The plug will be glued in place, cut off and sanded.

I had my little helper outside with me today, who made good use of my scraps. It is a Pony castle...

Pagoda II

2008-12-12T04:42:00.000-08:00

I bought the wood needed to create the Pagoda. I choose Red Cedar for the look and durability.

For the support arches I have to double up 2x8" stock to get the approximately 4x4 inch arch.

Here I use my (new) band saw to cut the shape of the arch.

The rough cut pieces are connected with screws using pocket holes and a water proof wood glue, and than I attach a template to the top. I use a router to cut out the exact shape of the arch.

This is the arch when it is completed. Now I just have 3 more to make...

Pagoda

2008-11-17T07:07:00.000-08:00

Hi,
I will be working on a new project. This time I will be building a Pagoda for a house in Winter Garden, that recently went through a transformation. The entrance side of the house received a face lift, with the addition of a natural stone facade.

The front porch was also enlarged, and the 'void' in the roof will be the area where I will be installing one of the Pagoda's.

The other Pagoda will be installed in front of the garage door, to add a nice architectural element, and to soften the look of the large 'double wide' garage door. The idea was inspired from the following photo:
The actual garage has the same natural stone added, which will look very good with the natural look of the Red Cedar that we will be using for the wood work. We will use a natural Australian Timber Oil, which will not change the color of the redwood, but preserve it and keep it from turning gray.

The following drawing is a detail of the Pagoda as I will build it.

Arbor VIII

2008-09-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

And the job is done...

Rose Arbor VII

2008-09-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

This is a view of the house before the fence is in place...

...and here is the fence and arbor completely installed, minus the Australian Timber Oil.

Rose Arbor VI

2008-09-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

I'm putting the finishing touches on the pickets

The Arbor and fence materials arrive at the site for installation

This is the Arbor once it is installed

And here I am building the fence

Rose Arbor V

2008-08-27T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the final product, ready to be shipped to the site. There I will install the Arbor in a concrete footing, and add the fence. The arbor is stained with a Mahogany Australian Timber Oil. It gives the wood that rich color, as well as protect it from the elements.

Rose Arbor IV

2008-08-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Despite the heavy rains that Fey has been bringing us, I was able to work on the trim today. I started with a 2x4, and ripped it in to strips of 1 1/4" wide. I than used my router to cut the profile.

This is what the rough cut molding looks like.

And here on the arbor.

Rose Arbor III

2008-08-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

As I was working on sanding the door, I thought that it would look better to add these strips of wood to hide the joints of the boards. So I cut thin strips out of a 2x4. The boards are floating, to allow for expansion as weather changes, without warping the door.

We have many caterpillars on our Passion Flower, and hanging under the gable of our house are many cocoons . And I noticed this morning a cocoon hanging on the arbor.

Rose Arbor II

2008-08-09T16:42:00.001-07:00

Today I set the arbor up, so that I could hang the door.

I had to use a jack to slowly lift it up.

This is the door installed.

And the side panels were installed.

Rose Arbor I

2008-08-07T15:25:00.000-07:00

This custom designed Rose Arbor and Fence was part of a Landscape Design for a property in the Ocala National Forest. The Design was done with all native plant material, and some of the hardscape elements were a fire pit, a brick side walk, a sitting area with a trellis, and this arbor with gate and picket fence that is intended to keep the dogs in a small area of the yard to keep them safe from the "critters in the woods.."

The arbor and gate are constructed of pressure treated wood to ensure endurance, but will be colored with a Mahogany Australian Timber Oil, which wil enhance the color as well as preserve it.

The "frame" of the arbor, as it slowly takes shape.

The gate is almost ready to be installed in the arbor...

My "workshop"