Norm's World #1

Here's a picture of a deck Norm built a few years ago. Not super special in itself, well with the exception it was the first and only deck Norm has ever built. (Norm's proud of the simple design.) Anyhoo, it's the reason why the deck was built where lie the story. As the homestead is 180+ years old, it rests on a stone foundation. Serious stone folks. This is a time and era prior to quarries and trains.( I will post photos in the future!)

Massive granite blocks, weighing hundreds of pounds, were built to line the dug basements. Horse and man were the assembled teams. These were blocks pulled from the ground. I am sure they shaped them a little, but only with hammer and chisel. But they still got everything square and even. While Norm is dealing with some issues of erosion here and there, the stone foundations of New England have stood the test of time.

But right under this deck sits a massive concrete block. Norm had discovered water was pouring in during bad weather, and when it froze, had begun to crack the rock. The soil had eroded over time and left a crevice. Norm elected to backfill the exposed stone with concrete. Hand mixing close to 100 bags, he filled in the area, and created a great platform for a deck.

And since the deck's frame is bolted into the main beams of the barn, it provides additional structural support. Upon finishing the deck, Norm built a picnic table. It's where he sits and thinks and drinks a cold beer on a hot summer day.