We need to cut off old, rotten deck joists flush to the side of the house. How?

[OnionPatch]

We're repainting the house so it's time to replace that deck but it was built on joists that extend out from the actual interior of the house, not attached to a ledger. The ends of the deck joists are rotten but not the parts of them against the wall of the house, so we'd like to cut them off flush and bolt a ledger for a new deck to the ends. We have quite a few saws here in our workshop, but nothing that can cut along a flat surface like that. The hubbie is thinking there may be no such thing. Is that true? I keep wishing (perhaps futility) that there was some specialized saw we could rent somewhere that will saw these off flush like the red line I drew on the pic. If we can't do that, then how do we attach a ledger? The joists start to be rotton in places about halfway out, so we don't want to use them.

We kind of need a replacement deck here or we're going to have a big, sliding glass door to nowhere.

Advice, anyone? (PS Excuse me if I'm not using the correct terminology, I'm pretty new to this kind of thing.)

[NYC_SKP]

1. So those joists coming out go back into the house?

And it looks like there's blocking in between?

And you want to cut along the red line and remove everything to the left of the line, the painted part, entirely?

I'm thinking that a chain saw would have the reach and even be able to get flush to the ledger, or very nearly flush to it.

Tough puzzle!

[OnionPatch]

8. Yes. The joists are extensions of the under flooring in the house.

I don't know the term but yes, those joists go clear through the house.

[ret5hd]

2. This is the tool for the job:

http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com/Milwaukee-Sawzall.html

You can buy a large variety and lengths of blades:


I would REALLY recommend against a chain saw.

[Warpy]

3. Same here, a chainsaw would be like swatting a mosquito with a Buick

It makes a hell of a mess and most of the time it doesn't get the mosquito.

A long Sawzall blade will do the job. If you don't want to own the tool, you can usually rent it. Just get your own blade.

[ret5hd]

5. If you don't want to own it!?!?!?!?

Who the heck wouldn't want to own THAT???

[X_Digger]

6. Exactly.. "Projects" are just excuses to get a new tool. ;) n/t

[OnionPatch]

9. Lol!

I'm sure that will be the way my husband thinks about this. The price wasn't bad at the link I saw at Amazon. I wonder what it would cost to rent, though.

[Warpy]

12. Those of us who live in tiny places and have no garage, attic or basement,

that's who.

[ret5hd]

13. I am so sorry that my feeble and pathetic attempt at humor...

made you or anyone else feel stigmatized or ridiculed. Please accept my sincere apologies and thank you for reminding me that even tho I think a remark may be funny and/or even silly, I must first stop and ask myself if there is any conceivable way that my remark may be hurtful and even if I believe the answer is "no" to just go ahead and confine myself to simple factual statements, preferably short declaratory sentences or even "yes" or "no" answers.

[Warpy]

14. Needless to say

I've lusted after a Sawzall for many years. Along with a table saw.

[X_Digger]

4. Agreed- a long blade is flexible enough to get the job done. n/t

[OnionPatch]

7. Oh, so that's a sawzall!

He had mentioned that. He also thought about a chain saw.....but just for a minute. We considered a lot of things. Even tried with a hand saw but that would take forever.

[OnionPatch]

10. Ok, I'm going to suggest we buy or rent a sawzall.

Thanks so much for all the quick responses! I'll post some before and after pics when we're done.

[NYC_SKP]

11. Buy or borrow one. Of course, a good sharp handsaw would work as well.

And you'd get a great workout!

If you use a Sawzall, buy the longest blade you can get, it should bend to make a nearly flush cut, as indicated above in another reply.

If that doesn't work... chain saw!

Seriously, if the ends are going to be covered up any skilled person with a sharp blade can make a pretty neat cut.

[OnionPatch]

18. At our age, we need power tools.

I'd like to get this job done sometime in this decade, lol.

[NMDemDist2]

15. hubby has one of these

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-2-5-Amp-Oscillating-MultiTool-Kit-MX25EC-21/202564945#.UjzhM9KsiSo

[X_Digger]

16. If it were just one, that'd probably be my go-to tool as well.

I have this one- http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/porter-cable/porter-cable-3-amp-corded-oscillating-multi-tool-kit-with-31-accessories?CAWELAID=1802700173&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CLTrsJnO27kCFcbm7AodUgUASg

It cuts nice and flush, but it's not very fast, and I'd expect to have to go through a few blades with that many to cut.

[OnionPatch]

17. That one looks nice.

I think Mr. Onion decided on a DeWalt because he already has several tools of that line and the batteries will be interchangeable. http://www.cpopowertools.com/dewalt-dc385b-18v-cordless-xrp-1-1-8-in-reciprocating-saw--tool-only-/dewndc385b,default,pd.html?ref=nextag&zmam=31282435&zmas=47&zmac=164&zmap=dewndc385b

Unbelievable, the cost of the batteries! I hope the blades aren't too expensive. Sounds like you think we may go through a few?

BTW, construction starts today! I'm so excited!

[X_Digger]

19. Well, they cut like butter at first, but as they dull, cutting speed slows.

When you start seeing more smoke than cut, you know your blade is dull.

Be sure to post pics!

[OnionPatch]

20. Oooo, I like that!

That's exactly the type of tool I was envisioning. Hmmm....I'll have to show this to the old man.

[NMDemDist2]

21. hope it worked for you

[OnionPatch]

22. I showed it to him and now he's changed his mind.

He wants one of those now. He's heading down to get one this afternoon.

I knew he would like it. I just hope we can find other uses for it. It's not cheap. We have a lot of remodeling to do around here, though, so I bet we'll find plenty of uses for it. It looks like it can scrape paint and we have a whole house to paint.

It had rave customer reviews on the places we checked online. Everyone says it's a very useful tool and loved it. Thanks for the recommendation!

[NMDemDist2]

23. believe me you'll find uses for it

we sure have!

let me know how it works

[Hassin Bin Sober]

24. If you are doing ANY remodeling you WILL find a use for it.

I use mine on almost every project.

I just used mine to cut some baseboard in place to install a cabinet for a client. Without the tool, I would have had to remove the baseboard, cut it, re-install and do repairs to the caulking and paint. I was able to draw a line with a square and do a bit of "surgery" and remove the board off the wall. (of course, I nicked the baseboard with the cabinet anyway. DOH! cheap MDF trim in a brand new million dollar home)

I've used my multi-tool from everything to cut outlet boxes in kitchen cabinet islands, to drywall repairs to flooring repairs to grout removal.

There is a German company by the name of Fein (sp?) that had the patent on the multi-tool design. Fein is an old tool manufacturer that had one of the original patents on the power drill, IIRC. Anywhoo, Fein's patent ran out a few years ago and that's when you saw the explosion of the "multi-tool". Everyone started making the tools from Dremel to Dewalt to Rigid etc. Before then, the only game in town was the Fein tool for $300-400 bucks and up.

The new multi-tools all seem to cost about $99 bucks for the corded version. PS: I would only buy the corded version - my brother and I were having this discussion the other day about how the only tools we need to be cordless are drills (even though we still need cords on our bigger masonry etc. drills). But that's our opinion. It seems to me, that using tools like a sawzall or multi-tool for cutting anything of any thickness like joists or studs would require batteries to recharge faster than you could recharge them - But we do work in older Chicago homes with solid old lumber that sometimes feels (and cuts) like oak. There IS something to be said about not tipping over cords or "shooting blanks" when you go to make a cut and your tool is unplugged.

The blades for all the multi-tools are ridiculously expensive. I knew of a guy making knock-off blades for the Fein tool out of cheap Home Depot saws he would buy for 5 bucks and cut in to strips and punch holes for the mounting washers.

[JudyM]

25. I have the same issue but want to just remove the rotted joists, not replace the whole deck

About half of the joists are still fine. The ones that are rotted have boards sistered to them. I can't shoulder the expense of a new deck but want to fix the rotted ones. Had a few contractors out, they just wanted to replace rather than repair.

[OnionPatch]

26. Unless the wood is rotting or seriously warping or splitting

I don't know why it couldn't just be fixed. They probably don't want to bother with a small job, especially if they're used to doing major renovations. Hopefully you can find a smaller outfit or individual who's willing to take that kind of job.

Our deck was beyond repair and had to be completely replaced. We decided we'd to do it ourselves to save money. My husband is a fairly skilled carpenter and I know the basics, so I can help. Our problem is finding the time to work on it! We only have weekends, and there are tons of other chores that need to be done on the weekends but we're slowly making progress. We used the multitool that was mentioned up thread to cut off the old joists and it worked really well. Hubby was able to get a nice, flush cut with it.

[JudyM]

29. Yeah, the multitool is great. I was using mine today to create a cedar plug

to fill in a 2x3" hole left by woodpeckers in my cedar carport siding. It's fun to use.

[lumberjack_jeff]

27. Again, sawzall to the rescue.

If removing the nails/screws that hold the deck to the joists is impractical, a sawzall with a bimetal blade can be used to cut between the joint, severing all the fasteners.

Use pressure treated lumber for the joists.

That said, if half the joists in a deck are known bad, I'd remove the old deck boards and rebuild the substructure.

[JudyM]

28. good to know about that use of a sawzall.

and yeah, might have to pull them all up but i just really am trying to keep the cost of the project down.

[Hula Popper]

30. Hello

I would recommend renting a flush cut flooring saw. They are typically used installing flooring. They can rest on floors and cut jambs or door bottoms off. You would use vertically while resting against house.
Rent instead of buying, but purchase an blade that will cut nails.....
good luck