A deck that blends old and new

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/10/2016 (3572 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When I was a kid, I likely spent as many hours with Lego as I did playing my first guitar. Both stimulated the mind, fuelled my passion and sparked a deep-seeded desire to create. Although the boxed Lego kits of today may look cool, my childhood memories are those of a big pillow case, filled with the most basic of Lego blocks. One truly had to make something from nothing, using only your imagination. It wasn’t long before I’d incorporate battery-operated motors and lights, trying to outdo myself with each Lego creation. I was hooked and I’ve been building things ever since.

I’m honoured to have the opportunity to share with you some of my construction and design experiences. With this new column we will delve together into the art of renovating. I’ll write about various projects I’ve encountered, building tips, tools of the trade, techniques, decor ideas, as well as the latest trends.

I wasn’t sure how to begin this literary adventure — so I decided to look back on a recent deck build that for me seems to embody the romance behind the creative and design process. It is a tale of repurpose and reuse; a blending of old and new.

I’ve lived on an acreage south of Winnipeg since 2003. The house I bought was a fixer-upper, but it’s potential was immediately apparent. More than a decade later, the seemingly endless renovations continue on my spare time, when I’m not out renovating for someone else.

Last fall neighbours of mine, Brigitte and Emile Morin, had voiced a desire to replace their old deck. So, come spring, I met with them and sketched out an initial deck design. Midway through the meeting, Emile commented that, “we should use that wrought iron railing we saved.” Brigitte’s face lit up. She had forgotten about the wrought iron railing, and I had as well. As we walked outside to inspect the railings I couldn’t help but recall how excited Emile had been, so many years ago, to salvage this wrought iron for Brigitte.

I first met Emile shortly after moving onto my property. We quickly became friends. Once Emile learned I was removing the old wrought iron railing on my balcony to make way for new top decking and railings that would match my front porch, he suggested that if I had no use for the wrought iron, his wife Brigitte would love to salvage it — she adores everything antique.

With salvage in mind I cut the wrought iron railing into manageable sections. Emile loaded up his pickup and ventured home. The railing was stacked by a shed close to their house, where it remained in hibernation for nearly 13 years — until that fateful day when Emile brought it up during the deck design meeting. Inspired, I raced home and sketched out a revised version of the design, incorporating the old wrought iron railing.

It would be a May long weekend build, the first deck project of the year. And in order to stay on schedule, Emile and Brigitte were assigned a few tasks. After choosing the best of the wrought iron sections, Emile would precisely cut the railing into the required lengths based on the deck plans and Brigitte would spray paint them black to match the metal balusters, which were the other elements of the railing introduced into the redesign.

By late Sunday afternoon, the deck was done and we had successfully merged old and new.

This is one of my favourite projects to date. I marvel at the deck’s majesty and its simplicity, which for me symbolizes a harmonious balance between old and new. The integration of wrought iron inserts into the design makes this deck extremely distinct  — a testament to the benefits of repurposing and reuse.

I’m really glad it dawned on Emile during our design meeting to mention that old wrought iron railing we salvaged for Brigitte so many years back — they now have an amazing deck and a nice story to tell. 

I wish them many years of enjoyment.

bossenterprise@outlook.com