I Built a Wooden Deck. Bathtub Included.

This summer has been quite busy. Before August, before something that I still don’t want to discuss happened, my dad and I prepared the interior framework for a wooden deck. We have plenty of space but almost none level enough for a table to be steady. Also, the summer sun is incredibly hot, and we are lucky to have a huge linden tree that we can use to provide some shade. When we moved into this new house, we found plenty of old wooden beams because the ex-owner was a carpenter. This was a good use for some of those longer beams; I thought it was a shame to cut them.

We prepared a first frame by cutting short pieces of beams and planting them in the ground with a mallet. I added some cement at the base to avoid direct contact with the soil, which would surely make the wood rot faster. Then we added the horizontal beams of the perimeter with long lag bolts, of course keeping an eye on their level. Knowing the length of the covering boards, we used the bolts to put in place perpendicular beams where the boards will be secured with screws. Then a video on the socials suggested I put a landscape fabric down to avoid the growth of unwanted weeds. The terrain would get very little sunlight, but honestly it was a good idea. So that was the result so far.¹

I added a landscape fabric to avoid weeds

I used old rusty nails found in the beams with these plastic washers, usually used for wood carpentry.

Then my girlfriend had an idea: why don’t we put a bathtub there too? It would be nice to incorporate it into the structure, to literally sit down there. Of course, at first I got angry because we just started working without calculating it. But… as always goes…

We were extremely lucky to find a tub that fit between two beams! I made a couple of cuts and adjustments so the tub could have proper support on all sides. I also had to dig a few centimeters to get the right position. Finally, I spent much more than I expected on the drain, for which I had to make do with very different parts: in the end I wanted a classic outdoor faucet to be able to water the plants, and my nonexistent experience in hydraulics did not help! But eventually, l’abbiamo portata a casa.

There it is, the tub in position with two new beams. On the right, you can see where I had to cut another.

The drain, surely in the worst way it could be put.

In the photos, you can see many bricks placed under the beams. They’re there to support the weight when walking on the boards. I tried to use the leftover material from the renovation, and I still have dozens of these. I did my best to place them in a durable way, tightly wedged without curving the wood. I made some tests, and I think they might hold up even if the terrain inevitably moves. Where the bricks weren’t good enough, I cut pieces of a large round beam as shims, always held with bolts.

Then, finally, it was time to cover the whole thing with boards. These were cut out, one by one, from larger pieces used on large trucks to transport heavy loads. They were blocks placed under the cargo. We cut three-centimeter boards, unfortunately quite short, and I fixed them with six screws each. Before starting, my father and I thought that an additional beam in the middle would be an excellent idea, so I added some and then started making holes and fixing screws. I used tons of them! Ah, all the wood was first varnished with penetrating finish.

Then it was time to build a cover for the bathtub to prevent a gazillion leaves and seeds from falling in. I took some beadboards, glued them together, and added three five-centimeter joists as a border. I put a fourth one where the hinges would be and painted everything. Finally I joined everything with some screws. It still needs a handle -we have to find the right one- but it looks nice!

As the last step, I cut out the borders of the patio leaving about one centimeter from the perimeter beams using the circular saw. And voilà! I’d never have thought to do something like this mostly on my own, and I was honestly surprised by myself. I am usually modest, but this time I can say bravo to me! 👏