Next phase of "mega-deck": installing joists and flooring...

Here are the most recent developments with our ongoing mega-deck project....

Yay, joists - I'm no construction expert, but I imagine they're probably pretty necessary to the integrity of the project...

Skeleton construction phase complete, now on to laying the actual flooring. Dale installed the planking above (pretty nice, eh) and then Eric took over from there.

Look at that, a floor!!

As of right now, our "deck" is a platform, but it's a pretty awesome platform, right?

Next phase of mega-deck involves cutting a hole in the side of our house (eek) and installing a patio door. (We've pretty much become accustomed to just crawling in and out through the kitchen window, but we figure if we ever have any guests, they may appreciate an actual door) Oh, and railings! As much as we enjoy the minimalistic atmosphere (and the constant threat of will I fall 20 feet to my death) of the "platform" we figure railings are probably the way to go to. That and the fact that DFCS probably frowns upon small children running around on a 20' high platform...
Stay tuned to see if the door gets installed or if we end up just using a tarp to cover a gaping hole in the side of our house for the next 5 years....