We built new boxes to replace the old, but had Schmeer Sheet Metal build us soldered copper inserts with multiple drains out the bottom. We painted the inside of the copper with a white polyurethane roofing paint to isolate the plants from the copper. This is mostly because some plants are sensitive to copper- that’s why it’s used as an ingredient in wood preservative treatments!

The job started out as a simple decking replacement, but became an object lesson in the importance of flashing and the exterior envelope. The house was originally built with LP siding, and the remediation crew that replace that with cedar and vinyl siding was not careful about integrating flashing into the WRB (weather resistant barrier- this house used Tyvek, but a WRB is any of the moisture barriers placed behind siding, such as felt, Tyvek, Grade D building paper, etc.).

Water damage had destroyed the sheathing and extended into two main support beams inside the house, as well as all 4 beams that supported the deck and all of the framing lumber on the upper deck. The deck joists were regular framing lumber, rather than pressure treated (preferred) or good quality Fir (which can last, if it’s old growth).

The upshot is that, while the Zarlings have a great new deck with some nice upgrades, what started as a $5k job turned into $70k worth of repairs, with us essentially having to rebuild 2 decks and one corner of the house from the foundation 40′ below the upper deck.