this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2026
19 points (100.0% liked)

Home Improvement

15451 readers
105 users here now

Home Improvement

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Hey guys I am new here but I wanted to ask and get an opinion on this as we aren’t very handy ourselves.

My fiancée and I are finishing a lofted apartment area above a garage. We hired a family friend’s husband as our contractor and so far we haven’t made it far into the process.

He has torn down the old deck and put up a new extended one, which looks okay from what I can tell. However there are a few points on the stairs, especially the bottom step, that have splits in the wood. I am concerned that this may lead to loose boards or repairs needed later on.

Based on my one wood shop class in high school, I didn’t think this looked good, but like I said I am not very handy so I want a second opinion. Is this something I should have them fix or is this to be expected?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] DietCanesSauce@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Thanks for taking a look! Based on the other replies and yours, sounds like I will be having him fix this. Unfortunate that it happened, but I am glad I noticed it now rather than when my foot went through it.

Also thanks for the tip on the water proofing! I hadn’t thought about that but it makes a lot of sense so I’ll be sure to ask about it when we get these fixed.

[–] merde@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

linseed oil, reapplied every 2 years, can be enough to water proof

@davesdogmaggie@mstdn.social ?

[–] DietCanesSauce@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Would this still require removing the treads to apply or can you apply it underneath somehow?

[–] merde@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 hours ago

in my experience, you don't need to disassemble. Apply generously and the oil would be absorbed in a couple of hours. You can put on a 2nd layer to be sure.

Paint protects from the outside and water seeps through its openings. Linseed oil saturates the wood to keep water out (it helps with insects too).