Greg Di Bergen County Decks Video

[Eieio]

In case you guys did not see it. Greg Di was in a deck building competition here is a link to the video.

http://www.diynetwork.com/videos/deck-building/59027.html

[JasonW]

Really? I didn't hear anything about that:mad2:

I must have been busy watching this...

H-aoWSpFor0

[fez-head]

guess they weren't allowed to wear their company uniforms huh.

At least Greg DI was smart enough to not wear his "cool guy shirt" during the interviews. It looks like the other two turned theirs inside out during the build. This is National TV with National Recognition..... it's not a kegger at your buddies house. :rolleyes3::rolleyes3:

[OGStilts]

You may have ditched the "Professional Instigator" tag, but we know what you are about. Very subtle.

[Bodger]

Did he win?
He won right?
How could he not win?

If he didn't win, does that mean the guy who won is a better deck builder?
Is there a suicide hotline for Bergen County? :laugh3::laugh3::laugh3:

[Eieio]

Did he win?
He won right?
How could he not win?


He did not win.. It appears the judges where looking for quantity over quality.

[WarriorWithWood]

The winner shot his spindles on with a 15ga trim gun. WTF?

[deckman]

How the heck do 2 out 3 deck builders miscut their stair stringers? That was Greg's waterloo.

[ChrWright]

It was a typical DIY show. Way too short, with no coverage at all of the details. Fast camera pans, with an emphasis on personality and manufactured drama.

For all the emphasis of the stringers and that stupid limb drop--they showed next to nothing at all about comparing the construction of one deck to another, and what makes a quality deck vs. crap.

Fluffy nonsense. But I guess that was the point. You don't tune in to DIY to learn how to build something.

I thought Greg represented himself well. I would have liked to have seen all three complete their decks and a slide show comparison between the three. I liked his design better than the other two.

So what's the average viewer take away from that show?

1. Stringers are hard. :rolleyes3:
2. Gingerbread details make the best deck--forget construction details.
3. Speed makes the best deck builder.

Ask these folks what makes a good deck:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local-beat/Deck-Collapses-During-Block-Party-102227289.html

[Silvertree]

Its pretty clear that that collapse happened because it wasn't bolted properly to the home and the supporting posts were not properly strapped or anchored.

Joists look like they are 3' on center also, but that may be because of the angle of the photo?

[deckman]

Its pretty clear that that collapse happened because it wasn't bolted properly to the home and the supporting posts were not properly strapped or anchored.

Joists look like they are 3' on center also, but that may be because of the angle of the photo?

Yeah, it's almost always the ledger connection that fails causing decks to collapse, especially when the ledger attatches to a brick veneer home.

That DIY deckbuilding contest was not a good way to judge who was the best deck builder. They all were building different decks for one.

Dropping the tree limb onto the decks was just stupid, even a well built deck could be damaged by a big tree.

[Bodger]

I didn't watch it. I think these kinds of things aren't a representation of what good construction should look like and how good contractors should execute the project.

Frivolous crap. Not an insight into how things should be done safely and accurately to produce a quality job.

Obviously Greg is a good deck builder, but I'll bet this didn't show him at his best, even if that wasn't the point of it.

But like I said, I didn't watch it.

[deckman]

Frivolous crap. Not an insight into how things should be done safely and accurately to produce a quality job.



No doubt a BS show, but winning that tool box full of cash would have been sweet!

[Bodger]

No doubt a BS show, but winning that tool box full of cash would have been sweet!


Oh well hell, I didn't know about that. I'd slap joist hangers up with finish nails on Pay Per View for a toolbox o' cash. :laugh3::laugh3:

[fez-head]

Just having bragging rights (to potential clientsnotcontractors) for being on the show would be nice. Client: "Yeah we had the guy that was in the National best Deck Builder Competition build our deck" It adds more credibility to your name and makes a good story for both you and your clients.

[deckman]

Oh well hell, I didn't know about that. I'd slap joist hangers up with finish nails on Pay Per View for a toolbox o' cash. :laugh3::laugh3:

Greg should have kept his eye on the prize, the 10k of cash in the toolbox.

I don't think the guys knew what they were going to be judged on, Greg was trying to impress the judges with using hidden fasteners & fancier design.

It's always easy to armchair QB something like this. Not so easy when you're in a contest that you don't really know all rules. My impression was it all about who could get it done fastest & the guy who got his deck finished did not win.

Anyway you look at tho it had to be a good experience for Greg.