Here’s a side profile showing most of the deck.
There’s a whole lot of party space on the main deck, as seen in this image taken from the roof of the cottage.
Photos by Marc LaBossiere / Winnipeg Free Press
This side profile of the main deck, as seen from the shoreline, showcases the support structure.
My first renovation project for Lynn and Gene Lakusiak began in late 2014. A variety of upgrades to their home in Winnipeg ensued. Gene Lakusiak, a Winnipeg Blue Bomber in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and an active Blue Bomber alumnus, was no stranger to building and renovations himself. However, based on the couple’s five-year plan to tackle and complete all intended reno projects, they thought it prudent to engage the services of a professional. Things really got exciting in the spring of 2015, when Lynn inquired as to the possibility of replacing an old deck at their cottage. Picture it — a secluded cottage on a remote island, a private sandy beach with the only access is by boat — the perfect summer getaway!
Little did I know how unforgettable and amazing this deck project would turn out to be.
Lynn and Gene own a three-acre property on a 600-acre island, somewhere on Whitefish Bay in Ontario’s Lake of the Woods. Their cottage, nicknamed "Freestyle", is fully self-sufficient. Generators and solar panels provide electricity, running water is pumped from the lake, and even cellular service is available (if you know exactly where to stand in the cottage). The existing deck, built by Gene decades ago, had aged gracefully but showed signs of wear and needed to be replaced.
"For years, we dreamed of increasing the size of our deck at the cottage," Lynn said. "It seemed like such a daunting project since we were in the habit of doing all reno projects ourselves. We kept putting it on the back burner."
Their son, Scott, had been designing and sketching possible changes to the deck. We all got together for a meeting. With my guidance and influence taken into consideration, our collaborative efforts paid off. The final design was chosen and planning could begin for the deck build, with a start date of midsummer 2015. The difficult task would be co-ordinating the logistics of a remote island project.
The decking materials were ordered well in advance. And with the help of Dave Wyllie of McMunn and Yates Building Supplies, the 25,000 pounds of brown-treated lumber and other building materials were delivered to a dock near Keewatin, Ont., one week before the start date. A barge, which had been organized and scheduled by the clients, would transport the building materials to the remote island. Once there, they would be carefully hand-bombed into segregated piles of lumber type, nearest to the build site by the cottage, for ease of access once the build began.
The new 900-square-foot deck design called for the removal of the old deck, minus a small portion of the structure that supports the walkway alongside the cottage to the actual main deck. This smaller area simply required new top decking. Prior to my arrival, both Gene and Scott prepared the site by clearing away all the old supports and top decking.
After a 21/2-hour drive to Sioux Narrows, Ont., with suitcase, acoustic guitar and tools in hand, the Lakusiak family picked me up by boat and we began the very picturesque 20-minute ride to their island cottage, at full throttle. It would be a four-day build, working long hours each day. For the most part, the weather was fantastic and the views were breathtaking. We got up each morning at the crack of dawn, and the day’s activities began. The protocol was soon established. My duties were that of the actual construction, while both Gene and Scott were always nearby to lend a hand. Day 1 would end with most of the support structure built, anchored to solid rock. By the end of Day 2, the support structure was completed and allowed for top decking to begin.
Things really started taking shape on the third day. All the top decking was secured, which allowed for the posts and railing to be positioned. By noon of the fourth day, the bannisters were up and fascia was in place. The deck was done. It took 31/2 days to build this deck, despite seven separate thunderstorms and a few mosquitoes the size of small birds.
Although the design was fairly accurate to the contours of the island shoreline, it was impossible to know exactly how the rocky surface would affect the support structure until arriving on site.
Luckily, everything fell into place, and there were no major obstacles to overcome. Our mornings began with a hearty breakfast, and after every 10-hour work day, we once again feasted with the shimmer of the lake in the distance. There were daily beach swim breaks, and of course the late-night acoustic guitar singalong with the entire family midway through my stay, for Lynn’s birthday celebration.
"When we shared our dream with Marc, he helped us to realize that it was totally possible," Lynn recently commented.
"We all jumped in on the planning, ordering of supplies and the logistics of pulling it all together. Once the date was set, Marc and the whole family arrived and unbelievably, three days or so later, with Marc’s expertise and some help from us, our big new deck became a reality! We are so incredibly happy. It has totally enhanced our cottage experience, offering to us a great space for outdoor meals and our family favorite — dance parties!"
The Lakusiaks have a new, much larger and more functional deck at their cottage. But it is the memories between hammer swings and saw cuts that stand out most in my mind. It was an amazing experience, one I will not soon forget. I’d like to once again thank Lynn and Gene for the opportunity and their hospitality, as well as the rest of the family — Scott and Marie, Corey and, of course, the grandkids for creating the soundtrack of laughter and giggles amid the sounds of waves hitting the shore. I’m quite certain there will be many, many dance parties to come!
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