Past Practice 2

Since the end cuts on the foam aren't perfectly even, Step 2 was to take some patching plaster and finish the end to a smooth texture.

Since PVA glue when it dries tends to contract and warp both the foam and hardboard, and to help with elevating the ground above the beach level, Step 3 was to attach a 1" x 2" pine frame underneath the hardboard.  The first attempt was a mess because I ignored advice to pre-drill the holes, splitting the frame in some places and making the fit uneven.  Rewind to cutting some new frame pieces, pre-drilling, and mounting the frame.

Framing pieces run the length of the long edges, with three cross-pieces for lateral support.  Advice was to screw the frame down end to end to take out the warp which was already noticeable, and this worked.

I found that the framing pieces wanted to shift and bend while I worked along the length, but I discovered that putting some heavy pressure with one hand on a spare cross-piece laid across the frame next to the current screw hole kept the frame more stable.  The alignment was very smooth by the end, and I had a stable platform for the first six boards.  I also started to find that the frame was verrey useful as a hand-hold, especially later in the project when surfaces were wet or fragile.