Back at the beginning of May, I finally started something that I had been meaning to do for years: refinish my deck. Last night, thanks to the help of a few good friends, Scott and Brant, I was able to get about 95% of it completed. A small amount of railing and refinish a step and she’s good to go!
The previous owner had high expectations for this deck and made it very complicated – but he never took care of it; it warped badly and was dirty beyond a good power-wash & stain. I was not comfortable walking on it barefoot. It had built in benches around the lower section along with built in planters. It seemed like the benches were made with low grade 2×4 as they were warped like mad (last year I ripped a bench out and made an elevated garden). The upper section was too small to get four people around a table comfortably and had a very unusable small corner.
The deck had the original nails in it, a second set of nails in an effort to stop the warping, and when that failed, screws – which didn’t help either. So removing the deck boards was quite a treat. I had two goals with this project; refinish it all so I could walk barefoot on it – and make the top larger and more efficient. I think I nailed ’em both.
I purposely started ripping boards right from the middle so I couldn’t stop. I tend to get distracted by “shiny objects” and move to something new before completing what I started. This is the reason why I don’t really have any good before pictures. I was in the middle of something else and just started ripping on the deck.
Ornate and complicated – he would have it no other way. But then ran out of steam for stain. Or proper maintenance.
The benches and boxes. The boxes had no drainage directly underneath – they actually were lined with concrete stepping stones = really compacted soil. Perfect for plants?!? (disregard the hatchet. I left my pry-bar at a friends the day before. Remember now, I started this project on a whim)
We’re getting there – I moved the garden box over the to right along the fence. Notice the worthless corner in the upper section. The blue tape over the wood also shows you one of my original layouts that I wanted. We decided that corner would be too awkward so we made it bigger.
Much happier with the new design on the right versus the original from the previous owner.
She’s riding a little low!
The upper-left section was pretty easy to built out. It was basically a wall laying on its side, 16″ on center.
The new section on the upper blocked the dryer vent so with few simple “extendo” parts and a jig-saw I was good to go.
Progressing nicely!
Done minus the steps and railings.
Last night at 10 pm we got the main triple step completed and the single step to the lower section. I think it turned out fantastic! There won’t be any additional steps added other than recovering the step you can see in the lower right. I believe the wife and I are leaning towards a railing on the upper section only, behind the grill and over by the garden hose. Something simple, not too tall. I’ll power wash the stains where the trellis used to be. I am very happy with how it has turned out.
So, what time are you coming over? I’ll throw a bunch of meat on the grill, maybe even get a barrel of something cold and set it somewhere on this monstrous deck! See you soon!
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