Refinishing Our Deck

Oh, the trials and tribulations of doing a diy project. 

Ok, not always, but every once in awhile.  

Have you ever started a diy home project and it seemed like it took 

forever?

Well, that's how it's been with regards to refinishing our deck this year.

Back in 2010, our deck looked fabulous and so well put together.

But, this year, our deck started to peel in a bunch of places, so I pressure washed  it...

Until it looked like this and all the loose old finish was removed. We did a little light sanding, as well.

We had purchased Olympic Nantucket Gray solid deck stain awhile back and we applied one coat on the deck floor, all except this corner(where we had put the furniture and the grill).  (you shouldn't really stop in the middle of the board; for best results, you should do one board all the way the the end so you don't have any marks, but I was lucky)

anyway...

This was back in June

Then it started raining.

Every 

day

 We finally had a few days of only small showers and then 2 days of no rain, so I finished the corner.

Turns out, I really HATED the color, but at least the deck floor was refinished with one thin coat. 

  

So, I went back to the store and bought another sample/er quart of stain.

I didn't like Olympic Eiffel Tower

So, I bought another quart of Olympic Pewter...

 didn't like that either...(too gray)

So, I went back to the store and bought another quart of stain.

I didn't like Olympic Deep Charcoal either. 

So, I went to the Home Depot to try one of their colors. Their stain samples were only $3.68 (instead $15+ for the quarts. 

I tried Behr Solid Color Weather Proofing  All In One Wood Stain and Sealer in Autumn Brown.

This time, I painted a piece of pine and set it against the brick.

Autumn Brown was actually too brown for me. (It's actually browner than it looks in the photo)

So, I went home and did what I usually do when I choose a paint color. 

I take what I have and mix up a couple of colors until I like the color. 

I applied the color I mixed up to a pine board and

 went back to the Home Depot and asked them if they mix custom colors for deck stain and could color match what was on my sample board.

They could and it was perfect! 

Here are all the samples I had to go through to find my perfect deck color. The final color is in the gallon.

 Of course it rained again 

for

 days

 but we finally got a break and I applied the first coat of the new color on the deck. 
and then, there was this on stairs...

what do you do?


I got another break in the rain last week for a couple of days and finished the 2nd coat on the deck floor and stairs. 

I was able to touch up some of the railing too.

Still have the bottom of the posts and the stair railing to do, but it will have to wait at least until next week. 

Mr. Fanatic likes the custom color too.

Our deck is getting a total makeover, including furniture. Mr. Fanatic made a gorgeous picnic table ~ here's a sneak peek: 

 I'll show it to you and how he made it in a couple of days. 

He also has plans to make a chaise/bench with storage for the seating on one side of the table.

Here's what I'm planning to add some color to all the gray, brown and white.

I can't tell you how HAPPY I am to finally finished the deck floor(and 1/2 of the railing).

Have you ever started a diy home project that took you forever, or is it just me?

Pam 

joining:
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Between Naps On The Porch

Deck In Progress...

The last time we refinished the deck was back in April 2010, right before we put our house up for sale. It was starting to show signs of wear last year, but refinishing the deck just wasn't a priority.

I finally tired of the same goldish beige solid stain we chose many years ago and it was peeling pretty bad, so something had to be done this year. 

We started working on the deck prep several weeks ago and it's been tough work, that is until this week because it has rained every day.

Since you probably don't want to see our deck in the state that it's in, I'll show you how it looked in 2010:

The tile table top that Mr. Fanatic made is looking pretty bad and tomorrow we will be taking it apart and removing it from the deck. Mr. F made the table top after the original top was broken accidentally and I couldn't decide on a new patio set. (I really could decide, but didn't want to spend the money on the one I wanted)  He is hoping to make me a brand new table this weekend, but I'm guessing it will take a little longer than that.

We have removed the heavy terra cotta pots from the deck. We aren't getting any younger and these puppies are really heavy. Besides...there is something going in this place, which I'll tell you about another time.

Our deck will look totally different when we are finished with it....After 5 or 6 tries(I've lost track), 
a deck color has finally been chosen! 

Can I get a Hallelujah????

How do you keep your deck or patio looking good?

Pam