Re-Doing an Ugly Deck...My Favorite Post

If you own a wood deck, then you absolutely need to read this post.  I'll be honest, this is one of my favorites I've ever done.  I am still in shock when I look at the Before and After pictures.  It's simply hard to fathom.

Ok, so when I bought this foreclosure, it came with a decent-sized wood deck just outside the patio door.  It's actually kind of funny because it is VERY private!  Not only do I have a large privacy fence that wraps all the way around the backyard, but I also have a privacy deck!!!  Speculation is that the previous owners used to have a hot tub on the deck.  That's the only feasible reason that makes sense in my head, because it's kind of ridiculous!!!

The large deck...and the even bigger deck walls!

It wasn't really much to look at.

The view as you walk into the backyard.

This does not scream hosting party.

I  had considered removing the privacy walls from the deck, but I figured I would just keep them on.  The problem was that the deck was in terrible, terrible shape.  The wood hadn't been painted or stained in years, and it had that dismal grey appearance.

Well, lucky for me, I happened to stumble upon one of my best purchases ever a couple of weeks ago.  I was walking around the Habitat for Humanity ReStore when I noticed a LARGE box of paint and stain.  It turns out Lowe's had donated several items to this particular store, and this box was one of them.  I asked how much they were charging, and they told me just $1 a gallon!!!

Well, I found some wood stain in there!  And I mean I found LOTS of wood stain in there!!!  It had to be rather funny-looking, but I gobbled up every gallon I could find.  I was filling up a couple of carts trying to make sure I found every one.  A ccouple of people noticed, and out of courtesy, I asked if they were interested, and I ended up sharing a couple gallons with others, but the majority was mine!  I was thrilled!

If you can believe it, I walked out of there with 18 gallons of stain.  And it only cost me $30.

 

One of my best deals ever found.

Once back at home, I searched for the same product on the Lowe's website and found these gallons going for $24.97 apiece!!!  I had just purchased $749 of stain for $30!!!  That puts such a smile on my face!

Thank you, Lowe's!  And thank you, Habitat!!!

Well, now that I had the stain, I figured I might as well get the deck prepared for it!  So I borrowed my dad's powerwasher in order to clean the deck.  At least this is what was recommended by me reading some suggestions on the internet.  But I was nowhere prepared for what would happen before my very eyes.

It's still hard for me to believe!  But as I would take that powerwasher over the wood, the exterior rot would melt away, exposing a BEAUTIFUL solid wood underneath!  It was incredible!!!  With every pass of the wand, my deck was being transformed!!!  The old was becoming new before my very eyes!!!

I was magically bringing back my deck!

This doesn't even make sense in my head!

Would you look at that?!  It's going from dead...to new again!

I had the will to carry out this entire project to completion no matter how hot!

Of course, that only made me want to continue the project all the more!  The problem was that I chose one of the hottest days of the year.  The temperatures sored into the 90's with the heat index in the triple digits.  There was no wind, and the sun was nearly unbearable.  I was happy to have some mist catching me, but it was just burdensome today.  HOT HOT HOT.

But I pressed on, just fascinated with what was taking place with my deck.  What is more, this was just a simple electric presssure washer from Black and Decker!  It wasn't commercial-grade by any means, and it had no gas engine!  But wow, was I getting my money's worth today!

I would alternate between walls and floors.  The floors didn't clear up quite so well, as some had had some mold and mildew stains, but they changed colors nonetheless.  But wow, what a ton of surface area this deck had!  Outside walls, inside walls, crevices, floors.  Ugh.

Moving inside to the very mossy floors.

The walls are done!

The difference is phenomenal!!!

I ended up pressure-washing for 8 hours!!!  That was a lot to ask of the little guy, but she held up to her end of the deal.  The deck was gorgeous.  I'm not joking when I say it looked brand new!!!  I had taken a dilapidated old deck and made it look like a $3000 deck in one day.  Frankly, I quite liked the deck as it was before the stain!  The original color of the wood looked great!!!

My "new" deck!!!  She looked even better after she dried!

Looks like it was just installed!

Absolutely no comparison.

The inside is now warm and inviting!

Beautiful "new" floors!

But I knew I had to stain it to protect it from looking like this again, so I started that long chore.  The color was a redwood stain, and although I didn't like it as much as the original wood, it sure made this deck look great.

Starting to stain the deck.

I like the original color better, but that's ok!  She needs protected!

The finished deck!!!

Of course, no post is complete without pictures of the Before and After right next to each other, so...here you go!

Before...

During...

After!!!

I tell you, words barely capture the feeling of satisfaction on this project.  I had taken a very unattractive deck and made it look brand new!  And all it took was two days...a little bit of sweat...lots of patience...and $18.  [Actually, I have to be honest.  I ended up selling 15 gallons of the stain after realizing I had plenty.  I kept back a few gallons for me for future use, but I sold 15 gallons at $10 a gallon.  So if you can believe it, I was actually PAID $132 to re-do my own deck!!!]

It's hard not to smile writing that.  :)