"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

A deck in progress...

It all started 10 years when we bought the house.  The current owner showed us this large deck that had been added by a previous owner.  It runs about half the length of the house and takes up a lot of space.  This yard isn't very deep, but pretty wide.  To me when I first looked at it I felt like I was trapped on the deck by all the railings, the deck is only about one step up from the ground so they didn't really seem necessary.  We knew re-doing the deck was going to be a time consuming project and with Sweet Pea only 6 months old, there were other projects inside that needed to be done first.  
The next summer my husband decided we'd better clean and stain the deck to at least maintain the wood, since it obviously had been neglected.  He went to the store and came back with stain.  I knew as soon as I saw it that I didn't like it but didn't make a big deal about it, after all I'd probably chosen a lot of what we did inside.  Once the stain was on it felt like a big red prison, but we had other things that needed doing first.  Every year or so he would clean it and re-stain it because to try and change the color would be a major job.   
This summer we decided we'd finally tackle the deck.  The first thing I did was to get rid of the old patio furniture.  The table was far too large and we didn't need so much seating, it felt too crowded.

Here is the red deck before.  I think it looks like the Japanese maple is in jail too, it had railings around three sides of it.  At least they built the deck around it.  The cute little bistro table and chairs are the only furniture we kept.

Last Friday while my husband was at work I got the Sawzall out, that my sister suggested, and started cutting off the railings.  My sister and I are always encouraging each other to do all sorts of big projects while our husbands are at work to "surprise" them.  I think they get worried when we talk about ideas we have.  Sweet Pea took this picture with my phone so she could send it to her Dad at work to show him the "surprise".  No turning back now!

First thing the next morning "the Muscle" had to go over any nails that were sticking up and hammer them in.

Sweet Pea and the Littlest Gardener helped sweep off the mess from the big Pine tree.

Next my husband sanded the deck with a big drum sander.  I tried to use it, but felt like it would pull me right into the house.   The real fun started on sanding the two sets of steps and sides of the deck.  Sweet Pea insisted on helping with the palm sander.  We were all sore the next day from the sanding.  We spent 8 hours sanding Saturday, then at least another 4 or 5 hours Sunday.

Here is how the deck looks now.  We ordered patio furniture and hopefully it'll be here soon so we can sit and relax.  I've been trying to put the containers back and plan to add a few larger ones with perennials and maybe a small shrub or two.  The deck on the other side has a large planter with a hydrangea in it, but that's it so far.  I keep trying to convince my husband that a hot tub would be great, but so far he hasn't gone for that.

Watering the yard is already so much easier than dragging the hose over railings and getting caught in the patio furniture.  The lighter color and removal of railings makes the yard feel so much bigger and open.  
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26 comments:

  1. That looks so much better! Great job! Wow, it was a huge one to tackle, but aren't you feeling really good right now. The little ones helping teaches them so much. It's nice that they wanted to help. Enjoy your new place of solace without railings.

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  2. It really opened the space up! Looks great!

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  3. Wow, Catherine. What a lovely difference. I love it that you, your DH and your daughters all work together. We got our jacuzzi many years ago. The tub itself was $100 from a local thrift store, then we had to rent a flat bed trailer to get it home, I don't remember what that cost was. Then we bought a rebuilt pool pump and an almost new filter, for another $150 of something like that. I clean the filter regularly. We enjoy using the jacuzzi as it is very relaxing. The jets can be turned higher or lower depending on how you want it. We don't have it heated as it gets solar heated. Maybe you can find a good deal there. Tell you're DH how great it would be to sit in after working hard all day. :-)

    Anyway, you did a great job and I love the new look.

    FlowerLady

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  4. Wow! It looks beautiful!- such hard workers :). I loved it when my kids were young and eager to help and work hard...now they're teenagers ;) (just kidding, they still work hard...when they want to :)

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  5. Hi Catherine

    It looks so much better.

    Go for that hot tub. You could just sit in it with a glass of something chilled looking across the garden!

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  6. Awesome. Had it been designed a bit more thoughtfully to begin with, you'd not have had so much work. It turned out great and makes a dramatic difference.

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  7. Removing those railings was a great idea! It really looks great now - kudos to you for your hard work with power tools. I'm excited to see the finished product when your new furniture is in place.

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  8. Nice work ladies! And The Muscle!

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  9. What a difference removing the railing made! It makes the deck look so much more in sync with it's surroundings. Now you can really see the maple! Good job!

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  10. Your deck looks so much better with the railing gone. Very nice work!

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  11. Sanding would have interested my kids the first 10 minutes, by then the new and fun would have worn off;-)
    It looks so much better. You are right the rails made it too closed in. I love the openness of it now and the new color looks so much better.

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  12. I whole heartedly agree with you Catherine that your deck looks so much better without rails. We did this on a property we previously owned too and it made a world of difference. Whoever thought decks needed rails anyway?? especially ones so low to the ground? I also think it's great you tackle these big jobs (or at least get them started). It's a good way to get done what you want. I'm sure you were sore but it is totally worth it. I hope you can relax soon and reap the rewards of your hard work.

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  13. That is an awesome deck! I think the rails initially were not too overwhelming, but it does look better now. More a part of the garden. It is a wonderful spot to extend your living area for sure. Great job. What kind of patio furniture did you order?

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  14. Boy howdy did it ever open up the space. Looks great!

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  15. It looks very good and inviting now. I know you are glad to have that chore behind you and now just look forward to enjoying it!

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  16. It looks like a big improvement to me. I like the simple look compared to the penned in look. I never have seen a Japanese Maple with a trunk that large. Mine is about 30 years old and keeps dieing and have to cut more off but is is small in comparison.

    For a big size container, go to Walmart and into their garden center. They have some very large plastic containers in all sorts of shapes and colors and some could be used for water for pumps. We bought one shaped like an old urn and it will hold dirt but if we but a large plant in a large black ugly container just put the whole thing in the new plastic pot. Looks good that we to me. New peat moss. Anyway, for under $10.00 you can have a giant pot.

    Be part of history. Become a Follower or leave a comment. Tell you friends. Link up. Pick a Peck of Pixels

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  17. Your were right, what a great improvement. The whole family got involved and everyone should be proud. That look is clean and fresh. The railings actually looked out of place. It wasn't like you were going to fall off into the Grand Canyon. Nice job!!!!

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  18. Wow, your deck looks better already. I like the new lighter color. Did you restain it, or just sand it down? I vote yes on the hot tub!

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  19. Honest to goodness, you're making me tired. Nobody will every accuse your family of not being hard workers. It's really special that your children want to pitch in and help with these projects. The deck looks so inviting now. You should all feel good about how it turned out.

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  20. It looks spectacular Catherine! The rails so needed to go and the color is perfect! I love your ingenuity and take charge/can do attitude. gail

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  21. well....that is one great job! I like it better without the railings!!! good work...can't wait to see the new table and chairs.

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  22. Nice jobs - looks like a great place to spends some nice summer days. (or upcoming hot ones) Isn't it fun when you can complete something that makes such a difference. Wonder what I could use the sawzall on....
    Enjoy - Paula

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  23. Thank you for all the nice compliments. I can't tell you how happy we are to have it done. No more projects the rest of the summer.

    Flower Lady - Thanks for the great suggestion on the hot tub. I'm not giving up yet :)

    Tina - The furniture is cast aluminum, a brownish color. A round table which I figure we can always pull more chairs up to if we have company over. I hope eventually we can find some sort of bench with cushions too.

    Abe - Thanks for the great suggestion on the planters, they can be expensive. I will definitely be to your blog to help you make history!

    Robin - We sanded it and stained it. Hopefully besides cleaning it we won't need to stain for a couple of years or so.

    Paula - I'm sure you find something to use the Sawzall on :)

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  24. Great job~~~I love the open look Catherine. Dragging the garden hoses is hard enough without railings in the way...

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  25. Your hard work paid off and the finished article looks great but if it were me it would be so full of pots you wouldn't have room to walk barely.
    I will watch over time and see if you add a few more pots or perhaps you are more restrained than I am.

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  26. What an improvement! What a chore! Good for you for tackling that.

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