| Author | Content |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 19, 2009
09:52 PM Post #6966812
| My deck was built summer '99. I was good for a couple years and pressure washed and treated it.
Now have had disability problems gong on 7 years and it looks raw. what should I do (or have done) . And I can't help but wonder if I'll bve able to afford it.
Soo. please, I appreciate suggestions for the most cost effective way to get it treated. I'll probably be in this house another 20+ years and want it to last!!
Thanks |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
August 19, 2009
10:38 PM Post #6966994
| Is it actually starting to rot/deteriorate, or is it just in need of cleaning and re-sealing? If it just needs to be cleaned and sealed and you're not up for doing it yourself it shouldn't cost too much to pay someone else to come out and do it--it's a pretty easy job and doesn't take that long. If you can't afford to pay much for someone else to do it, you might check around at church or in your neighborhood and see if there's anyone who'd be willing to help you out in exchange for a nice home cooked meal or something along those lines. Either way you'll have to pay for the deck stain and there I would go for a better brand that lasts longer even if it's a bit more expensive. Nothing's going to last forever, but some of the better brands will last longer than the cheap ones so you won't have to redo it as often and you'll save money in the long run. |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 19, 2009
10:57 PM Post #6967066
| I don't think it is rotting, just looking terrably dry. nothing is loose. |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 20, 2009
07:02 AM Post #6967667
| birdieblue, we just went through the same problem...the deck went for 10 years just being occasionally power washed. Our's is huge though, wrapping around one end of the house, however, the areas under a roof were fine, it was the weather damage to the open portion that was so bad. DH was able to power wash again and had to use twice the stain to cover the damaged wood. ecrane is right to advise a better stain...will last longer. |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 20, 2009
06:37 PM Post #6969913
| ant brand suggestions for the sealer . It wasn't stained before. Is that something that should be done in addition to the weatherseal?? |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 20, 2009
07:10 PM Post #6970010
| what we used was Behr weatherproof wood stain, sold at HD. |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 20, 2009
07:14 PM Post #6970021
| DH wanted you to know it has the same consistency as paint. You select the color you want to use and they mix it for you. |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 20, 2009
10:28 PM Post #6970691
| Oh, well, is there a color called "wood"? Or is like brown, black , white, pecan, walnut?? |
bugme
Barnesville, GA
(Zone 7b)
August 21, 2009
06:41 AM Post #6971469
| There are many colors to choose from, check at HD or maybe the Behr website will show it. |
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 21, 2009
10:58 PM Post #6974691
| birdieblue, When you look at stain there are a couple of different types. One is opaque stain it is more like a pain and will cover the wood. Then there is the semi-transparent that lets the natural look of the wood show thru. The opaque stains come in all kinds of colors just like paint does. The semi-transparent also comes in different colors it tints the wood. Here is an old pic of my back deck. Ric had brought home some brown opaque stain and started to stain the deck he had a good bit of it done before I saw it. I really didn't like it and had him stop partway through so some of the deck was stained and some never was. In this pic you can see the brown areas and the grey unstained areas. I gave it a few years hoping that it would wear off a bit looked pretty awful for several years. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 21, 2009
11:04 PM Post #6974712
| Here is the same area after I pressure washed it. That pressure washer took off the brown opaque stain and cleaned the greyed areas not to mention a few green algae stained areas where things had been sitting on the deck. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 21, 2009
11:19 PM Post #6974759
| Here is the finished result. The only new wood is the deck boxes built 2 years ago and the lattice under the deck boxes which needed to be replaced. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 21, 2009
11:34 PM Post #6974785
| That work was done last summer. Here is an updated pic. The box pond that sits next to the deck is a good ten years old or more and had never been treated. Ric is going to run some power conduit along the edge of the deck so I can get rid of those power cords and I am hoping to put in an outside shower against the house wall. I used an Olympic stain which I think might be a bit more $$, not because I thought it was better but because a friend had used this stain and I really loved the color. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 21, 2009
11:43 PM Post #6974809
| Here is a pic of the deck from the other side that old lattice fence on the left is next years project. LOL 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 22, 2009
08:18 AM Post #6975313
| Thankyou so much Holly! You have really given me a good idea of what I need to do now with all the pics and extra info. I like that stain also. My house is brick with white wood in laces, so the stain will need to look either totally natural or go well with the brick color. Of course I guess any color is better than potentially old , dirty , beginning to algae wood.
I have sooo much stuff on the deck and therein lies my initial project.
Thanks bunches again and I will post some before and after I when I get to it. what if it rains during the project? Is everything ruined?
Oh, also your pics sure did make me miss my Baquacil pool! |
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 22, 2009
09:08 AM Post #6975459
| Rain wasn't much of an issue. I picked the hottest days to be out there wanted the wood good and dry and the stain to dry quickly. There were a few days that we had scattered thunder showers when I had to stop due to rain and it wasn't a problem at all. Just make sure the wood is good and dry when you start. I'm pretty sure the can gives instructions for that. I worked on this off and on for most of the summer. First doing the deck boxes and the lattice wall and box pond so I could get those planted then the lower deck, upper deck and finally the lower curved deck last. Both the swimming pool and hot tub are old but they get a lot of use. My children and the neighborhood kids had a great time in that old pool and now my Grandchildren are enjoying it. The hot tub is great for Ric arthritis and I just love soaking outside in the winter with a glass of wine and watching the night sky. |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 22, 2009
09:14 AM Post #6975476
| Ok, I'm hooked. When may I pack my bags? |
henryr10
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6b)
August 22, 2009
09:20 AM Post #6975493
| Holly that's an amazing difference!
What stain did you go w/ for the final affect?
Ric (too...lol!) |
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 22, 2009
12:03 PM Post #6975991
| birdieblue, LOL There is quite a lot of things to see in our area. Lancaster Amish country, Gettysburg and Hershey Park just to name a few or will you just be hanging out on the deck? LOL
Henryr10, Olympic Maximum semi-transparent #716 Cedar Naturaltone. I was amazed how well the power washer stripped off that old brown opaque stain. I probably wouldn't have waited so long if I had realized what a good job it would do. I did use some of the brown opaque under the deck to make the posts and support boards less visible you don't notice them at all behind the lattice. Also along the kick boards on the lower decks for an accent. Not that you can tell in the pics.
Dear Ric hand bucketed a load of stone under the deck, too. Our beagle/basset mix Buddy loves to go under the deck and dig around and lay in the mud. Also when he was younger he would grab the lattice in his mouth and pull on it till it would break that's why the lower sections needed to be replaced. So we decided while we were replacing the lower sections of lattice to lay a thick layer of stone down. I filled the buckets and Ric crawled around under the deck with a rake dragging 5 gallon buckets of stone.
Whatever color you decide to use try it on an old board before you use it. Some of those stains can look pretty different once you put them on. My SIL had a rather orangish looking house for a couple of years before he re-stained his siding. LOL |
henryr10
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6b)
August 22, 2009
08:48 PM Post #6977441
| Thanks Holly!
I have a series of projects we've undertaken this Summer that I'll be unleashing soon.
We're trying to settle on a stain/dye.
You've been a Big help.
Ric |
ODLG
Fargo, ND
August 25, 2009
06:58 PM Post #6987926
| BirdieBlue
I have one suggestion if you haven't thought of it, although, Holly seems to have some pretty good information for you. If your boards are looking really bad one suggestion would be to take a look at what the other sides of them look like. If the other side isn't damaged you could essentially re-deck your space just by flipping them. It might make a better end result mixed with what Holly has suggested. I personally have never done this, but I've heard and read of people doing this to get another 10 years out of their deck.
Good luck.
mike
|
gavafriend
Los Lunas, NM
August 27, 2009
11:23 AM Post #6994191
| Your deck is beautiful, Holly - congratulations on picking the right husband and the right stain color! |
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 27, 2009
08:09 PM Post #6995891
| LOL, Gavafriend, Yep definitely picked the right husband. We've been together about 30 years now. Don't think that I mentioned that Ric built the deck. I especially like the curved lower deck. I had asked if he could make a deck that would curve around and lead out the side gate and he built me just what I asked for. |
henryr10
Cincinnati, OH
(Zone 6b)
August 27, 2009
08:55 PM Post #6996025
| DIY?
Even BETTER!
Kudos!
Ric |
BirdieBlue
Winston Salem, NC
(Zone 7a)
August 27, 2009
11:06 PM Post #6996499
| Oh well. Still sounds like I need a good friend or hubby and I have nether . Or could do it yself...cant.
hopefully aanother 10 years out of it for me ;-((
But thanks for sure for all the great suggestions. It is just very difficult finding honest ttustworthy help anymore
|
HollyAnnS
Dover, PA
(Zone 6b)
August 27, 2009
11:59 PM Post #6996618
| BirdieBlue, There are organizations that will help older or disabled individuals with home maintenance. Some are Church sponsored some 4-H or Boy Scouts groups do community service. An elderly neighbor had a group of teens from a church group come and paint his house. Not only does his house look great but he had a great time interacting with the teens. You could also check with your school district. possibly the Vo-tech classes would be interested or could suggest some teenagers that would do the work for only a few $$. A call to habitat for humanity might give you some ideas as well. Make some calls you will be surprised what is out there. I have another friend on a limited budget that got a new door, repaired water heater, and new refrigerator from a program run thru the electric co. She had called the electric co. and asked for suggestions for reducing her electric consumption and asked what might be available. They sent someone out to evaluate her home for usage and it was determined that she was eligible for a special program. Some of these programs just aren't widely advertised. |
