My deck project and progress.

I thought it fitting to give an update on my deck project since it’s labor day weekend. While many people tend to go to the beach etc for this long weekend, a great percentage of people(<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">like myself)</span></em> also take the long weekend to tackle a home project. Although,  i started this project long before labor day weekend, it has been a slow process because i am doing this all by myself and also working around a very active 16 month old:-). I am proud to say that the deck is almost done with just some finishing touches left to add.<br /><br /><strong>Ok, let’s revisit what i did:</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXkv0SGoM9TrKQaup9ls0_SJS8_3vhlveg2Xw5qprSqG5MCXGuOCreZ0A-EKgIF6lB8HFQuudHezxpy2_RdVfWiaVPHDtDlxTx1k5vKlyEA5lnA2Pm5K30aWq6-Bn6sLUrO2Iq94r__Lg/s1600-h/Hereandthere0084.jpg"><img alt="Here and there 008" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfqd4RxSrZTpRleQdY8YR6qxSpmPHBZazGXc30wbfsIIyfsnZLLl_UTa17LAyxfSCxdnJweRUGQ9apCY4Ilx9CNnFFJsJQV4JC5cVhfW-bUP_OoiGJsyXP4bQZJldkJjBd2gvWhBn3yrc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Here and there 008" width="644" /></a>This is a picture of my deck showing i weathered and in need of some TLC.  I decided to refinish it because i also wanted baby Zion to be able to safely walk barefooted out there.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTbA4IfL9LjTi6QBxK6jbRw33RC8NsCCm5FD2FeWKAyQFj7Z8jvbX3wMW6pfvbuVFT-pthhGOj4fJ8dlHzH5deD94XLdp-Y3ffLnYlQFKviowvWjFMHiupRfWQGV2knh_Hp8tKbDNn1sT/s1600-h/Hereandthere0074.jpg"><img alt="Here and there 007" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9ggfmOLgIoC9ShY0yS-IcMEQ1303RZ8-Upt3yzSaDG5o_M3lF8DZuRLzOql2_cznSZ6tFMmI2MVGjDnY5kCN0mbMiwt40j77bfeszyc3nUqXSh9_OG8Sjvqcw490BPGzUgRjXoUpQN3G/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Here and there 007" width="644" /></a>  The first step involved thoroughly cleaning the deck of debris and buildup. To accomplish this, i rented this pressure washer from Home Depot and tackled that task. I even pressure washed my drive way since i had rented it for the day:-)</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-HBWwimhnHr2QIPedcQsU0EYxhpezTzCl0oGFwDosb5t-NSUmMPbb3k792OHirXVdVaz15LnOBxDkePGRaeqPJvxasicmMJOyqkcYetYNkM2LuQdGaxupX34I2h0hkbXH_dxlE4QnYif/s1600-h/Misc0124.jpg"><img alt="Misc 012" border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YW7gsveU727I7QvKvd-ZvTdUx7Zv2MxwdXumFA8C67Sfp2YKUYqeI6NENtkk2uW3SQKypE0SZ2HAw1E1TPN56T6JyYn59gATN8N1DsNwpGitgMtwE4F-4gdAnl5o9OLExlnNnLIT0yUx/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Misc 012" width="644" /></a> The next step involved sanding the deck. I rented an orbital sander from Home Depot and boy, this baby was heavy.  However, i love challenges and although i was worried about how i was going to remove it from my truck by myself,  i was able to figure it out! I was so proud of myself. If you look closely, you can see a difference in the area that i had started to sand too.<br />The third step(staining the deck)  took place weeks later because of the weather. It was raining constantly and i needed a sunny forecast for at least two consecutive days before i could stain. <br />I was going back and forth about whether i should go with a transparent or opaque deck finish. Ultimatelyi i chose an opaque finish because that option covers imperfections best and the deck was full of those. I usually use Benjamin Moore paint, but since i was at Home Depot so often, i bought the deck paint there. I purchased the <a href="http://www.behr.com/dsm-ext/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=82ca536658689110VgnVCM1000006f1010acRCRD&vgnextchannel=9cf5f11390a59110VgnVCM1000006b0910acRCRD&vgnextfmt=default#vgnextoid=82ca536658689110VgnVCM1000006f1010acRCRD;view=17;channel=PROJECT_CENTER">Behr weatherproofing</a> wood stain(solid colour) in their premium line.<br /><br /><strong>Here are some pictures of what the deck looks like now:</strong><br /><strong><br /></strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSc5yNeZoxRHUPKl4vVJYsPsTbGycQJXrlpnK30XfRvh7Aznm5kI9hs1USo3GSa5jHkANutzO6zoADlHIgZWyF0lSMr-WCSic2uw_a9MSZBP4FJBJd2BIFVJlC9ZP_8476d9z3Xe20Pp6Y/s1600-h/random%20001%5B14%5D.jpg"><img alt="random 001" border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJjAqzKdZ8FbbfrnYQznRbFUoDK0-7cbhGaz5mSSFR_7WtLJJ6D0IQkD6IlqbC5aq9mWn-04wBHcMlb-TmpDwm2Za7oVD9M2Qv4knDBXBvse4rTzfvdGdOvTRFBcaudjoIUo-axc4XUbL/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="random 001" width="684" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_8AaodvS7ONTogNnMaSHvXErhSljmEbUPVmWYdwjFsNTV33lekbbC9kys1E_lLPpvhQRzSRVdofGfkfG2JK4QdaNrGo2FTUelqnkmn7dhYdRLszuLjVDsKBTQfMzPO5ZL1LbRjI-9Pz2/s1600-h/random%20002%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="random 002" border="0" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw2f9ScoeLw-UTUogTeGAyzmkXnyt_S9-v7ojBkMXGfROnOpqG_Fv5408GqTyxxp3YR2v__VHqjSQ1dBI3Kn06URMNHI9pP12PhojLZuHNrnUKdnbg8WWsfAOy41_mZgGflrfAdL3xL45/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="random 002" width="694" /></a>    The chairs and table are from Pier1. Originally, i wanted these <a href="http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=950&f=5650&fromLocation=search">tables and chairs</a> from <a href="http://www.cb2.com/">CB2</a>, but then i went to Pier 1 and saw the ones above and decided to get those instead. As a result, i wouldn’t have to pay the hefty shipping and handling cost that CB2 was charging. I also got the Pier 1 purchases at a discounted price.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t7zrhUNBnCf11MTxskCs34KhIcQWK4VVA3kZC35U-WIi80rCb4x_lVbll5CY09EDHIVbNFU3Tu1l9NrA23Uqi0uzFbIrHIRrYblgnMXxdVovwJtPUDprVkLNZm5Tz0gBPjkyyAHKyF3A/s1600-h/random%20007%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="random 007" border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV26vYLoku0yOaL1_A-jOf6FHVJ58gPTebozdbc_2yynR7kJC3lQbQ2ZgSLcu2wJgjk9GbfYsfOqXG4boJ2n5QeMPjbwqOYg8il2SW60pR56wD5h5HyyYDpTTo4mum1g4f_4uyesdx0Jqv/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="random 007" width="674" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9HkSyvm82CzwEY0IAwdbELjBELc2fYzSGFCLiLcjR1xi85WG3ygn5n89jPzmSh3C5OeiIkbIdrGR-DNIYBTXgfVJDSSmyMLFmCtW177uIctvroN6H5eA6IAv2PXv0YeVsk7gZbD5CBfD/s1600-h/random%20011%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="random 011" border="0" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSXNICCnieRgjFS3yKyS6J3EHgOZGfdfEmiyR2b3uIu3tkZPqu2jbYLXSxTEp2m7OvDRKZ-6GaZZEzfW1rOAtEvW2mjZtv-pi0bbIGeJL9bZUH7d_dNUBMrlWZqzzkG6pNUIKc5NEh1UM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="random 011" width="684" /></a>    The <a href="http://www.potterybarn.com/products/rectangular-umbrella-solid/?pkey=cview-all-umbrella-outdoor">rectangular umbrella</a> is from Pottery Barn.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUkPJN9KNBaiMKYjjWNHCJU5HdJpts3l-9r92xXirMt1vxm5Fzg_i1Z_uM5d-i7kHOPBay4rQJy_WrBidwZJI1wQ4R_9H8mls0TRRqUJ6ycQZi2T9WMIUizFBkdalGcOPYvibJDXb8thA/s1600-h/random%20013%5B5%5D.jpg"><img alt="random 013" border="0" height="529" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zCgaUnUdaXI8v-QgC4eOMywpVsb6EM66yQjAohsSJIe-BzcgKYdBly6E82gJXvUh0kS96ucaLznyRVGW5wUmb3mGQY7iFp3vVrShzYW-2-8ZCOQX6E-1eGb2oEt2D-UOLnGWdL5Fo50J/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="random 013" width="704" /></a></div><div align="center">I finally bought Eat, Pray Love this weekend at Barnes and Noble and it goes everywhere with me(indoors and outdoors). I hope everyone is having a great day. “See” you all here tomorrow! XX</div><div align="center"><br /></div>

My deck project and progress.

I thought it fitting to give an update on my deck project since it’s labor day weekend. While many people tend to go to the beach etc for th...

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