We have a lot of projects to complete before we put our house on the market this summer! The first really big one we tackled was fixing up our deck. It looked really really REALLY bad. I was supposed to do it last year but hurt my knee (again) and couldn’t work on it and then the winter weather made it even worse so we ended up with a deck that looked like….well you’ll see. It was a big job and towards the end we were trying to finish up before the rains hit! I haven’t put anything back on it yet (letting it cure since we did get a few days of rain after it was finished).
Actually it started to rain a few hours after we put on the last coat of the deck stain. I was so worried! We had finished the hand rails the day before but the decking part only had a few hours to dry.
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There were some tiny bubbles where the water had puddled. But I went out after it stopped raining and dried off the deck and those bubbles went away after it had a few hours of sun. So far so good – I don’t really want to have to do it over!
Here’s the before so you can really tell how much better the after looks! I told you it was bad!!
First we pressure washed the deck and the railings. Then we had to hand scrape/sand the decking. Which was exhausting and I never want to have to do that again!
We used Sherwin-Williams Deckscapes and we’re quite happy with the results so far. We used a solid stain, white for the hand rails and cedar for the steps and deck. 2 coats covered everything well.
Now I get to do the fun part and dress it up!
Then we have to stain the concrete patio below the screened in porch/deck….
Next week we’re having new windows installed in our master bedroom/bath and then I’ll be painting those two rooms.
Fun times!
Looks beautiful:) I love that porch! A porch is so inviting to people looking to buy! Enjoy your day dear Manuela, looks like it is going to be perfect weather! HUGS!
I didn’t believe you that it looked really bad until the photo, I just imagine everything in your home is pretty 🙂
Looks great now and I hope the sale goes smoothly
LOL! No, it was bad last year and just got worse this winter. But it’s the only thing that was a big mess. Now I just basically have to paint every room and fix a few small things. Thanks for stopping by!
It looks great, Manuela! Nice and fresh and will make for a nice selling point having all that outdoor space to enjoy. It’s funny how you do so much work to fix up the house for sale and we seem to put it off when it is for ourselves. I remember having to paint a few rooms before we listed, too. Doing all that work also made me realize certain things I did not want in the next home we lived in!
What a difference! That was a lot of hard work. We stained our front porch last fall the same color!
Did you really! That’s too funny. Your front porch – I have to go look at your photos again because I’m having a hard time deciding on what color to paint the bench I want to put on the deck and what color pots to get. The deck was all white before so it was easy.
Such a lot of work! I love the outcome, though. Your outdoor living space must be like being in a tree house. So charming!
Yep, it is like being in a tree house!
I LOVE your screened porch. we had one built this past winter & I pinned lots of pictures of your porch for inspiration. Ous is elevated like yours is except we drive under ours to get to our garage.
We decided not to paint or stain ours because of all the hard work you described. We want it to be as maintenance free as possible so we had a metal ceiling installed inside & everything is framed in so beautifully. We will seal it in 6 months after the wood has dried properly – that can be sprayed on – & then it only has to be resealed every 6 yrs. We used yellow wood which means it should stay the light color & not turn gray hopefully. We’ll see. It all looks so beautiful with the a metal roof on the outside & the metal ceiling inside.
I hope your sale goes well!
Your porch sounds AMAZING! I love the metal roof idea. My neighbor has that type of screened porch that they drive under.
Yes, in the screened in porch I never painted anything but the floor and since that’s covered it’s held up with out a chip (we also have rugs in there so that protects it as well). Smart of you to use yellow wood and seal it. The less maintenance the better!
Wow, what a difference! It looks so good, but I can imagine the work you had to do. Can’t wait to see it all “decked” out! Have fun!
Thank Lisa! Not a “fun” project but so necessary. Yes, now I get to play. I bought a new planter today for my herbs that I’m going to put on the deck 🙂
Looks great but what a lot of work!! And that kind is not fun !
Wow ~ that was a big job! It looks so fresh and new now. Good luck on your listing. I sold two houses last summer and it was much easier than I expected. I am sending you good resale vibes.
Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Oh my gosh it really was! At least it wasn’t 100 degrees outside while we were doing it. Thanks for the good resale vibes! The market has improved around here so we figure we better get while the gettings good. Who knows what it’ll be like next year.
It looks really nice Manuela. That’s a lot of work but so worth getting it done. I love your screened room. It must be a wonderful place to relax in. Have a great weekend!
Thank you Pamela. Yes that screened porch is the perfect place to relax. It’s my favorite room in the house and during the summer/fall my husband and I start our morning out there. Which is a great way to start the day!
Wow what an incredible difference. How it looked before is how our front porch looks now, ugh. Have to do like you did to get it looking good. Your steps and railings look brand new. Hope it hasn’t gotten too hot where you are yet so you had to work in heat.
Bless your hearts, alot of work but in end when you’re showing your home to sell it’ll be all worth it. We’ve sold so many houses, having to fix things up, Our last house was hardest as we were living here in CO and our house was in KY. Nightmare city with people living in house at time. I hate to even think about what they put us thru. But that’s all over and house was sold even tho we ended up having to let it go short sale, we didn’t get one penny out of that house and we put so much into it. . The people living in house left it so bad it had to be completely redone. The gal that eventually bought house had to take out extra loan to get house livable. It was so bad. I loved that house and land, 1 1/2 acres with old trees. My health couldn’t handle humidity there.
Our son still living in KY then said after they’d moved out if I’d seen it I’d have wanted to kill them literally. I always kept house all nice, like a BH&G magazine page as he always called it. He was quite upset with people when he saw how badly they left it. We were paying house payments/insurance there and here in CO on SS and both of us working. Pretty ruff, I was ready for a nervous break down. I hope lady that bought it is happy, I still miss that house out in country.
Are you and hubs moving to new city or want a different home? Need more room? That happens with young families. I want to wish you good luck. I’ll be looking forward to new posts about your progress and all the projects you’ll do. Happy weekend
Oh that’s just terrible! When we were newly married we rented a house and treated it as our own. I planted about 75 daffodil bulbs in the front yard, revitalized an old vegetable garden, installed ceiling fans, painted the front porch and many other things that improved the house and property. We left that place in better shape than when we moved in! I don’t understand people like tenant that you had.
Actually, I’ve never liked the town we live in – just not my style. I’ve been wanting to move for about 6 years but a variety of circumstances didn’t allow it. Our daughter is graduating from college, the market is finally good in this area and I’m just ready to move on and try something new. So we don’t have to move but we want to move! Which I think puts us in a good position. We have a few towns in mind in Georgia that we’d like to move to. We’re thinking of renting. We don’t want to buy and then not be happy with the area…again 🙂
That looks great Manuela! What a beautiful spot to enjoy life in. Won’t you miss that area? I certainly would. You really did a nice job on the deck. Love the contrast with the bright white railings.
Judy
Thanks Judy! I will miss my garden. I’ve planted practically every tree, bush and flower on this corner lot. Leaving a garden is always the hard part. But I’ve learned a lot here and I know my next garden will be even better!
I hope I never have to sell my house. It is the only home my late husband and I every owned, I’ve been here nearly 20 years. I can’t imagine the work I’d have to accomplish if I even decided to list it. Your deck and stairs look great! You did well! Blessings, Cindy
Wow – That was a big undertaking. Looks great!
I know my day is coming – don’t want to think about moving.
Enjoy your weekend !
Your deck looks very nice! I love the screened in part. We just got down staining our deck and porch too. We also are selling and ours looked very bad too after the winter. It is nice to have it looking fresh and clean.
It is well worth the effort to have it looking cared for and nice. Good luck with your house sale!
Wow, the difference is incredible! You did an amazing job!
Thank you Lena! I’m so happy it’s done and nice looking again even though it was a back breaking job.
There is nothing more exhausting than getting a house ready to sell (well, the move itself).
Stephanie asked again this week why we didn’t sell out here and move to New England to be with her. Other than the obvious fact that we cannot afford Boston prices, I told her a move would probably do me in. Hmmm… she knows she is going to inherit a few items. Ya think? Naaahhh…. 😉
We have to work on our deck this summer. It was professionally sealed about seven years ago and has lasted but this winter took a huge toll on it, too.
Good luck with all the prep for selling the house.
I am way behind in reading blogs because I volunteered at several different events in April and had a short getaway. So, I don’t know if your daughter has chosen a place to settle. Are you moving to California?
Manuela, this project is fantastic. What great outdoor living space you have. Good luck with the sale of the house.
Cynthia
Thanks Cynthia!
I feel your pain! Scraping that deck must have been a BIT#H!
I didn’t know you were selling your house. As you may know, we just moved a few weeks ago. I’m still recouping! lol. Renting for a while sounds like a good idea, and I have a feeling you will have no problem selling your home.
Hello Manuela,
The deck transformation is incredible. Great job! We just went through the home selling and buying process. We sold our home here in NC in just one showing. So grateful. We are moving to my home state of Florida next month. I can’t wait!
Now that I found your blog once again I’ll be back often. It’s lovely.
Warmly, ~Melissa
It looks wonderful, but I sure wouldn’t want to have to scrape all that!
I am avoiding my front porch…lol That new back porch really really points up why the front porch needs to be tended to. My flooring looks much like yours and the rails are white under a light gray mildew(?) type coating. I was cleaning off the patio this week (another big job though hardly the job the front porch is) and accidentally sprayed one of the spokes of the rail with the bleach product. Perfectly white spot left behind. Now I shall skip painting those this year and just clean them (same effort less money, lol)…but scraping the floor is on the list and I am procrastinating.