I was really hoping to be able to share a fully stained deck with you this week but it just doesn’t look like the weather is going to cooperate. This year we have gotten so many rain showers….nothing big…but frequent enough to prevent us from getting more stain on the deck. Which is ironic because for the last few years we joked that we lived in “the valley of the shadow of drought”. That’s a little Bible humor for you. If you have an scathing email to send me because the Bible is no joking matter….here is the president of our complaint department…[email protected]
I will catch you up on the deck though to continue The Deck Diaries….after we added all the needed wood and pressured washed, it was time to sand.
Pressure washing can force a lot of water under the board fibers and cause it to splinter. So we decided that this time around we would sand and just call it a day. In the future, after the deck has been stained, we hope to have no more need for pressure washing up here and we can just use a cleaner and spray that off with a hose. Fingers crossed.
Back to staining. After a lot of research, I found that you don’t want your deck to be too smooth….that causes other problems. If the deck is too smooth, then it won’t absorb the stain/sealer properly…and in the end you probably will give yourself more work. SOoo we decided to go with professional recommendations and not do it any more than 80 grit (which is used for sanding bare wood in preparation for finishing). Jeremy would do a quick sand with the belt sander at 60 grit to get off the giant splintering shards and to even out any wood that was really warped and then I followed behind him with the regular palm sander and do 80 grit. It was also a really great time to check each and every nail that was even slightly raised and hammer it down.
You can see what a difference it made on the deck itself….that big pale square is the sanded parts and everything else is just pressure washed and cleaned….
The hardest part was not the job itself…just that it was such a large surface area. Also…being so pregnant makes everything harder. I think I need to invent a Pregnant DIYer’s Seat. It would be low, extremely comfortable and on wheels. It would have a compartment for your drink, your Tums and your nail gun. Also, it would have a sciatica setting that would massage your lower back. Doesn’t that sound like a winner?
After probably a week of sanding, it was finally done. I wish I was joking about how long it took us. Jeremy kept asking if we could rent something to make the job go by faster but I was against the idea because I am such a cheapskate. Looking back…the idea definitely had merit.
We did get to start the staining but I gotta confess right now…it’s not done. We still have the steps, the step railings and the baby gate to do. And we really need to do one more coat on the floor once it drys out a little here in Atlanta. But for the sake of blogging….I’m gonna just keep on talking about it like it’s done and so….just pretend with me okay? And pray for a week of dry weather and a grandparent who is willing to watch our kids for seven days. #thanksandamen
So that’s our sanded deck…ready for stain….and then we will move on to building a couple items (like those tall planters) and then when I get the green light from Home Depot, I can’t wait to show you the decorated space. Just as a heads up, I will be sharing on their blog (it’s called The Apron) and here as well, the following day….so you must stay tuned for that!
Also….this evening I have a bonus post for you guys….we got cute new kitchen chairs and they look adorable. Can’t wait to tell ya how they are changing our life!
The deck is looking great! I love all of the progress photos. I’m so impressed that you’re sanding that while pregnant! You should totally make a DIYer’s seat! I’d love one and I’m not even pregnant! 😀
Preggo DIY seat: you could try building a furniture moving dolly with a nice cushion (possibly stadium seat style with back support), maybe some adjustable height legs, and one of those marine cup holders that folds up when not in use. Getting back up though when you’re through, that’s the tricky part.
Okay, this: ” If you have an scathing email to send me because the Bible is no joking matter….here is the president of our complaint department…[email protected]” had me cracking up for real. Poor Weston! haha!
It looks great so far! I’ll be honest, I’d have already given up. I hate manual labor (ahem) and you all took on a big job. Kudos to you.
Ugh, sanding… my least favorite thing to do. Being a big time DIYer it is almost a weekly occurrence, but I still don’t like it. I guess it is just the in the middle process feel of it. You have started the project, but cannot do any of the fun stuff to see the progress. Just sanding. You doing that pregnant, I would have gracefully let my husband take over this job. I would have brought him water, wiped the sweat from his brow and compliment him on his awesome sanding skills. Who am I kidding, I am almost 4 years since having my last baby and would still do that if I had this much sanding to do. Your deck is coming together nicely. Can’t wait to see the furniture you choose for out there.
YES PLEASE to a pregnancy DIY stool/chair. on my to do list is remove baseboards and sand walls in prep for painting and i am currently 34 weeks preggo with our first baby so sliding across the floor is less than appealing. you are a total inspiration. when someone says i am doing too much i just smile, nod and think, “katie bower laid tile while pregnant. i can definitely paint a wall.” keep up the great work!
I will never build or have a house with a wood deck again. EVER! Ours is tiny and I hate the maintenance of it. One level homes with a paver patio for this girl from here on out!
You’re confusing me, girl! Haha! I thought you stained your deck a few weeks ago before the baby’s 1st bday party?
How long did it take you to sand the deck with that tiny handheld sander? I want to do this to my deck but didn’t even consider using a hand sander. And how many sheets of paper did you go through? My deck is a little smaller than yours so trying to determine if it would be best to rent a large sander or just use our small one like you did.
Put in my Nature Box..Dark Coca Almonds! They look so good!
Hurray! Another step in the deck diaries done! It’s going to look so good when it’s all done 🙂
My auto mechanic husband has a stool exactly as you described. They’re quite common in the auto mechanic world. Look for it on a mechanic’s tool website. Maybe Snap-On?
Oh yes…that is exactly what I need. Also…if it could come with a babysitter optional that would be great 🙂
xo – kb
We started sanding it but it’s not done. It’s a huge deck! And it took me a week – everyday for at least a couple hours….more on the weekend. I went through 16 full sheets of sandpaper and Jeremy went through 7 pieces for the belt sander.
xo – kb
Hahaha!
xo – kb
Seriously. I would be totally stuck.
xo – kb
Hahaha! We need tshirts that say “brow wiper” 🙂
xo – kb
I applaud you for how much you get done while pregnant! This looks great so far. And if you end up creating your chair for pregnant DIYers let us know because I would buy it lol 🙂
Can you do a pregnancy update? 🙂
That really made me laugh too!
The auto mechanic stool is a nice option, my hubby has one, and I have used it during DIY projects while pregnant (although it was mostly just to sit and watch ;)). However, I saw this stool in a gardening magazine the other day, and it seems like it fit your description PERFECTLY http://www.gardeners.com/buy/deluxe-tractor-scoot/40-131.html?start=2&q=tractor%20scooter
Although I must admit that I laughed out loud when I first came across it 😉
I’ll definitely put it on the list.
xo – kb
Katie the deck looks fab! If you were to rent something, what would you rent to help make the job go faster? We have a huge deck and a portion of it is screened in. If there’s anything that can help re-finishing it go faster I’m all ears! Love your blog!
There are commercial sanders that people use inside. I am sure you could use it outside too. Usually you can rent them at your local Home Depots for different lengths of time!
xo – kb