We initially moved into our new house in February 2018. From our home inspection, we were well aware that a project that we would have to work on was the deck. It was definitely something that we liked about the house, at least from the part we could see.
There were rotted boards and lots of areas that needed repair. Our home inspector informed us that the bones of the deck were good but it definitely hadn’t been cared for in a while. We eventually found out what he meant.
Surveying The Deck Project
Seeing what we were really working with.
So once all the snow melted, we were really able to see what we were working with. We definitely could tell it was going to be a “project”. Though I have to say my husband loves himself a project.
When we moved in it was obviously still cold out making it not a great time to start work on the deck. Add to that my husband had just started a new job. The deck was definitely not at the top of our priority list when we initially moved in.
Finally Time To Start Working On The Deck
Removing the back fence and rotted planks.
Once Kevin had a little free time and the weather permitted he started working on the deck. He was excited to get started though I’m not sure he realized what a long project it would be.
I have to say most projects outside are not my things. I will admit I have this natural knee jerk reaction to scream every time bugs fly near me.
Ridiculous I know, Kevin tells me all the time. I just can’t help it. Grayson finds this absolutely comical. He will point out bugs any chance he gets, such a typical little boy.
I feel like the deck project was a love-hate relationship for him. He loved the progress he made and how nice it was coming together.
But at the same time, he just got more irritated by how poorly it had been constructed in the first place. Since he kept finding issues that he hadn’t anticipated would need fixing.
He started the project by removing all the rotted boards and replacing them. He quickly realized that to do so was going to required him to take off the entire back fence of the deck. Which was not much fun since it meant he had to be in the marsh area to do so.
Finding Our Plan For The Deck Project
Inspiration sometimes comes from the unexpected.
While the back part of the deck was off, we realized we actually really liked the more open look of it. I mean, it is a marsh area behind there.
The area is definitely not the prettiest of things when you get up close and personal. I mean, I’m pretty sure someone threw their Christmas tree back there. Along with all the leaves of everyone who lives around the marsh!
Still opening up the back made the backyard feel way more spacious. So we decided while looking through our fenceless deck that we were going to change the fence design altogether.
Let The Deck Staining Begin
And continue and continue and continue!
Once all of the deck boards were replaced, we gave them the recommended amount of time to weather. Then Kevin stained the entire deck area.
After finishing the stain, he started working on building the new back fencing. He built section by section of the open fencing. Which was somewhat helpful because you could get one section done and come back to it without having to complete it all at once.
We were definitely excited to have the fence part back on because a neighbor dog that repeatedly got lose discovered that he could get into our backyard.
He would come up to our back door, which caused our dog to go haywire. So we were somewhat happy to have a blocker from the circus master.
I’m not really sure which took the longest because it was all done in pieces. Since with small children, nothing seems to be a “get her done” in a day thing.
Once he finished the railing part and let the wood weather he stained it as well. He actually just recently finished staining everything.
Finishing Up
Which really isn’t finishing in a sense because the deck will have to be maintained year in and year out!
I personally think it looks so much better. There are still a couple of things we want to do, as is with all of our projects it seems. Maybe we like the feeling of always having something to do, who knows!
We would like to put solar lights on some of the fence posts to give the area a little light. Especially when there is a lot of tree coverage in the summer.
I’m sure Kevin has a list that I don’t even know about in his mind of projects that he would like to accomplish for the deck at some point.
Though one project at a time. As he tells me all the time “one holiday at a time, one day at a time..” and so on!
The Little Helper And The Future
Since he is the real reason we do the things that we do. And now that there are two oh the things that we will do!
Grayson absolutely loves helping Kevin with any project he is working on. He was so excited when it came time to work on the deck. He “helped” by throwing his toys into the unfenced marsh area and making daddy jump down and get them for him. This was repeated over and over again.
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Since he started to walk, Grayson has loved to run on the deck. Which was definitely a motivating factor to get the deck repaired. As well as enhancing our concern with having the rotted boards.
I always tell Kevin that if I had a deck like that as a kid, it would have been a stage for putting on plays and things of that nature. I’m excited to see what the boys dream up for the deck!
The Before & After
