Monday, August 10, 2015

Why Decks Need Stained....



  Tracked on sand , from when we put sand in the brick walkway.
  Winter bringing down the leaves , in fall.
 This little fellow chewing the boards, from salt being put down to melt ice or frost.
  Watering plants and plenty of hot sunshine.
 Moving things around on the deck, scratching the boards.

 We can't forget this...I mean so much of it at times too. All these things take their toll on the boards...and it should have been done last year....but here it is now , a year later. It rained again this morning. So those proverbial best laid plans...LOL.  It will get done this year, for sure...just not when we thought we would have it completed.
   I know all of you have  gone through the same thing a time or two.  I am certainly not going to worry about it. I'll just be very happy when we can finish it. Remember this spring...well it was late spring. I bought a new rug and umbrella. I have yet to use the umbrella and the rug is now rolled up since it dried from the rains. . It is always something when you own a home.
   I hope all of you are keeping cool.   I know some are having very hot days.  Like our friends  in Texas.  I am just going with the flow, so I can enjoy life.  Hope you are enjoying your lives too. XO

35 comments:

  1. Hi Susie,
    I know what you mean about the deck. With all the things you mentioned we have to paint ours every year. I did find stuff at Home Depot called Deck Restore last year and we used it and this year we just had to touch up spots so it worked pretty good. Best we have found to not have to paint or stain every year. Good luck.
    Kris

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    1. Kris, This stain has a sealer in it and is good for many year. I am hoping if we do this procedure right, it will last. I have thought of painting ...but my husband likes the stained boards better. I just don't like having to do things like that every two years. I want to be able to sit out and just enjoy the new rug and umbrella. LOL. Hope you have gotten to eat at your new table and chairs. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  2. Our upper deck needs some attention. There are some rough boards that are splinter problems. It is TOO hot and we are TOO tired to deal with it now so.....we bought an outdoor rug on clearance at Sam's and just laid it out! Problem solved! For now! 104 as I write!

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    1. Linda, I did get a new rug and you know it pretty much stayed wet from our rains ....made me half ill thinking about that. I was so excited with it and the new umbrella for shade. It just hasn't been a good year for our outdoor relaxing. The heat there has us beat...please use caution when you are out. Love you, Susie

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  3. keeping up a deck is a lot of work, I spent more hours in the sun than I want to remember staining,,you have a lovely spot, in any season,,

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    1. Laurie, I am finding that the same work I used to do and feel good about, I am starting to dread. LOL. It will be great when it's done, no matter when that may be I guess. Hope you get to sit and hear birds where your terrace is. That's what I love about sitting outdoors. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  4. First of all, around here it has been picture book perfect for about a week now. It's going to change but it has been wonderful.
    Fortunately the back deck here is concrete and stone and doesn't need staining, but it is a nice place to have your coffee on a beautiful morning..

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    1. Boston Boy, I love sitting out to drink coffee and sitting out with a cool drink at the end of the day with Ted. I also like to be outside to hear the birds singing. So I use the porch/deck often...but just not this year. I know the weather you are having it's what we had for about 10 days here...perfect. Enjoy. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  5. I do not have a deck so don't have those problems but can certainly understand them. Weather sure takes a toll on anything outside that's wood. I need to do the wood around my front door. Well, that's a project for my vacation in September. Hope you get some time to get things done.

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    1. Kathy, Outside chores have been difficult do to the heat, or rain, and absolutely the bugs.LOL They can drive a person crazy. I hope you can do the wood trim or maybe get some help with it from your son. Don't risk hurting yourself. Bless you, xoxo,Susie

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  6. There's always so much to do when you have a home but it's worth it. We've had hot temps and high humidity but not as bad as other states! And when it's hot, I stay inside and sew! Hugs, Diane

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    1. Diane, I know you can get very humid at times there. It's the humidity that knows me out. LOL. I think you have a perfect cure for having to stay in so much...your sewing is awesome.:):) Blessings to you and your hubby, xoxo,Susie

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  7. our deck is so bad b/c hubby only power washes it every few years and puts a sealant on it....but he never stains it. It needs more maintenance that he is willing to put in. :-( I love mine tho!!!

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    1. Linda, The power washing ruffles the fibers of the boards..making splinters sometimes. I love how clean it looks when it's washed though. You need yourself a discount or rummage sale rug..to protect your feet. I never go barefoot here. Yes, I know , I am truly an old lady. I do love sitting out on our porch/deck. It's a nice place most days. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
      p.s. Hope you are getting some good weather.

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  8. It will look great when it is done!! Blessings from Missouri!

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    1. That's what I keep telling myself. LOL. I will have to take a snapshot of it's finish. Hope you are doing well , enjoying the summer. It's been some crazy weather. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  9. Our son just stained the deck at our previous home. Yup, all of these things had taken a toll on it as well. Our small deck is Trex so we don't stain it, but still it needs a good power washing now and then.
    hugs,
    Jann

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    1. Jann, If we had it to do over again, we would use that trex also. It would mean let stress. Hope you are doing well. I like your new profile picture...you look very pretty. xoxo,Susie

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  10. Always something that needs to be done. You are so right about that. I know we spent a lot of time staining our deck, too. It was fun the first few times, but after that, well ... It is so hot here I wonder if it would be worth trying to fry the egg on the sidewalk. ;-) will be glad to see some cool weather and more rain.

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    1. Nonnie, It's hard to plan anything. Today the lawn man came to treat some crabgrass that his company was to take care of at the first of spring.. he was here at 9:00...at 2:00 a black cloud big enough to cover our acre here, rained like mad for about 3 minutes. I step out to take a picture of it. The sun was shining all around and it was raining right over head. I hope the crabgrass treatment took before it happened. I have heard of people frying eggs on a walk from the heat. Remember going barefoot as a kid and walking on those very walks. LOL Hope you are doing well, and at least trying to stay cool. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  11. Seems the work never ends...ya just gotta take a few days every now and then and go on strike..hahhaa...weather here is supposed to be cooler next week..in the LOW 90's....whew

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    1. BJ, I have just put this project on hold for another week. LOL. It keeps raining here, not lots or for long...but enough to wet the deck and it has to be dry to stain. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  12. I hear ya!! Things are put on hold here all the time, Susie. We will get to them eventually.
    I guess we will just enjoy the summer in the meantime.
    Love to you, dear friend.
    Debbie
    xo

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    1. Debbie, As I type this, I am thinking of weeding...we shall she if I get it done. :) We have some low humidity today...that is great. Hope you are having a good day there. Love you, Susie

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  13. it is ALWAYS something with a home isn't it! I just want to live in mine!!!!

    Cindy Bee

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    1. Cindy, I have been wondering how far you have come along with your house. I saw painting in one post this summer. I sure hope it won't be much longer. Blessings,xoxo,Susie

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  14. oh yes I know what u mean Susie..our decks paint type stain would come off in areas every winter....the moisture and shoveling the snow off it..this year we sanding it off and applied the RESTORE product..very tough stuff.. has a gritty (sand in it ) finish..we need another coat..but other then that it seem good..will see what its like this next spring..hugs,P

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    1. Patty, I wish we could have done one of those composit decks..they never need anything but maybe a washing. The older I get the less of these big hot job I want to do. I hope we get to enjoy our decks soon. Blessings to you, xoxo,Susie

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  15. Hi Susie. We, luckily, have a roof over our deck/porch so it doesn't get a whole lot of exposure except from skunks! So far, so good. Once you get it done and are able to put up your new rug and umbrella, it will be heaven..Happy Wednesday..Judy

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    1. Judy, I keep thinking I'll have it under control....soon. LOL. I may be dreaming too. Our porch was a 4 foot overhang and then we built a 12x21 deck ...so part is under roof. I wish now we had just made a three season room. You know that old hindsight. LOL. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  16. Oh, geez, I forgot we need to do ours, too! Should have done it last year...ran of time. This year, its just been too wet. We could do it now, but don't have it budgeted! By the time I do, the leaves will be coming down good. They are already coming off the cottonwood/popular and the walnuts! I guess it will be next year...again. I hope you can get yours finished and you don't wake up to a squirrel stuck to it the next morning. ;)

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    1. Tete, You made me laugh..I could just see that fuzzy faced squirrel on the sticky deck before it dries. LOL. My gosh, I made two rabbits scurry as I was pulling weeds. I am all cooled down now and had my shower. ..one of those10 minute ones. LOL. It is always something to fix, replace or repair, or make...when you own a home. I think I am getting wore out from old age and hard work.LOL. I hate that too. I do not mind aging, I just want to still be able to work like I want. You know? Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  17. Yes, I can see why your deck needs staining again. There is a lot of wear and tear involved in a deck, but I just love yours, Susie. I don't have a deck in my front yard, just a small porch area. Oh that snow, how beautiful it looks.

    love, ~Sheri

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  18. I know exactly what you're talking about. We have the same problem here and it needs to be stained so bad and we can't get a dry day at all. Hope you're having a nice week. Hugs and Blessings. xo

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  19. Ours needs it so badly, Susie. It hasn't been stained since a grandson did it for us 6 years ago. And I remember what a difference it made that time. What I'd like to do is get my husband to tear it all up and put stones down. Less maintenance or more, I wonder?

    Good luck to you on the project!

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