Journey of a Jersey Girl : DIY Edition (Deck Refinish)

[_Jersey Girl]

I'm almost DONE!!!!!

With the preparation that is. In a refinishing project, preparation is everything and also time consuming. I used the RO sander to put a nice smooth finish on the boards I'd already sanded and I have to say....it looks GREAT!

I'm taking the day off from sanding today (unless I feel utterly compelled to do it, which I don't) and will do what's left bit by bit after work each day. A little here, a little there...

Know what that means?

It's almost time to buy the stain!!! I'm still waffling between Walnut and Clove Brown. Like you care, right? :-)

I figured out what to do with the second deck since I'm running out of calendar and good dry weather. I'm going to take what's left of the stain and simply coat the other deck. This will protect it over winter and will camoflague it for the holidays.

So you see....Christmas will NOT be ruined! And everyone will NOT laugh at me!

And I won't be freaked out every time I drive up the driveway and see two symmetrical UNMATCHED decks.

That's definitely a first born talking!

:-D

p.s. Never ruin my delusions of symmetry!!!

[_JAK]

"Clove Brown" and "Walnut" just as names don't give much of an idea. I'm sure you'll make the right choice! Once it's done, you'll be on to another project and won't give it another thought...........unless you really screw up the choice! :-)

JAK

[_Jersey Girl]

"Clove Brown" and "Walnut" just as names don't give much of an idea. I'm sure you'll make the right choice! Once it's done, you'll be on to another project and won't give it another thought...........unless you really screw up the choice! :-)

JAK

Me screw up? Have a little faith, okay? ;-) I decided on the Clove Brown because it's lighter and if I don't like it I can always go darker with the Walnut in spring...or summer or...whenever it doesn't snow around here.

I've seen it snow in every single month of the year.

Hmmmm....I am doomed!

Thanks for the encouragement!

p.s. I've already got another little project. I'm going to refinish 3 window sills while I'm at this deck thing. These were left over from another time.

:-D

[_JAK]

See....I knew you had another project!!!!

I'll bet you won't want to go darker once it's done. You will like it! Besides, you don't make mistakes.............................RIGHT?

JAK

[_Jersey Girl]

See....I knew you had another project!!!!

I'll bet you won't want to go darker once it's done. You will like it! Besides, you don't make mistakes.............................RIGHT?

JAK

I only have another project because I don't know how to be idle.

I ain't lyin'

:-)

[_JAK]

See....I knew you had another project!!!!

I'll bet you won't want to go darker once it's done. You will like it! Besides, you don't make mistakes.............................RIGHT?

JAK

I only have another project because I don't know how to be idle.

I ain't lyin'

:-)

Do you ever SLEEP? Sleep is good! ............Projects are good too!

JAK

[_Jersey Girl]

Do you ever SLEEP? Sleep is good! ............Projects are good too!

JAK

Well lessee....yes, I do sleep but not enough. :-)

I honestly don't know how to be idle. Remember that guy on Ed Sullivan who used to spin the plates? That's me. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhoos1oY404

So anyway....I'm done with sanding the floor of the deck. Tomorrow is the outside of the rails and then...wait for it...no really, wait....okay, NOW...

STAIN!!!!!!

Here's the thing about DIYing. You have to be flexible, ready to change your plan...okay yeah, so I read a ton of reviews on Olympic Stain...

BAD!!!!!

So I'm switching to Cabot which is the more pricey but it's probably the best.

So the Clove Brown is out the door dinosaur.

I now have no clue what color stain I am using. I will figure it out when I get to Lowes tomorrow. Some kinda brown. :-)

Am I your only form of entertainment these days or do you like have to get really tanked on martini's before you read my posts so they seem entertaining?

:-D

[_Jersey Girl]

NOW HEAR THIS

Jersey Girl is going up on a ladder. For those of you who have devoted yourself to following this DIY journey (I'm writing to myself here), you will recall that I hate, no HATE ladders.

This could be my last post ever.

Just sayin'

[_JAK]

NOW HEAR THIS

Jersey Girl is going up on a ladder. For those of you who have devoted yourself to following this DIY journey (I'm writing to myself here), you will recall that I hate, no HATE ladders.

This could be my last post ever.

Just sayin'

Just waiting..........................................Predict: not last post!

JAK

[_Jersey Girl]

NOW HEAR THIS

Jersey Girl is going up on a ladder. For those of you who have devoted yourself to following this DIY journey (I'm writing to myself here), you will recall that I hate, no HATE ladders.

This could be my last post ever.

Just sayin'

Just waiting..........................................Predict: not last post!

JAK

Give the man a martini and a good cigar!
:-)