Monday, August 10, 2009

Remember My Deck

My deck is approx. 16 feet wide x 75 feet long. It goes from one end of our house to the other with stairs that lead to the concrete. In the very center of this is a 14 x 17 ft. screened in porch. This is our old fan on our screened in porch.
This is our new fan. Isn't it gorgeous?

This is the deck after getting it pressure washed so we could get it ready to stain.

This old part looks almost blue in this picture but it is really more brown.
This is before it was pressure washed.

The guy that is doing this work for us. We call him Craig Greg because we don't know which it is. So we call him both names. He is a great worker. He doesn't get in a hurry though but he does it right. He brushed most of this stain on our deck. One day I went out and asked him why he didn't roll it on and he said because you have to get down in the cracks or the wood will split. Most people would just do it the easy way. He did roll a little but went between each crack with a brush. He is an example of "do it with all your might." This is what I have always taught my children that no matter what you do in life, do the best you can. My oldest GD and I had this conversation the other day and I told her that it doesn't matter if you are the president of a company or sweep the floors, just be the best that you can be at whatever you do.

Here you can see where he has stained and where he hasn't. Another thing I noticed about him is he hammered any nail that he saw coming up. We have had workers that would never think to do that. He knows how to do it right.

I promise this stain is a chocolate brown but the picture sure don't look like it.
The old church bench has been pressure washed and is ready to stain but we had to send Craig Greg over to the "Love Shack" to work.

It looks so pretty with my furniture on the deck. You can also see my pretty new doors.


Here you can see the other door on the other side of the screened in porch.

Craig Greg also pressure washed the picnic table so whenever he gets through over at the "Love Shack" he will stain this. Do you see all of the solar lights that my husband put on the railing of the deck. You ought to see it at night. It is so pretty.

I was hoping to get a hummingbird at the feeder but just missed it.
I only have 4 this year.



This is in the corner of one side of the deck. Do you think I have enough seating out here. I was counting my tables and chairs and I could seat 16 people at tables on my deck and screened in porch. That is not counting all the loungers, rockers, gliders, church bench and chairs that I have sitting around. Sounds like I need to have a party out here when it cools off. I just wanted you to see how pretty my deck is since it has been stained. I love it!

17 comments:

Needled Mom said...

It is definitely time for a party!! It looks great.

karenshopes said...

He certainly did a good job it looks great, definately needs a party.
Karen

Carliea said...

Looks beautiful

Anonymous said...

I know you are so proud of that deck and porch and I love your new doors! Aren't you anxious for Autumn temps to get out there and host a party? Enjoy it!

Alice Grace said...

Looks like Craig Greg is doing a great job! Can't wait for fall when you might have that party!
Love
MOM

Michelle said...

Wow...what a happy, inviting place. I'll be right over!
be blessed,
Michelle

Darla said...

Do you think it's big enough? LOL...It's beautiful Valerie...I know the grandkids love it out there.

Becky Garrison said...

Valerie, your porch is gorgeous! I am afraid to admit, I have serious porch envy! My aunt owns a $1million plus home, and I was very honest with her one day and told her I loved her house (which is probably 5 or more times larger than mine), but that I truly coveted her back porch! If I could add that to the back of my house, I would be in heaven, lol!

Enjoy the 'new' porch! Becky

Carole Burant said...

What a beautiful deck and I just love the size of it...definitely big enough for a party:-) Love your new ceiling fan as well, it's gorgeous and I've never seen one like that before. These days it's so hard to find a good worker and one who takes pride in his work...glad you were able to find one. When I stained my deck, I used a brush for the whole job, never even thought of a roller! lol As he said, you need to get in every crack so much easier with a brush. xoxo

Julie said...

Looks great--you guys are so talented! Julie

Sherry said...

I LOVE your deck!! It is so nice!!
It looks like a great place to sit with your sweetie and enjoy spending time together.

Sherry

Midlife Mom said...

What a wonderful deck! HUGE! Yes, you must have a party, we will all be there!!! I'll bring a salad! lol!

I didn't know you flipped houses too. I did it for a while until the housing market here tanked but will do it again in the future. You are right, it's a lot of work, nothing like they show on tv with all their crews to come in and do everything. I love seeing the transformation. I always leave a 'before' little photo album for the new owners and they seem to enjoy that. I especially like staging the houses with decorations for the season etc... The Love Shack will make someone a lovely home!!

Linda said...

WOW!!! What a large deck. Great for family get togethers. But then again, when do you find the time.

Allie said...

That looks like a little slice of Heaven to me. What a beautiful place!

Anonymous said...

Valerie, I love, love, love your deck and having the enclosed screen porch as a part of it is such a great addition. What a wonderful place you have.

Karen said...

Wow--it looks great!! :)

G'G'ma said...

That is the most wonderful deck I have ever seen! How can you get so much work done when you have such a great spot to do nothing?

It is great to have a worker who evidently loves his work and does such a good job for everyone.