Just a Little Deck Update

We knew before we even moved into the new house that we wanted to replace the small, weirdly colored deck attached in the back. And so we did. 

That was over a year ago, so we knew that we needed to put a protectant of some kind on the deck to keep it looking nice for years to come. 

So, we pulled everything off of the deck -- not too hard since the furniture isn't super heavy, and we don't keep a ton of stuff on the deck. Richard rented a power washer and cleaned the entire deck, all of the deck furniture, and the grill.

We didn't want anything dark or really anything different from the natural wood color. So Richard chose a transparent, all-in-one protectant from Behr. We really like that it didn't change the color of the deck by much and that it'll help keep the deck healthy. 

Completely cleared off -- with visible stains and spots. 

Power wash all the things! 

My favorite exterior rug (can't include interior -- that's another category. In the previous photo it's getting a high powered bath. 

Post power washing -- much cleaner!

Our weather-proofing agent of choice, and a cute, little stalker on her way to see what it smells like. 

Richard did the top of the deck, and I finished up the stairs. That work is no joke. Luckily, we had the shade in our favor most of the time that we were applying the stain.

Pre-stair-finishing that shows the contrast in the finished project and the unfinished steps.

Finished! With the addition of the teal umbrella (which I love).