Deck Remodel by Daddy

After getting an estimate on how much it would cost for a very nice company to do all this work, we decided (with some shock and disgust) that $7,000 was a LOT more than we were willing to pay. So your Daddy got busy this summer to make our average backyard deck look fabulous.
Here are some of my favorite shots to show the progress:

I must say that you loved being his helper. This project meant that Daddy spent a lot of time outside working by himself. I was totally NOT helpful. I constantly informed him that I just wanted to get to the part where I got to buy accessories. He did about 80% of the work all alone. (Though we are SUPER thankful for the day that Jason came to help him build the foundation for the second section.)
First he started by ripping off the rails and extending the original portion of our deck to make it about 4 feet longer. This required moving the hot tub AND the rock foundation that he had JUST put in for it last year. But it also allowed us to save a lot of money by keeping most of the original section and just replacing the boards that needed it.

Then he added a brand new section that extended another 20 feet toward the garage. I have always wanted an area for eating and more chairs for guests. He did such a great job making it perfectly level and spacious. I love it! We bought a simple table and chair set that we both could agree on (mostly we agreed on the price!)


Then it was on to the finishing touch. This stuff is incredible:

It is like Rhino Lining for wood. It covers up blemishes and dings in wood and makes everything smooth and durable. It has a bit of texture but is still comfortable to walk on. You choose the color, so we went neutral to blend with the house exterior. It allowed us to keep the older stained wood but you can't tell the difference between it and the brand new wood.
Here is the Foreman on the job:

And here are some shots of the finished area! I love that Bo put down some beautiful stepping stones and the river rock for contrast. The metal cactus was a great find at a local pottery place and is the one thing that I am sure I cannot underwater. :)



Great job Daddy! We love it!