My wife and I have been working on the outside of our home for the last few weeks. The biggest project has been the wooden deck surrounding all but the east side of the house - 1,500 square feet of wood, power washed followed by sealing with 20 gallons of Olympic weather seal. The sealing's mostly done, and may be completed early next week.
The wood needs to be dry for 48 hours before applying the seal, and after applying, rain should not be in the forecast for another 24 hours. So you need about four consecutive days of no rain, not altogether easy even during this unusually dry summer.
The result has exceeded my expectations. The wood has seen much, it is true, but it's held up nicely. I like the shade of the wood and the simple honesty of the grain and the texture.
When you're nearing completion on an outdoor project, do you walk away from your home a short distance, turn around, and admire your work from the edge of the road? When we used to live in the city of Belleville, we would often cross West Columbia Ave. and admire our work from the St. Anthony Church front lawn. We still do it at our current home.
My wife Jan is implementing some ideas she's had for the front of the house, and it's working out nicely. A couple new plants, an old refurbished table and set of chairs, a little color, a little fresh paint, and voila! - transformation before your very eyes.
Jan had begun to say that our home had begun to look dull and uninviting. Each day, she grows increasingly happier with the result of our work, and we're on the right track, thanks to her ideas and our daily effort.
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