The Home Improvement Thread

[guzzy]

Originally Posted by Shazam

You don't have to do anything to the wood. It'll turn grey on its own. It'll basically last forever especially in our climate.

But you could try Dulux Wood Pride.

Cedar today is not the cedar our grandparents used. The oils don't exist as it is farmed cedar and is likely around 7 years old. You are correct, it will turn grey.....and look like crap.

Stain it. Talk to someone in the paint dept.

[Sliver]

Yeah, don't stain it if you want it to look ugly AF.

[surferguy]

I use Sico available at Windsor Plywood.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by guzzy

Cedar today is not the cedar our grandparents used. The oils don't exist as it is farmed cedar and is likely around 7 years old. You are correct, it will turn grey.....and look like crap.

Stain it. Talk to someone in the paint dept.

I did a cedar fence 20 years ago. Looked great. Still looks great (I still live in the same neighbourhood). Not sure how old the wood was. I hope some BC hippies were maimed in its extraction.

One thing that matters greatly is to use quality nails and screws. Cheap ones will stain the wood because they're not galvanized enough.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by guzzy

Cedar today is not the cedar our grandparents used. The oils don't exist as it is farmed cedar and is likely around 7 years old. You are correct, it will turn grey.....and look like crap.

Stain it. Talk to someone in the paint dept.

This is me to every home store employee

Spoiler!

Originally Posted by surferguy

I use Sico available at Windsor Plywood.

I'll trust this guy who built the crotch table. Got a link bro?

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I can't see how it would be any less than $200K for even the most basic box.

Wait, attached garage?

Meant to say detached, but thank you.

[surferguy]

Here is the cedar stain I used. I applied using a roller.


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[Fuzz]

I use the same stuff on my deck.

[surferguy]

How long ago? I used it on my planters and deck last summer and it still hasn’t faded. I’m wondering how many years I can go before reapplication.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by surferguy

How long ago? I used it on my planters and deck last summer and it still hasn’t faded. I’m wondering how many years I can go before reapplication.

Don't make me embarrass myself...it's been at least 10 years since a re-coat. The stuff under the apple tree is a mess, as expected, but the stuff by the house still looks great. I did re-coat 2 times previous to those 10 years, and it's about 15 years old. Really need to get to it.

[speede5]

What kind of coverage did you get? I have a 15x15 deck with bench railings and a pergola I am dreading having to stain but it has to be done this year.

I was recommended this product by a friend. He did a deck and fence and it turned out very nice.

https://www.homehardware.ca/en/378l-...results%20page

[Fuzz]

I think I use 3/4 of a gallon on ~14 x 20 ft deck, no railings or benches.

[Bill Bumface]

I need to build a back landing outside the door and possibly redo the front porch decking and stairs while I'm at it. What's my best bet for composite decking?

[d00little]

I have a deck that must have been painted before I moved in 4 years ago. It's looking pretty bad so I plan to redo it this summer. I got quotes around $1300-1500 to have somebody else do it, so I figure I'll try to do it myself when I have a week off in July. Are these the correct steps?

- pressure wash the deck about a week before
- apply chemical cleaner
- use orbital sander on some tough areas (thought about renting a drum floor sander but this may be overkill)
- apply 1st coat of stain (use brush in between boards and pole brush overall)
- let dry for 2 days
- apply 2nd coat

It's currently got a dark coat of paint, but I'm thinking of doing a semi-transparent stain.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Congrats on having a tub soon.

Demo was last week, tub was installed today, along with the rest of the plumbing rough in.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by d00little

I have a deck that must have been painted before I moved in 4 years ago. It's looking pretty bad so I plan to redo it this summer. I got quotes around $1300-1500 to have somebody else do it, so I figure I'll try to do it myself when I have a week off in July. Are these the correct steps?

- pressure wash the deck about a week before
- apply chemical cleaner
- use orbital sander on some tough areas (thought about renting a drum floor sander but this may be overkill)
- apply 1st coat of stain (use brush in between boards and pole brush overall)
- let dry for 2 days
- apply 2nd coat

It's currently got a dark coat of paint, but I'm thinking of doing a semi-transparent stain.

I might be wrong, but I thought it was more like:

- Pressure wash with a chemical cleaner.
- Before sanding, make sure wood is dry and not damp. (After power wash, wood should not be exposed to precipitation, dirt/dust and not exposed to UV rays for too long (ie: a few days to a week max). Otherwise, you might have to start over.
- Stain and let dry.
- Once dry and not sticky (half a day to a day depending on weather, you can add a second coat if required)

Typically, I understood the timeline to be 2-3 days with a potential touch up day the next weekend. I don't recall ever seeing suggestions it was a week or two with a bunch of gaps like what you mentioned.

I was told you typically wanted to always aim for 2-3 days where there would be no precipitation or wind strong enough to be blowing large chunks of dirty stuff that could stick to the stain (ie: Leaves and clods of dirt).

[Hockeyguy15]

I doubt right now would be a great time to paint a deck, judging by the amount of pollen covering our car.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Demo was last week, tub was installed today, along with the rest of the plumbing rough in.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

So my yard isn't anything close to level. And the back corner of the house the yard is actually sloped toward the house, not away.

To fix the sloping issue, especially at the corner of the house, would basic top soil be all I need? Anything special?

[Shazam]

Yes use cheap top soil. Nothing with compost as compost disintegrates and then you'll have to fill some more.

Often called "loam".

https://www.barkmulchdepot.ca/catego.../screened-loam