Also getting my house painted. I am so excited about this! The back deck is directly under a cherry tree, and I haven’t been great at keeping the deck free of Cherry detritus, and it has been 6 years since it was built, with no maintenance since then. So when I left the house this morning, the deck was a mess-I didn’t think to take a before picture, and wouldn’t have shown one anyway because it would have been too embarrassing, but while I was gone the carpenter sanded down the deck, and now it looks brand new 🙂 This picture does not begin to do it justice
The wood is much lighter in real life for some reason, and far more beautiful than it turned out in this picture. I am painting the house grey with white trim, and am undecided on how to finish the decking. The carpenter says that if I just go with a water seal finish, the wood will keep its current natural color. I am definitely leaning in that direction, but any advice is most welcome 🙂
ST UnWoked & UnVaxxed! 
I’m on it but I have to consult with my chief contractor- my husband. Any more essential details he should know?
He’s really quite talented in this dept so I’ve never argued with his taste level.
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Thank you so much, Liz, and Thank you to your husband 🙂 The only other essential detail I can think of is that the decking is cedar.
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Copy that. Will get back to you tomorrow.
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Thank you!
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P.S. I asked ST to ask you for your e-mail. Husband will have questions but understand if you care to protect your privacy. I just thought it might be easier to discuss details off site, but your choice of course!
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Of course, thank you so much 🙂
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Yay, JaC! Getting the outdoor space ready to *use*…..Enjoy it!
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Thanks, Nanda 🙂 I have actually avoided the deck this year up until now, because it was just so depressing to look at. Seeing it get fixed up is lifting my spirits, and I will definitely be out there often 🙂
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Everything else being equal, I think wood is naturally beautiful so I would tend towards a only a wood conditioner, stain, and compatible sealant. On the other hand having seen pix of Lizzie’s house, I would defer to her and her BCC (Best Chief Contractor) dude.
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P.S. Please make sure the guardrails all along your deck are sturdy so me and my brothers don’t go crashing through them when we get drunk and fight. I would hate for one of us to get hurt.
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Lol 🙂 You are so funny 🙂
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I thought that comment might tickle a funny bone or two. The thing is there has to be some belief that it is possible for it to be funny. I can assure you that it is more likely (to happen) than not.
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Lol 🙂
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That’s great. Do you get a lot of rain in your area?
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This part of New England is pretty dry, though we do often get lots of snow in the winter 🙂 On average, in the summer, I think it rains once every other week or so. Am going to check right now 🙂
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Great👍
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“Massachusetts receives about 43 inches (1016 mm) of rain annually, fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, slightly wetter during the winter.”
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Oh, that very less.
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