Decks and balconies are assets when it comes to home ownership. They are something Realtors love to point out when they are trying to sell a prospective purchaser. Decks can also be places where miscellaneous gardening equipment, sports gear, and outdoors toys get stacked up. It's possible to refurbish decks into spaces that the whole family can enjoy. Homeowners can do their own deck remodeling Charles County pros say, by just improving what they already have.
No matter how well your balcony is made, it is an exterior space. Weather is going to take its toll. The best money you will spend when you decide to remodel this space is to refinish it first.
Even if you do not have a lot of remodeling experience, this is a project that you can tackle. The surface has to be pressure washed first, and then left alone to dry completely. After a few days, it will be safe to apply the stain.
You have several types of stain to choose from, solid, penetrating, or clear. Penetrating stains must be recoated every few years to keep them looking good. That fact makes this choice more labor intensive. On the other hand, if you choose a penetrating stain, you will not have to strip it before reapplying it like you would with a solid stain. You will need several days of dry weather in order to do this job.
If your outdoor area has posts and railing, it's not unusual for them to start to feel unstable and wobbly after a few years. They are usually attached to a single rim joist that will flex when weight is applied to it. If this is what you've got, you need to reinforce the joists by screwing a block to them to keep them from moving. You'll be surprised at how much more solid the railing feels.
If your outdoor space is uncovered, you probably won't be using it much during the hottest times of the year. Adding an awning or canopy is pretty affordable and will make the deck much more usable. You might consider lattice work instead of a solid covering. You can plant climbing greenery over the lattice to create a cozy and natural arbor. You will enjoy grilling and eating outside much more with the addition of a cover.
If the idea of an awning does not appeal to you for some reason, you might install a moveable umbrella. This can be a good idea if you live alone and don't need to completely shade your outdoor space. All you need is some galvanized plumbing pipe straps. You mount several around the railing.
After the straps are mounted, you just insert the umbrella pole into one of them until the bottom touches the deck. You can move your umbrella around the space as needed. Built-in lighting on steps and stairs is a fairly easy project that doesn't require an electrician. Mounting planters to your railing will add a nice touch of green to your outdoor space.
No matter how well your balcony is made, it is an exterior space. Weather is going to take its toll. The best money you will spend when you decide to remodel this space is to refinish it first.
Even if you do not have a lot of remodeling experience, this is a project that you can tackle. The surface has to be pressure washed first, and then left alone to dry completely. After a few days, it will be safe to apply the stain.
You have several types of stain to choose from, solid, penetrating, or clear. Penetrating stains must be recoated every few years to keep them looking good. That fact makes this choice more labor intensive. On the other hand, if you choose a penetrating stain, you will not have to strip it before reapplying it like you would with a solid stain. You will need several days of dry weather in order to do this job.
If your outdoor area has posts and railing, it's not unusual for them to start to feel unstable and wobbly after a few years. They are usually attached to a single rim joist that will flex when weight is applied to it. If this is what you've got, you need to reinforce the joists by screwing a block to them to keep them from moving. You'll be surprised at how much more solid the railing feels.
If your outdoor space is uncovered, you probably won't be using it much during the hottest times of the year. Adding an awning or canopy is pretty affordable and will make the deck much more usable. You might consider lattice work instead of a solid covering. You can plant climbing greenery over the lattice to create a cozy and natural arbor. You will enjoy grilling and eating outside much more with the addition of a cover.
If the idea of an awning does not appeal to you for some reason, you might install a moveable umbrella. This can be a good idea if you live alone and don't need to completely shade your outdoor space. All you need is some galvanized plumbing pipe straps. You mount several around the railing.
After the straps are mounted, you just insert the umbrella pole into one of them until the bottom touches the deck. You can move your umbrella around the space as needed. Built-in lighting on steps and stairs is a fairly easy project that doesn't require an electrician. Mounting planters to your railing will add a nice touch of green to your outdoor space.
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