Deck Completed!

So happy that, aside from some minor trim work, the deck is essentially completed! We replaced the deck boards and installed new railings! I just love the new railings too! They look so much nicer than the old rails! I always thought the previous rails looked ok; they came with the house when we bought it. But after replacing them, in hindsight, the old rails just seem so ugly now! LOL! 

It is generally recommended to wait a few months before staining, of painting, pressure treated deck boards. They will dry out and shrink a bit over time and once they shrink down to where they’re going to end up, that’s when they can be stained or painted. 

I already re-stained the posts while the rails were off. I was able to give them a couple of coats over the old stain. I’m wondering if we should just clear coat the new deck boards? I kind of like it in its natural wood tone! It adds a little contrast with the brown house, posts and main deck frame. I find it attractive! 

Well, here it is! 

I also added 4 more solar post lights so now all of the posts have them! Except the two posts at the bottom of the stairs, which don’t rise enough above the stair rails to accommodate solar post lights. 

And of course, for comparison, here’s what it looked like prior to all of this work! Just some photos that were taken during construction!