During this past week Mr M power washed the siding/doors and patio. We were in a hurry, so we left it at that, but I think we'll have to go back and try using a long handled scrub brush to get some of the awful red mud residue off. Even power washing couldn't remove it all.
We also brought down our outdoor furniture from the back deck. It's been looking pretty sad lately.
We love the set and it's weathered really well in the years since we bought it, but it hasn't gotten quite as much use as we thought it would. The back deck gets full sun through most of the day, and we just don't spend much time out there.
Moving the furniture to the new patio means that it should get more use. The patio faces the trampoline, treehouse (which we finally started working on again), and what passes for a lawn in our yard. So the adults can sit in comfort (the cushions really are very comfy) while the kiddos play. The side of the house that the patio is on also gets a lot more shade, so it doesn't get as unbearably hot as the back deck.
I'm also planning on building a raised fire pit next to the patio. I'm counting on this enticing us outside more in the evenings, and it has the potential of being used almost year-round. A raised fire pit should be safer with little kiddos running around.
my very high-tech raised fire pit mock-up
Now our patio looks like this. I love how it turned out!
When we moved the furniture we also brought down the deck box, since we use it to store some of the cushions. It adds a little extra seating and hides the ugly propane tank a bit.
I did some research into the timing of staining the wood, and there doesn't seem to be a consensus about the best time to stain treated wood. In the interest of finishing some other projects, I'll be waiting at least a month before I get started on the staining.
And I still need to find some plants to train up and over the pergola, but again, I want to finish my building projects as quickly as possible before the heat and humidity ratchet up more than they already have.
Even unstained and without plants growing up the posts the patio looks great! It really makes the basement door area look more finished. And it makes the yard much more inviting, despite all the other work that still needs to be done.
Looks good!
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