Spring projects - Opaque wood sealer information wanted

[lighter]

I'm happy to report I'm swinging a hammer and flatbar this week.  Ahhhh the lovely feeling of driving screws with a quality drill. 

::nodding::

Deck, gutter, and concrete repairs will be complete tomorrow, then on to pressure wash the house, then the deck, and seal the same with a good opaque product. 

Anyone have recommendations for deck sealers?  Southern exposure, gets quite a bit of water so the wood really takes a beating.  I've used FLOOD clear sealers in the past..... so expensive, but good results. 

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Well, my past experience was with Thompson's Water Seal on cedar. Stinky stuff and I don't like ladders; not my favorite job. But it lasted 5-7 years before needing another coat.

Where I'm at now, though, I look more for marine sealers - anything that'll hold up to torrential rain, lots of UV protection, and salt air. I think MinWax makes some exterior sealers, too. BTW - I prefer the look of a semi-transparent sealer, that lets the wood variations show through. The totally opaque stuff - well, paint does the same thing. The wood will soak up everything... so resign yourself to maybe having to do 2 coats.

Suggestion: spend an hour or so, in that aisle at Lowes or Home Depot and just read the cans and pick the brains of the people who work there. And one thing I've noticed, is that in this kind of stuff, "you get what you pay for" isn't always the case - sometimes the less expensive (not the very cheapest) - brand is just as good as the priciest.

(I'm in exactly the same mode this spring! Lots of projects like this.)

[lighter]

Suggestion: spend an hour or so, in that aisle at Lowes or Home Depot and just read the cans and pick the brains of the people who work there. And one thing I've noticed, is that in this kind of stuff, "you get what you pay for" isn't always the case - sometimes the less expensive (not the very cheapest) - brand is just as good as the priciest.

(I'm in exactly the same mode this spring! Lots of projects like this.)

I'm looking for the mid range product that does the same job as the pricey ones..... exactly.  Whatever I do, the results have to be worth the time and trouble of pressure washing, sanding, replacing rotted wood, and prepping for whatever it is I'm going to take a day or so to put back over the wood for protection. 

Getting 7 years out of a product would suit me just fine.

I've finished deck repairs, and the gutter work, and going to school to get new program off the ground with first big meeting of volunteers!  Whoo hoo!  We're making more tree chandeliers for May Day, which is a very whimsical event in our community.  Walking meditation, but boy dumping the wood at the landfill.

Oy. 

The

stench.

I forgot how much fun that is; )

Lighter

[Hopalong]

I'd Google "low-VOC opaque wood sealer" since I'm pretty committed to those kinds, for both health and enviro reasons.

Good luck,
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

My dirt's here! My dirt's here! My dirt's here!
YAY!
My dirt's here!   

Silly isn't it? Outside: dirt is GOOD; Inside: dirt is BAD. Oh well.

Dirt, rocks and mulch... here I have to BUY same. The only thing I can "make" better here than any place I've ever lived is leaf mold; about 3 months on the concrete - and I've already got 2-3 inches of fine black dirt -- LOL.

And so, the weight lifting starts - 40 lb bags from the pallet to the wagon... AFTER much stretching and bending cleaning up the beds around the pool... leveling... building raised bed from kit... adding the most important part - the liner, so the dirt doesn't wash away in the sand... and then I'll need 4 bags of dirt for each large bed. THEN: relaxing by the pool in a new bathing suit...

Seriously Lighter: take advantage of your local hardware stores (ACE is really good) or even if you have a Southern States - farm store and ask them what they sell a lot of; farmers don't like doing home repairs/maintenance frequently... they got aminals and fields to tend; so if it's home related, they want a good, cost effective product that'll last.

[lighter]

Skep:

When I was in my dirt ordering mode I ordered it up by the truckload.  I remember scooting along on my bottom to help spread it out..... the good old days.

I miss them a lot. 

It sounds like you're in the zone, A, and that you'll be perfectly exhausted and content when you finally find yourself by the pool in that new suit.

Right now I have a guy with a little chainsaw working on one of my neglected ivy banks.  He's cutting the larger stuff down... how does one save a bank that has too too many weeds?  I'll get into a weed pulling frenzy, but is there something else I should be doing along with pulling?  Spraying something, or something?

The chainsaw guy is also cutting out some dead limbs.... I worry he'll have a stroke up there, all he drinks is non stop Mt. Dews... cannot be good for him.

I'm looking forward to seeing how much old deck sealer comes off with the power washing....... maybe I can use a semi transparent stain.  Probably not. 

I'm planning meals ahead for the week..... going to cook a bunch of poultry breast ahead for gluten free paninis quick, and to throw into Thai and mexican meals.  I just love having good food handy in the fridge so I don't have to blow up the kitchen every night when we're in a rush.  Those frozen meats are..... not always like real poultry. 

The raspberries are back in the store, whoo hoo..... and watermelons: )

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Well, there are a couple things I can suggest for dealing with banks...

really big ones, deserve being terraced - I used rock walls that I built, in WV to hold the terrace in place (hand dug/landscaped)... and always leave yourself a space to walk on the flat sections! (learned the hard way... ) Railroad ties and landscape timbers work well, too. The timbers can be drilled and spiked together to make a 6 in high wall.

I have one now, that's only visible from my back porch; patio walls and fence make it kind of a shady, secret spot. I started, at the top. Planted lily grass along the fence (neighbor has jasmine on the fence that needs a little tidying too). Then, because it's all sand back there (and some leaf mold... and the few bags of mulch I was able to haul)... I've planted vinca minor (purple flowers; there's a white variety, too), various sedums (which don't need much water), and creeping phlox. The side of the hill keeps "sliding" in torrential downpours and last summer, because the vinca hasn't done as well here at spreading all over the hill - yet... I just left the weeds to kind of keep the hill where it's supposed to be.

This year, the treatment is going to be to lay down black weed block - it's a polyester cloth and spike it place. This is going at the bottom of the hill - because some of my transplants have made it and are surviving... and spreading. And I'll order some more vinca... more phlox... and then I dig a pocket in the hill - twice the size of the root and make a tiny little flat "step" for the plant. I'll mulch the whole thing... the key is to use spreading ground cover plants; keep it weeded and mulched; watered; and be patient. The plants stay green all year.

In another spot, hubs is talking about using blue rug juniper again. The only drawback to these, is that they're prickly... and in the first few years, they don't cover as well - so there's a lot of weeding, unless you plant through weed cloth. Even then, I've had crab grass "infestations" make it through...

[lighter]

sKep:

I  have juniper in the front, but have to get the weeds out....... any ideas for that?  I'm thinking a shovel, snippers, gloves and long pants/sleeves for a day or so of back breaking work.  Should feel good.  Also, there's an existing ivy bank that needs to be de-weeded as well.  One bald patch where I planted all types of lovely bulbs at the curb.... what was I thinking?  Now I have a corner at the street that's bald a lot of the time, and patchy with bulbs the rest of the time.  Clumps and stringy border must be improved.  Do I dig up some existing ivy and put it BACK, or plant new?  Should I kill everything on both banks, and plant back fresh, weed free in the fall?  I know I'm going to move all the bulbs, and it will be fun to do pots again, some here and some at school. 

I also have some trees coming down.... one hovering precariously over the carport worrying me.  EEeeeee.  So good to have an appt to remove it..... when the guy cut vines around it, it shifted!  Eeeeee.  Like the vines were keeping it in place, maybe.  Eee.

Aside from that the big weeding is done, and things look so nice. 

I just love the big patches of moss throughout the shady parts of the yard.  It's lush, and green and doesnt' ever look bad when the grass is high.  We took  pictures of everyone's feet in it when we moved here in a particularly lovely patch of moss under those big Norther Pines that look absolutely primitive.  One friend wore 2 different shoes, cause she's just different; )

Now, it's sunny, cool, and breezy.  I'm pressure washing today.

Oh Lord, I think the tree guy is taking down that tree now.  He was going to call.  Gotta go.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Your weather must be more stable than mine. It's been most of a week since my dirt got here... and after the late season nor-easter, I was just happy my head wasn't still inside a large echoing barrel. Yesterday was the first sun we'd seen in days... and boo-hoo, we had errands to run before the forecast thunderstorms rolled in (supposed to be last night)... that might start pouring in an hour or two.

There's plenty to still do inside; but I want to be outside... so I'm pouty; conflicted; not doing much of anything. And trying to kick myself about it isn't working either... I just stick my tongue out at myself... and OH LOOK! A new post on that webpage!

LOL....  "mastering the art of doing nothing"... yeah, that's it!!   

[lighter]

Our weather's been wonderful here..... a little cool this morning, and would have been great for physical labor.

WHat I ended up doing was helping daughter's team perfect their castle for a catapult war with opposing team.  It was all about math, and making shapes from paper and joining all with glue and light tape to see who could build a stronger castle to withstand homeade catipult onslaught.  Both strong enough, so it devolved into a rock chucking contest, which was interesting.  Each team had a rock chucker boy, and the strongest boy's aim was so bad he only made one hit.  Very fun, but wish children could have relaxed into it and just enjoyed the destruction.  They were so competitive, they couldn't just be happy with terrorizing each other's castles.  Noooo, they had to whine the entire time about things that didn't seem at all relevant to me.  Oh well.... I had a good time, and certainly never got to build cool stuff like that in math class. 

I have trees all limbed up, and view back in place.  Garage out of peril from leaning tree, and it's sun sun sunny out today.  Planted Blackie Potato Vines in pots yesterday...... love love love that variety.  The creeping jenny is that spring green I adore and bulbs about all up now.  I'm always happy to see what pops up.  There were 2 surprise hosta plants in the planters I split...... I'm thinking the tulips will be blooming for May Day: )

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Having some trouble with the board, using Chrome. Might have to go back to IE.

I got two solid 1/2 days of work done; we're expecting 3 days of rain starting monday... so I might go out and do a little shopping (need a printer, misc) today. Seems right now, I have found my "groove" which is 3- 5 hours of work at a time. I can do that, be a little stiff or sore, but I'm not incapacitated for days... so, I'll take it, for now! Wish while I was doing those projects, I didn't think of 15 other things I "should" or might "want" to do... too.

Sat down and traded "war stories" with a friend last night - re: families and abuse, lawlessness, ne'er-do-wells... and went through beginning to end, my months' worth of "unexpected journeys". Friends' situation isn't that far different - but he's not directly in the middle of it, either. He's a younger guy, late 30s. And just as nice as can be...

But you know what? I really didn't like doing that - going through it all again. H and I had followed up on it last week, ourselves... given some time/distance... just sort of a where are we now? Now, I just want it to all be over -- however it turns out.

Might put out 5 bags of river stones today -- a trough for rain to splash down off the roof w/o washing away the mulch and sand. (Houses here don't have gutters! I guess they blow off in high winds...)

[sKePTiKal]

Does it ever feel to you like the system is dysfunctional, lighter?

That things are just so top-heavy, overly complex, that they just don't WORK anymore?

I've had that feeling more than once, lately.

[lighter]

Does it ever feel to you like the system is dysfunctional, lighter?

That things are just so top-heavy, overly complex, that they just don't WORK anymore?

I've had that feeling more than once, lately.

It certainly is dysfunctionl, sKep, but IME it does work.

Eventually.

It's almost impossible to dispel the lies PD's tell.  It seems like we have to go through courtroom after courtroom until the PD's finally out themselves.

I don't understand it yet, but I think it has to do with our feeling hesitant about telling the terrible truths about the pd's, when the Pd's tell logical untruth after untruth about us... chaos and confusion is truly the pd's hallmark.  It's hard to believe even toned down versions of reality.... it just doesn't make sense, kwim?

I keep thinking there's some sort of logical formula to getting to that last courtroom more quickly. 

::shaking head::

I think I've figured some of it out.  It's not easy, but the system does eventually work, IME.

IF you can get to that final courtroom.

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Well, I sure hope there's an express lane Lighter. This week, I've been conquered by a drain that decided to stop working w/o warning and hubs & my own DIY'er ego... when I should've just called a plumber on Monday and gotten the disruption over with. And of course, that pipe is buried in behind nice cabinets and tiled floors... and not being able to have running water in the kitchen has well: stopped me dead in my tracks and I feel like a completely helpless loser...

my routine is disrupted
my OCD- need to "clean up" is stymied
and lo... the problem has it's teeth in me and I am mysteriously unable to go "do" anything else... and I've made myself totally miserable as a result...

including send that letter to H and her fiance; who are also very busy with spring projects and have not yet talked and made an absolute decision about how far they're willing to go when the court date comes up.

And it's probably due to the fact that whatever that date is, it is fast approaching. I did hear that the counselor decided the older boy needed a complete psych eval... so that may factor into it. Dunno. But it's weighing on me, even when I'm not actively "thinking" about it. SIGH.

Good luck with yours - may it be your last court date! 

[lighter]

sKep:

I think I might have found the key to the express lane.....

now I just have to fabricate the door, find the magic portal, and create the world from materials I have no idea how to use.

I know that sounds rather complicated, but that's pretty much where I'm at this month with regard to finding short cuts out of this legal morass.

Also, I'm stepping out of my comfort zone with regard to plans for the summer, and how the children are schooled......

buckle your seatbelts.....

here we go!

Lighter