Tag: power washing

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Tackling a Deck Cleaning in the Summer Heat

Written August 30, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Yesterday’s work still made me feel stiff this morning. I’m not precisely sore, but I am definitely drained. My wife and I are in the middle of a big home improvement project: repairing and staining our deck. We’ve been clearing out the weeds and debris around it for the past few days to prepare for the work ahead. Yesterday was the big task of power washing everything, and while we managed to get a lot done, it definitely took a toll on both of us.

We woke up early because my wife had rented the power washer and wanted to get started as soon as possible. She was worried about fitting everything into the car, but I wasn’t too concerned. We’ve got an 18-year-old Toyota Corolla that my wife absolutely loves. It’s needed a few repairs over the years, but it’s been surprisingly reliable. Despite its age, it’s still going strong. That said, my wife gets frustrated with its small size when carrying renovation supplies.

Yesterday was no exception. We had a list of things to buy before we could get started. In addition to renting the power washer, we needed a few jugs of deck cleaner and a new scrubbing brush. Our old one had broken, and we wanted to ensure we had everything on hand before starting. So, we headed over to Home Depot to grab the supplies. It was a bit of a tight fit, but we managed to cram the rented power washer and all the supplies into our little coupe.

Once we got home, the real work began. My wife rented the power washer for nearly the entire day and was determined to make the most of it. Not only did we clean the deck, but we also tackled the siding and the driveway. It was a long day, made even more challenging by the weather. The temperature hit over 100°F, and even though we managed to finish before the full heat of the afternoon set in, it was still scorching and humid.

The chemicals in the deck cleaner didn’t help either. My wife felt sick from the fumes, becoming dizzy and queasy as we worked. We powered through it, though, and managed to get everything done. By the end of the day, the deck, siding, and driveway were all sparkling clean. Despite the exhaustion and discomfort, seeing the progress we had made was satisfying.

Our next project will be repairing the deck stairs, which were damaged a while back when we had a tree removed. We didn’t get as early of a start as we had hoped, thanks to my alarm being set later than planned, but we still accomplished our main goal of cleaning everything. The deck is now prepped and ready for the next phase: staining. However, we’ll need to wait until the temperatures drop before we tackle that. In this heat, staining the deck wouldn’t be ideal.

We’re relieved to have completed the hardest part of the job. There’s still more work to be done, but at least we’ve made a solid start. Home improvement projects can be tiring, but they’re always worth it.

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Lawn Care, Falling Leaves, and Easy Fall Chores

Written 8/27/2024

Hello Dear Readers,

As autumn slowly arrives in Nashville, I can feel the subtle shift in the air and see signs of the season’s change. The once rapidly growing grass has largely ceased its energetic push toward the sky, and the cooler weather has made everything feel a bit more relaxed. With the recent lack of rainfall, the trees have already started shedding their leaves earlier than expected. It’s a sight that marks the beginning of a new chapter for the landscape, with dried leaves decorating the ground and the lawn no longer demanding as much attention.

The lack of rain and the cooler temperatures have significantly prevented the lawn from its usual growth spurt. That’s why I decided to skip mowing for the first time in months. The grass didn’t look eager to grow, and with the season transitioning, it felt like a good time to pause. However, if you know Nashville’s weather, you know it’s unpredictable. While it might feel like the mowing season is over, there’s always the chance that a warm front will come through, pushing the grass into a final burst of growth before winter sets in. I’ll have to keep monitoring it over the next few weeks, reassessing as I go to see if the lawn needs one last cut or if we can officially retire the mower for the year.

Mowing the lawn has been a key part of my summer routine, but other outdoor chores take center stage as the season changes. The fallen leaves are already creating a patchwork carpet across the yard. As they pile up, they’ll need to be dealt with before they get wet and decompose, making them even more challenging to clear away. Leaf removal is a task that only intensifies as autumn progresses, and I’ll have my hands full before long.

Meanwhile, my wife has taken the initiative to tidy up around the house by tackling the wedding on the weekends. Weeding is another job that tends to escalate this time of year, so I’ll likely join her efforts this week to help ensure everything stays in shape.

We’re bracing for temperatures to spike again, with forecasts predicting highs over 100°F (38°C) on Thursday and Friday. My wife isn’t thrilled about the heatwave. Still, she’s already set on tackling another big project—power washing the siding, deck, and driveway. It’s a daunting task in such extreme weather, but it will be rewarding to have everything looking fresh and clean as we move into fall.

With the changing season comes new challenges and responsibilities, but it’s all part of maintaining our home as we welcome autumn in Nashville.

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Planning Ahead Is A Key To Complete

Written August 23, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

About two months ago, my wife proposed a few yard projects we need to do this year. Some projects can depend on temperature or seasons so that they can be tricky. For example, she insisted that we do deck staining this year. My wife planned to do this sometime this summer. 

My wife usually plans projects for at least several months to eliminate any obstacles to completing a project ahead of time. Her problem is that she needs more time since she is busy. 

Deck staining demands many external conditions, which we need to watch for. She told me the deck must be stained when the temperature is 50F to 90F without rain for at least 24 hours. That eliminated substantial summer days. The ideal temperature would be Spring. However, we got a lot of rain in Nashville in the spring, so she did not want to do this project in the spring. So, we have between September and October to do this project.

There is something we can do ahead of time. For example, we can clean our deck beforehand so that the deck will be easy to sand and stain. 

My wife combined two projects at once. One was to clean the siding of our house and the deck. She wanted to rent a power washer from a nearby Home Depot so we could do both simultaneously. She took a day off this Friday, Thursday, and Friday of the upcoming week. The following week is a long weekend, so it would be the perfect time for a project like cleaning and washing.

After my run, we did some yard work to prepare for winter and the upcoming projects we have been forming. Today, we wanted to remove any weeds or extra trees that may interrupt our side or deck washing. 

Afterward, we got some delicious gyro plates from a nearby restaurant. I also completed my daily chores: bottled kombucha, did laundry, and put it away. So I called, and today was our successful day.