Beautifying the Patio

See what a wonder this months-long job turned into!

Five months, and then some. That's what it's taken to revitalize this patio cover! It's a fabulous piece, but not without wear and tear.

Before we could get to staining it and bringing back that rich brown tone, we noted weaknesses on several of the supporting beams. With the help of a couple jacks in hand, we removed each one at a time and replaced it with a proper, sturdier support. The newly-installed wood had to cure, though, so we faced a three-month break (later extended to five months on account of Tennessee's humidity lengthening the process).

Once we were finally able to get back to work, we took a few gallons of Ready Seal's "Dark Walnut" stain and laid multiple coats on. The end result was nothing short of magnificent: a patio cover that had for too long stood out awkwardly next to such a lovely house now rose in matching perfection, abundant brown shades radiant beside the cream-colored home.