Finish a wooden terrace | Ottawa Citizen

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q What product should I apply to my existing pressure treated deck? The wood is a couple of years old.

TO There are several options, but the best option depends on the level of ongoing work you are willing to do. On the labor-intensive end of the spectrum are colored, translucent finishing products that are like a type of varnish. This will create a furniture-like appearance, but will require sanding to bare wood and re-coating every 2 to 3 years. In my experience, ProLuxe Premium Deck Wood Finish is a product that works well for this approach.

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On the easy end of the spectrum is a one-time treatment that gives the deck a uniform, distressed color. The look is like a barn board, but better because it’s consistent across the deck. My favorite product for this unique approach is Ecowood Treatment. There are other options between these two, depending on the look you want and your eagerness to keep up with refinishing tasks. The most durable deck finishes I’ve seen are like paint in that they hide the wood grain and last about five years. Cabot Solid Color Deck Stain is one of the best products of its kind.

The ideal approach also depends on how old and cracked your deck is now. If there is a lot of weathering and cracking, then a color stain that penetrates and doesn’t leave a surface film is the way to go.

Regardless of which product you use, sand the wood with an 80-grit abrasive on a random orbital sander to maximize finish penetration and minimize peeling. This applies to both new wood and existing decking.

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Paint exterior brick

q What do you think about painting the white brick exterior of a house built in rural Ottawa in 1970?

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TO Exterior brick can be painted, but there is a danger. Regular exterior latex paint adheres fairly well to masonry surfaces, but this type of paint can also cause serious problems over time. Since it traps moisture, it can cause peeling and deterioration of the brick that would not otherwise occur. If there is enough internal moisture in the brick before winter, that moisture will turn into internal ice, expanding as it does, causing the brick to dislodge in a process called spalling.

You can eliminate this danger by using a paint that allows moisture to escape. One option is what is generically called mineral silicate paint. If you Google “breathable brick paint” you will find several options.

Regardless of the paint you use, it is important that the brick is perfectly clean before painting. A pressure washer does a good job, but let the wall dry for at least a week in nice weather before coating it.

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Building a shower

q Do you have experience with the panels offered to make a shower screen?

TO There are many types of panels available for the interior of shower and bathtub screens, with quite a variety of qualities. The best ones I’ve seen are rigid and look quite similar to ceramic tiles.

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Another approach is to use real ceramic or porcelain tiles. This allows more room for creativity, as the visual range of tile options is wider than what you’ll find with sheet material.

Regardless of what you use, the structure of your installation will be some type of wooden frame. In my experience, the standard procedures for waterproofing these wooden frames are quite inadequate, but there are effective alternatives. Schluter makes exceptionally good products for waterproofing shower and bathtub screens. Their KERDI product is a waterproof fabric that does a great job. They also have products to help with the shower base and even rubber gaskets that seal around the pipes where they enter the shower area. Your shower should be completely waterproof before any tiles or sheets are laid.

Steve Maxwell always likes multiple layers of security in his construction projects. Visit him online at baileylineroad.com and join the 31,000 people who receive his free email newsletter.

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