Renewed deck for the summer

These homeowners moved into a house with a beat-up deck. The orange paint was peeling and there was rot in some of the planks. The budget didn't have room for a replacement, so instead, we renewed the deck they already had! Let me walk you through the steps:

1) To start we hand scraped the flaking paint off the surface and sanded down the boards.

2) We replaced the rotten sections with new wood.

3) We pre-filled the cracks and then double coated the deck surface with a pretty great product called Deck-over. It provides a thick layer of protection from the elements as well as traction for human and puppy feet.

While it's a bit labor intensive, there are significant advantages to refinishing rather than replacement. There is a cost savings to be sure, but there's also the gratification of keeping used building supplies out of the landfill.

Don't let ugly utilities be a design drain

We all have them. They pop up in the most inconvenient places. Utilities!!! From water pipes, to sewer clean-outs, cable cords, to electricity meters. Yes, they all serve a very important function and when it comes down to it you'd rather they be there than not. But do they have to come out of the wall right there? Don't we all wish we had that house where all of the needed utilities are conveniently tucked away and yet also easily accessible? I bet you have in your mind that one spot in your own home that you really wish there wasn't a pipe or a cord or a cable. 

One of our favorite things here at Sandoval Contracting and Design is creative solutions for those everyday annoyances. Sure it is not the biggest deal in the world but a poorly placed utility can really put a wrench in the overall feeling of a room. And the truth is, the solution doesn't always have to be that big of a deal either. 

Recently, while helping on a small portion of a basement remodel we were able to put our skills to the test.  The newly finished basement featured a corrugated metal half wall beautifully topped with stained wood, however, there was a main sewer clean-out that rose from the middle of the wall. Now, yes there is such a thing as going for the industrial look but most of the time PVC just doesn't fit the bill. After a quick peek at the rest of the home we could tell the clients had an eclectic design style that tied in many textures and was leaning toward what you might call "refined rustic" with a reclaimed pallet headboard and a wine barrel side table.

We set to work finding the best solution for this specific space and situation. (oh and did I mention, we were on a TIGHT budget) With a quick trip to the free section of the public library we knew we were on the right track. By checking under the jackets of the hardcover books available we were able to find a selection of books that would not only be functional but visually engaging as well.  With our stack of books in hand we set off for the garage. We cut each book individually to follow the slant of the pipe, then fit the books around the pipe and used the nail gun to attach the entire stack. Now when they need to access the sewer clean-out, the stack of books is easily removed. In the meantime this solution blends with their style and allows the half wall to be highlighted.

This was a fun challenge and we loved providing a creative solution. What design challenges do you have in your home?