What started out as a quick touchup of the eleven-year-old side deck has turned into an all-consuming project. The cool days have been perfect for outdoor activities, and one thing just led to another, (the danger of a new 18V power driver and all) and now the railings are being disassembled and the belt sander is running at full tilt.
The problem stems from the fact that the cedar deck rails and posts were originally stained. The cedar sweats oils and the rain and snow sits on the railings, meaning that a stain job lasts for only a couple of years before it starts to peel and flake. This is getting old. Then there is the problem of not slopping white stain onto the metal spindles while painting the wood rails.
Do you really want to tape out all those spindles -- or just freehand it? Easier to just take it all apart with the new driver?
We're going to start over, disassemble, prime it, paint it, and maybe get some kind of sealant over that. It has to be white to match up with the homeowners association trim rules, other than that, any ideas while the iron is still hot?
