Handy Man, Shmandy Man

So it's time to repaint the pool deck. We've watched it deteriorate for some time now, and knew this day was coming. The big question is -- do you do it yourself or pay for somebody to do it for you? It seems like an obvious answer to a guy like me -- (One time I poured gas on a pile of debris in the backyard to burn it. When I lit it it sounded like the shuttle reentering the atmosphere. I'm still trying to grow hair back in some places. Almost had to call the fire department, but dodged that bullet... but that's another story) -- PAY somebody!

That was my first mistake. I decided to do it myself. I mean money is a little tight, we don't want to be wasteful in these trying economic times...... so I though, "how tough can this be?"


I'll try and keep this short, but let me just start out by addressing the "prep work" -- meaning clean and pressure wash the area. My pressure washer didn't work, so I loaded it up and took it in for repair -- "can't be repaired, get a new one". I went and bought a new one. Loaded it, unloaded it, put it together, added oil and gas, started it, wouldn't work. Called the store -- "doesn't appear to work, bring it back and we'll exchange it for you." Took it apart, reloaded it, unloaded it, got another one, loaded it, unloaded it, put it together, added oil and gas, started it.... it worked! See how simple that was. Now I'm ready to START "prep" work.

Add that to the fact I had to take the initially recommended 3 gallons of stain back because it didn't work on existing paint as I was told be "experts" that it would. Then went to two other paint stores before I could get what I needed to paint the deck -- it was not a pretty beginning to a simple project.

I could go on, but needless to say, the deck is now down. Two coats of bright white paint making the deck look like a million bucks.... actually more like $470 when you add in the new pressure washer, not to mention 20-25 hours of "prep time" to complete the job.

Just a word of advise. When you are thinking about doing the job yourself, I don't care HOW small it is.... DON'T DO IT! The satisfaction of a job well done is NOT what it's cracked up to be.

I feel better now.......