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Sandy Breckenridge’s career as a maker, designer, and artist span over 40 years.

Deck Remodel: How to Modernize an Old Wooden Deck

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Squirrel Enjoying Updated Deck“The ultimate luxury is being able to relax and enjoy your home.” — Jeff Lincoln

Old wooden decks require continuous maintenance. Winter weather conditions can quickly age an all-wood deck prematurely.

Each spring homeowner’s tasks include maintenance, such as power washing all decks and outdoor stairs to remove the build-up of dirt and slippery, ugly mildew. A thorough power wash often reveals areas of chipped paint or the appearance of undesirable weathered deck stain.

old weathered deckIf decking or railing are left unsealed wood rot will eventually set in. The wood-to-wood contact of unsealed deck boards with the support joists can also encourage dry rot conditions of the decking and supporting frame due to contact with continued moisture.

Solutions for Replacing Wooden Deck Materials

A better solution to an all-wood deck is to remove as much of the maintenance-intensive materials as possible and replace them with better material options.

Low maintenance composite decking, pressure-treated lumber for the railing frame and posts, and modern stainless steel balusters are what we chose for our deck remodel. Keep in mind that I am a determined 5 foot, 69-year-old woman. If I can do a DIY deck remodel you can do this, too!

Ordering Modern Decking Materials

Once you determine the square footage of your deck boards and the linear measurement for the deck railing it’s time to order the materials. You can choose to have everything delivered for ease. I found the fee was minimal for the convenience.

Items to order:

  1. Composite decking
  2. Hidden deck fasteners (great option, only 1/2 the work), plus a package of extra drill bits because they wear out quickly
  3. Pressure treated 2×4’s in needed lengths and 3” deck screws
  4. Insta-rail stainless steel tube railing kits
  5. Stain or sealer for the pressure-treated wooden frame and posts

Keep in mind composite decking boards have grooves on the sides to secure the hidden fasteners. They also come non-grooved. We ordered some non-grooved boards equal to the handrail’s linear measurement in the same color for the finished cap.

You will need straight, pressure-treated 2×4’s in various sizes equal to the linear feet for the handrail frame. It will consist of the bottom rail, top rail, and cap board. Essentially, calculate three 2×4 boards for every linear foot of the handrail measurement. (NOTE: The composite cap is installed on top of the pressure-treated cap board.)

We choose the taller, 42 in. H x 72 in. W Insta Tube Vertical Stainless Steel Tube Kit for Deck Railings that you can order online from Home Depot. (They also have 36” high baluster tube kits) The sturdy and slender stainless steel baluster tubes create a modern and visually appealing look.

Stainless steel is also low maintenance! Each railing kit covers 6 linear feet and includes: top and bottom track, balusters, screws, and top and bottom baluster attachments.

It is easy to follow the > Insta Tube Vertical Railing System Directions

You will need a cordless driver for screws and a hacksaw or grinder to cut the tracks to the desired lengths. Be sure to use a level when building the wooden frame while measuring the correct distance between the top and bottom board for the balusters. It is not hard to make adjustments as you go.

DIY Deck Remodel Images

I took pictures to illustrate the DIY deck remodeling process. I decided to tear off the old deck boards as I went so I had a place to stand while installing the new decking. Luckily the support posts were in the right place and in great condition. I only had to add three additional posts which you may also consider when calculating the materials needed for your deck remodel.

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Recycling old deck materialsRemember to keep the old decking boards and wooden railing materials that are in decent condition. Balusters and old decking can easily be repurposed or up-cycled.

I have made outdoor furniture, picture frames, and even wall art out of old decking materials.

Repurposing old wooden deck balustersThe image on the right is an example of an outdoor table made from old wooden 2×2 balusters and the trim from some pressure treated wood.

Use your imagination to see how you can reuse these materials to keep them out of the landfill. Plus, I found it extremely satisfying to make useful and creative items from these salvaged materials.

Please, if you have any questions on the modern deck remodeling process it’s easy to leave a comment so I can share tips and help you with your DIY deck update.

Modern Four Flight Stair Remodel

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Modern Staircase Remodel

“No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp.”—Stella Young

The staircase in our home was a real eyesore. Since we purchased a cosmetic fixer, our priorities drove the remodeling process. For obvious reasons, the top floor bedrooms and the main bathroom had to be first on our list. A few months in, it was time to tackle the entryway and staircase.

Four Flights & Two Landings

1984 Stair Case Design
The entry and staircase badly needed updating. Old carpeting on the stairs, clunky handrail and wooden 2×2 balustrades made the staircase feel like a jail.

I felt overwhelmed when it came to the two-story staircase to the right of the entry door. The handrail and balustrades looked like what you might find in a jailhouse. The dark, drab, and massive two-by-two, 4-level vertical wooden bars may have been popular and easy to construct in the ’80s, but now they needed updating.

I wanted to do something to enhance our 1984, modern-contemporary home that would add more light while also drawing the eye to our new handrail as a work of art. I needed to create within a budget and I wanted the entry to look elegant by incorporating a higher-end design.

Design Challenges

It was time to illustrate a few ideas. I had completed the extensive demo of parts of the stair steps, handrails, and the two-story wooden balustrades.

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In my opinion, modern industrial features can feel stark and cold or warm and visually inviting. I wanted to incorporate some of the existing materials to maintain the integrity and structure of the staircase. I also wanted to create an unusual and unique design that would make the entryway one of our home’s outstanding features. The question was, how do I blend the old with the new and achieve this goal?

I went ahead and priced traditional handrails and balustrades in hopes of finding some creative ideas. Most were too traditional for my taste. Many of the designs I discovered were made out of dark metal and felt cold. Plus, wrapping a railing up four flights of stairs left some structural problems. I needed another industrial type of material that I could adapt to a modern and inviting design.

I stopped to view the industrial metal materials at Lowe’s and Home Depot. After finding some options, the next stop was one of my favorite builder’s supply stores, Tacoma Screw. This store is where the metal, all steel rods, completely captured my attention.

One Step at a Time

The stair steps were another element of the staircase that needed a makeover. The thick, shaggy, worn grey carpet covering the treads and stair risers had to go.

I needed to trim off the wooden sides of each tread to incorporate a new balustrade design. Now was the time to decide what to do with the risers and treads. Do I re-carpet? Do I make new stair risers? What about replacing the stair treads? So many decisions.

Rebuilding the Stair Treads and Risers

I had to do the dirty work before advancing to the fun part of the staircase redesign. I used my jigsaw to rip both sides of each stair tread to make them all flush. White, easy to clean masonite was a perfect solution to cut to size for the stair risers. I found a lovely gray and slightly textured carpet for the treads.

It took a while to assemble all twenty-eight steps—seven on each flight with two landings in the middle.

Some drywall repair and finishing of the ends of each stair tread was another remodeling task. To finish the ends, I chose to rip on my table saw the leftover 2×2’s from the dismantled materials to the desired size.

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Incorporating Modern Handrails and a New Balustrade Design

I came up with a railing design that would stretch my installation abilities. I chose all steel rods as the main feature. Their spacing had to be correctly implemented to current building codes.

I also had to learn how to build a jig that would assist in drilling angled holes in the aluminum plates and the three-quarter wood ends of the thirty-two rods, keeping in mind how they overlap at the end of each stair flight.

In total, I precisely drilled 264 angled holes, first drilling through the wood and then the aluminum plates. Now the rods were safely spaced and secured.

Phew…I was thrilled when I completed installing all of the stairway components. I moved through all of the fears I had and completed my design vision while learning all along the way.

The modern staircase redesign and construction were one of my most challenging projects to date and we still love it!

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After completing the staircase redesign it was time to move onto the next > Remodeling Project!

Making an Affordable Beachy Countertop

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Garden Secret Vintage Park Nature - jjekafluf / Pixabay

If a designer thinks outside the box, unusual materials can become modern devices.

Before I share my countertop home renovation project as my first blog post in this category, here is a little history about our home.

When we bought our modern contemporary home, we knew it was going to take a few years to update and remove all the old and worn 80’s finishes, fixtures, and trims. Although the bones were in great shape and we loved the location–we can easily walk to our little Edmonds, WA downtown–it had been quite neglected. The real estate listing mentioned “deferred maintenance” and that was an understatement.

It contained 2700 interior sq. ft. and a very weathered exterior. We saw so much potential. The backyard also backed up to a beautiful 33-acre wooded park and we even inherited a greenhouse. This would become a long-term project for two people, with Sandy (me) doing a majority of the work. Of course, Kirk (my husband) would help whenever a task was too much for this 5’ 1” senior.

The Creepy Basement Bathroom

Our home budget had to consider the four bathrooms and that didn’t include adding high-end quartz countertops in the basement living area. This meant I had to get creative.

The basement bath was quite a mess. Ewww… It had a small vanity that was falling apart. The sink was cracked. The two countertops were made of some type of weird composite material that was also cracked and stained.

I wanted to do something that would give the downstairs character and tie the space together. I just didn’t know of a countertop surface that would fit our budget and would still look good.

A Cup of Coffee Inspiration

One day when I was sipping a delicious latte at our neighborhood espresso cafe, I sat down at one of their large bistro tables. I was struck by how cool the table looked, specifically the top. It was so innovative. The construction could integrate into that beachy-modern look I was seeking.

The woodworker who created the tables had constructed the countertops out of 2×2’s, which are the same thickness as most countertops. They were glued together and finished with a dark stain. They were topped with a durable composite with a pretty satin finish.

I knew I found my idea, and it was time to do more research on how to achieve a similar look.

2 x 2 x 8 By Design

My first task was to find decent 2x2s that would lend to a beachy finish. I could have purchased smooth boards, but I chose the ones that were rougher cut. Yes, more work but they achieved the weathered look I wanted.

After a bit of sanding, wood filler, and more sanding, the boards were looking pretty darn good. I got out my wood glue, brad nailer, and large wood clamps and began connecting them. Once they were the width I needed, I clamped them together overnight.

Next, I re-sanded and filled the cracks between each board with wood putty. Once smooth, it was time to determine the finish. I choose two different colors of gray and one warm earthy colored stain. I alternated colors just like when applying watercolor to a canvas and blended them until I got the desired look.

Now it was time to figure out a durable yet pretty and effective sealer that would wear well in a bathroom. It took time researching sealers and my favorite for this job ended up being Watco Tung Oil.

Here are some tips for maintaining oiled wood countertops if you are interested in learning more.

Installing the Countertop

Once my countertop was ready for installation, it was time to cut it to the measured sizes. The sink vanity was the first, then a longer countertop would sit upon two cabinets below a wall-sized mirror. Once installed, I added a complimentary tile backsplash.

It took considerable work redoing the bathroom from top to bottom: resurfacing the ceiling, finishing the storage closet, wall paper removal, skimming and finishing the walls, installing new tile floor, and building the vanity. By the time the countertops were installed, I felt really happy to see I had achieved the look I was seeking within my modest budget.

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