The Back Terrace Project is Complete

House Projects

Back in March, during the lockdown, we created a list of home projects to tackle. As I was washing all the windows in the house, my husband started working on the back terrace. Like most projects, the back terrace morphed into something bigger…..yet better. To see that post of projects, click here.

The barbecue needed cleaning. That led to putting up new tile on the backsplash behind the grill. Of course, the tile requires a sealer to protect it. That spilled over into sealing the slate countertops. I shared that project a few weeks ago when the BBQ was completed. If you missed that post, please click here!

The Floors

Now that the countertops look so good, the floors paled in comparison.

But before sealing the floor, they need a good cleaning. Pressure washing the concrete/slate floors significantly helps to remove the dirt and stains. My husband did this one half of the terrace at a time. We own the Subaru pressure washer but you can easily rent one, too.

After the floors are clean and dry, sealer is applied to both the slate and the concrete. We tried a satin finish first and didn’t like it. So we decided on this Home Depot Behr Premium Wet-Look Sealer.

Using a long handled roller, the sealer spread easily on the floor.

Here is one section done and it is a vast improvement.

After half of the terrace was dry, we moved the furniture and began the process on the other half.

The Rugs

The outdoor rugs have never been washed so this is a great opportunity to vacuum them and pressure wash to remove several years of dirt. Purchased from Rug Studio several years ago, these two 8′ x 10′ rugs are SO affordable.

I just checked and they are still available online. Click here for the link. Prices are a bit higher, but not by much. I am so pleased with how these rugs are holding up outside in our hot summer heat.

Now the floors are now cleaned and sealed, the barbecue area is complete, and well, the upholstered furniture looks like the ugly sibling. Truly, we have used this furniture outside for years. The cushions however, other than spot cleaning, have not been deeply cleaned….ever.

The Furniture

This Bissell Little Green is one of our best purchases. This little spot and stain cleaner is great for both upholstery and carpeting. If you have pets or families who spill, this is the toy for you! Being small and light weight, it is so easy to haul around. It’s approximately $100.00 and can be ordered online through Amazon. Click here for link.

All furniture cushions and decorative pillows are Sunbrella fabric and clean easily with the Bissell.

All the outdoor (really indoor) furniture was purchased from Crate and Barrel many years ago. Since this terrace is covered and somewhat protected from the elements, the furniture has survived fairly well.

The Finished Product

Here is the finished terrace. It sparkles and even smells clean. The black cabinet on the right side of the photo is a new addition. This piece used to be in the family room but will now store placemats, candlesticks, vases and other outdoor entertaining items.

I will at some point need to refinish the mahogany dining and coffee table, but not until the weather cools down a bit. The chandelier over the table needs replacing too. If you have any suggestions, please share! Also, I am still debating whether the rugs clash with the tile. Unfortunately when I selected the tile, I didn’t even consider the rug design. Let me know what you think.

We are so pleased with how the floor turned out. Custom covers are made for all the outdoor pieces and we must cover all the furniture before our dreaded summer dust storms arrive.

It feels SO good to get these projects checked off the list. Extra kudos to my husband for doing all the work on this space. We can’t wait for cooler temperatures and no more COVID so we can entertain here again.

I hope everyone took some time off and enjoyed the July 4th holiday. Are you working on any home projects?

If you missed the blog post on Fall Entertaining on the back terrace, please click here.

To see the actual restoration/construction project of the back terrace, click here.

Sometimes in my posts, I provide links to the products. Sometimes I get a stipend at no cost to you. Other times I don’t get anything but want to share my resource.