Overheard my neighbor say his deck lasted 15 years with zero maintenance

I was out back last weekend scraping paint off my fence for the third time in six years and my neighbor Bob walks over. He's got this old wooden deck that looks like it's been through a war, splinters everywhere, boards warped, but he said he's never once stained or sealed it and it's been standing for 15 years. That got me thinking about all the time and money I've been throwing at this fence. I painted it twice in three years and it's already peeling again. Bob's deck is ugly but it's still functional and he didn't waste a single Saturday on it. I think I'm gonna stop treating my fence like it needs to look perfect and just let it age naturally. Maybe put a coat of clear protector on it once and call it done. Anyone else just stop caring about the look of their backyard structures?

2 comments

2 Comments

umaprice1mo agoProlific Poster

It's a good reminder that half the stuff we worry about just doesn't matter in the long run.

thea2461mo ago

nah man my buddy mark did the exact same thing with his shed. he spent like 3 years building it all nice and painted it perfect first year. then he just stopped. didnt touch it for like 8 years. roof started saggin a bit and the paint was all cracked and flaking. but you know what? it still kept his lawnmower dry and the door still opened. one day i go over there and he's just sittin on a cooler drinking a beer lookin at it. he goes "its ugly but it aint leaking so im done caring." i gotta say i kinda respect that. sometimes you just gotta let stuff be ugly and functional.