Fire Pit upgrades ~ Part 1 : bench restoration project

The fire pit that almost wasn't because Mr. Wonderful was not keen on the idea originally but finally gave in and built this beautiful area to gather and enjoy a fire. He will be the first to admit how much he enjoys sitting out there and that it was not such a bad idea after all. However, little did we know that the benches he built would not hold up in the elements and have to be completely refinished less than two years after he built them.

Apparently the waterproof varnish he used was not so waterproof after all and began to flake and peel off which resulted in water saturated wood. The weather had taken its toll and the boards would not last if something was not done soon. So began the removal of all the boards and there are a lot of them. Once removed they were all laid out to dry for several weeks. 

As soon as he was sure they were completely dry he sanded them down to the raw wood. 

He used a new brand of stain and also a new sealer/varnish. 

This time it was not only waterproof but a heavy duty Marine Varnish. If it is good enough for boats then it must be just what we need for the backyard benches. 

He applied multiple coats to be sure it covered well.

It was a slow process since it took hours to dry between layers and there are so many boards it was tricky to find enough space to lay them out. 

Once they were nice and dry it was time to reassembled the benches and since he thought ahead and had marked them all it made it fairly easy to put back together.

While he was at it he touched up the fit pit too with a coat of some appropriate paint. 

Once the benches were back we of course had to have a fire pit that same night even though it was a bit cold and raining just a little. A good test for the Marine Varnish and I must say it appeared to be working as expected.

Before it got dark we had a beautiful rainbow overhead!

A great night to be out enjoying the fire pit, however, there is more to share about our fire pit. In fact, it is something new which I have been wanting from the beginning and finally convinced Mr. Wonderful that it was a good idea however, as usual, he took it to a new level. So come back for Fire Pit upgrades ~Part 2 and find out what he made for me and the bonus project!

For more about our DIY fire pit:  go here

Happy Friday!

Fire Pit upgrades ~ Part 3 : DIY side table

Our Fire Pit upgrades are finally finished. The Bench Restoration Project is done and we have a brand new Outdoor DIY tabletop which fits perfectly on top of the fire pit when not in use. The only other items I thought we might add are some pillows and cushions however Mr. Wonderful had another idea. 

When he was finished making the cover for the Fire Pit he had decided he wanted to make a small matching Side Table. 

Not only would it be useful but would also give him a chance to use the Mortise machine which he borrowed. 

A matching side table never occurred to me however it turned out perfect and the little shelf on the bottom is great.

It is not only useful but makes the table extra sturdy too. 

The fire pit is quite coordinated now and the new cover over the top makes the area look neat and tidy. 

We love the new additions and think they will get a lot of use. 

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Fire Pit upgrades ~ Part 2 : DIY table top

It is official, Summer is here!

Don't let the rain fool you though because today really is the first day of summer, believe it or not, and we are ready to relax in our backyard....rain or shine! In fact, Mr. Wonderful has been working on our backyard Fire Pit the past several weeks to make sure it is shipshape. He started by restoring our benches which did not hold up well in the weather and also built a Fire Pit Table Top which he finally agreed to. He was not keen on the idea at first however he finally came around and not only did he make a table but a really nice one at that. 

Since he had been wanting to try inlaid wood he figured a table top for the fire pit would be a good practice project and he had plenty of leftover stain and Marine Varnish to finish it. 

The table went together pretty quickly, at least from my point of view.

He chose cypress as the main wood for the table and used some mahogany that he picked up in a scrap bin at the woodworking store for contrast which was perfect. 

He applied may coats of varnish to protect the table from the elements just as he did on the benches. 

It turned out beautiful and much nicer than what I originally had in mind. 

Our fire pit is now more versatile and much more attractive when we are not using it for a bonfire. 

It has already been tested in the rain and is completely waterproof which it needs to be here in the Pacific NW. So the FP table top has become a reality but it does not stop there. Oh no, there is also a bonus project! It is so cute and will be very useful so I hope you will be back for Part 3 to find out what he has made now. 

Happy 1st Day of Summer!