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 work on the back terrace morphed into something bigger…..yet better. To see that post of lockdown projects, click here.

The back terrace or porch is a rather large space and has a cooking area (the BBQ), a dining section and a place to gather around a stone fireplace.

The Barbecue Area

At the north end of the terrace is the barbecue area. In addition to our gas grill and vent, there are 2 gas burners, a sink and storage areas below. The countertops are covered in slate, which match the stone intersections on the concrete floor.

The barbecue needed cleaning, especially the stucco wall behind the gas grill. Years of cooking = years of grease build-up. Due to the bumpy texture, which is an architectural feature of our historic home, it is impossible to clean.

Instead, we decide to add tile as the backsplash, which is much easier to maintain. After the tile installation, we seal the tile and grout with a protective coating. This prompts us to also seal the slate countertop. To learn more about the new backsplash installation, click here.

The Floors

Now that the countertops look so good, the floors paled in comparison. So if we sealed the backsplash and countertops, why not the floor too?

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 which is a handy thing to have, but you can 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 for $36.98 a gallon. If you don’t have a Home Depot nearby, you can find a similar product here on Amazon.

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

Here is one completed section and you can see how the appearance is vastly improved. As an added benefit, over time this sealer helps prevent stains and truly protects the concrete floor.

After half of the terrace dries, 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. Depending on your needs and budget, here is a link to wet dry vacuums. Ours is a heavy duty Shop Vac since we use it frequently. It is amazing how just a good, deep cleaning can improve your outdoor space.

Two 8′ x 10′ outdoor rugs were purchased from Rug Studio several years ago and 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 all year long and especially in our hot summer heat and brutal sun.

Now the floors are 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 $125.00 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.

Even though the terrace is under roof, the furniture still gets dusty. But here in Phoenix, our outdoor spaces get used the least during the very hot summer months. But the rest of the year, the back terrace is the main destination where we gather with friends and family.

What a huge difference a little cleaning will do! The cushion look fresh and clean and all stains are gone.

The wood furniture was purchased from Crate and Barrel many years ago. It is not considered official outdoor furniture, but the wood is mahogany and has survived rather well on the covered terrace.

The Finished Product

Here is the finished terrace. It sparkles and even smells clean. The black weathered 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. Also, I am still debating whether the outdoor rugs clash with the new tile backsplash. 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 sealed floor looks.

Custom covers are made for all the outdoor pieces and we will 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 host so many gatherings here on the back terrace, from large sit down dinners to cozy evenings in front of the fire.

Thanks for stopping by today!

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.