There was a major difference between the newly stained panels in the Viewing Garden and the Stroll Garden.
The previous panels had only received one coat of stain when originally built, resulting in a much lighter stain color that did not hold up well over the years.
Once the panels were removed, I could concentrate on repairing and re-staining the rails and posts.
Overall, accounting for the weather, the project took about three days, making it much more efficient than the Viewing Garden's timeframe. The new planer worked fantastically, and the staining went like clockwork.
Although there are clearly some issues with the posts, they remain upright and should probably have about three years left before I need to consider replacing them. I am not looking forward to that process, as it will require completely disassembling and reconstructing the fence. However, this facelift should allow me to reuse much of the existing rails, roofing, and other features. It will simply be a time-consuming project, with some additional costs to ensure a more stable construction than the original. Adding post protectors and metal rail saddles will definitely be worthwhile improvements.
In the meantime, the facelift looks very good. Both garden areas now have fences that match the Zen Garden's appearance and gates.
I’ll enjoy the view for the next few years while saving my dollars—and my energy—for the next renovation.
