> John,
> If you don't mind sharing, what did your ad
> say?

It's a classified. "DECK RESTORATION --- Your deck like new again...overnight! Free estimate. 555-5555." It's Don's ad, with a few words changed so I'm not directly copying him.

It runs for a week starting tomorrow. I'll let you know the exact results.

I love this! 24 hours ago, I would have never even considered deck renewal, and here I am running an ad. Isn't life an adventure?

I also contacted Dever Enterprises, and they are a very user-friendly, enthusiastic group. They explained a lot to me about the renewal process, probably more than I would have learned at Home Depot. Seems that stripping the deck is necessary (using Cuprinol or similar) if it has been previously stained.

My next challenge (after learning how to apply the stuff without splattering it all over the world...and do it with enough dignity so it looks like I've done it at least once before...can you tell I'm no handyman?) is learning the ins-and-outs of hiring contract workers, depending on the number of responses I get.

By the way, we've got a pretty good thread going here, haven't we? Don made the same single post in a gazillion other forums, but we seem to be the only ones taking action with it.

Thanks for the kickstart, Don.

John