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Actor Jamie Chung’s deck remodel reveal.
Updated
By David Steckel, Thumbtack Home Expert
We’ve been fans of Jamie Chung since her season-stealing appearance on The Real World and have followed her career through her critically acclaimed turns on Showtime's Dexter: New Blood and HBO's Lovecraft Country to her newest role as first-time mom of twins. So when she told us earlier this year that her backyard deck was in need of some TLC, we jumped at the chance to help.
The Thumbtack app matched Jamie and her husband, actor Bryan Greenberg, with one of our Top Pros with Platinum status in the LA area, Vision Home Remodeling. And after seeing photos of the project and scheduling a site visit through the app, owner Ravid arrived at their mid-century home on a perfect Southern California spring day to get the project scoped and started.
“The process of finding our pro, Ravid, and getting the project moving was so simple — the Thumbtack app makes it incredibly easy to find and connect with a pro,” said Jamie. “We’d been talking about giving the deck some love for ages, and then, just like that, it was underway.”
An Early Surprise: Why Maintenance Matters
Shortly after the project kicked off, however, we hit a speed bump: Ravid and his team found an issue that stopped them in their tracks. While the wood in Jamie’s deck seemed fine at first glance, upon closer inspection they found that it had rotted.
“We saw that the wood wasn’t in good enough condition to simply sand and stain and there was structural termite damage to boot,” said Ravid. “It was definitely a surprise, but unforeseen situations are common in construction. Our job is to give homeowners all of the information and options so they can make the best decisions for themselves according to their goals and budget.”
Ultimately, the deck would need to be fully replaced along with the termite-addled joists and damaged frame. What was originally supposed to be a minor project quickly turned into more than 10X the original budgeted amount — something that could have been avoided if the previous owners had kept up with annual maintenance.
“Bryan and I have had our hands full these past few years with work, our twins, and lots of sleepless nights. When we’ve been able to prioritize renovating the house, we’ve been focused on the interior,” said Jamie. “We thought the deck was just in need of a simple sand and stain — we had no idea it was going to require a complete overhaul. But our pro was amazing about walking us through what he found and together with the Thumbtack team, we were able to find the best path forward to correct the situation before it became a dangerous emergency.”
The Process: Choosing Materials
After the initial surprise came the fun part for Jamie — deciding how they wanted their home’s outdoor space to look and feel. Ravid brought samples of different woods and materials so they could see and touch the options and the duo collaborated to make the final selection.
“I always make sure to advise on the most suitable material according to the project, the style of the home, and the particular climate conditions,” Ravid said. “Jamie and Bryan made a great choice with a premium redwood that has beautiful natural variance with warm reds and yellows.”
To settle on the final stain color — Penofin Ultra Red Label — Ravid and his team stained samples of the redwood with different varnishes so the couple could envision the final result. He encouraged them to choose a stain with 99 percent UV protection to best withstand the sun. (Ravid’s pro tip: high-quality protection is key, since the elements are the #1 enemy to any kind of natural wood — whether it’s on your house, walls, deck, or fence).
The Final Results: Design Details
Once the deck was completed, Ravid and his team installed a new railing with a handrail in the same gorgeous redwood. Stainless steel wire cables gave the railing an instantly modern look. He also noticed that Jamie had placed a few potted plants on the old deck — which sparked an idea.
“I thought, why don’t we build planters from the same redwood so everything looks seamless?” said Ravid. “I went to my favorite local nursery and got a few plant options that would be most suitable for the amount of sun exposure and then Jamie chose the ones that fit her aesthetic.”
Ravid and his team built the planters and planted a chic olive tree along with ground cover, then added low voltage lights and a drip irrigation system. The result: A low-maintenance, water-wise on-deck garden that looks much more elevated than potted plants.
“Jamie and Bryan were truly great customers, and the project was a real collaboration between all of us,” said Ravid. “They did everything that makes homeowners a pleasure to work with: having fast responses, being prepared for changes as they happen, staying flexible, and keeping the good vibes!”
Inspired? How to Get Started
The average cost nationally to seal and stain a deck is between $0.50 and $2.50 per square foot, and should be done every two years or so (depending on sun exposure). As Jamie and Bryan learned the hard way, it’s a simple task that can save you tens of thousands of dollars and help you avoid major headaches down the line.
Homeowners like Jamie and Bryan can use the Thumbtack app (available on Android and iOS) to avoid these costly surprises by staying on top of annual home maintenance. Thumbtack’s free personalized guides help homeowners proactively care for their home all year long through seasonal recommendations based on their home and location and our Thumbtack Plus membership – just $49/year – includes one-on-one guidance from home specialists to take the guesswork out of planning and completing high-budget projects, peace of mind through our $10K money-back guarantee, and cost saving benefits like 20% off on-demand bookings.