3 Ways to Maintain Your Deck After Summer

There’s nothing like relaxing on your deck in the summer, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. But when it comes time to clean up after a season of use, maintaining your deck can be more daunting than you might expect. Here are three tips that will help you keep your home’s outdoor living space looking as good as new:

Clean Your Deck

You should clean your deck at least once a year, with pressure washing being the best way to do this. You can use a garden hose and spray nozzle, but it’s much faster and more effective to use a power washer. Once you’ve removed any debris such as leaves and dirt from your deck, you’ll want to use a pressure washer to wash before applying any new coating of oil or sealer. If your wood deck has mildew build up on it (which usually happens if conditions are humid), vinegar can be used for spot cleaning on decks.

Staining and Sealing your deck

Staining and sealing your deck is a great way to keep it looking nice. When you stain or seal your wood decks, you keep them protected. Sealing helps prevent damage from the sun, moisture and other factors that can cause them to age quickly.

When it comes to maintaining your deck, staining and sealing are two of the most important steps. Staining is applied to the decking surface and not the rails or posts. The stain can be applied with a brush or roller depending on how large an area you’re working with.

Staining and resealing your deck should be done every two to three years. Before applying your stain or sealer make sure that all surface debris such as leaves, and dirt are removed, the deck is washed and has dried. Finally, make sure you lightly sand the areas of the deck you plan to seal or stain. Resealing your deck every three years helps prevents moisture from getting into the wood which in turn helps prevent splitting, cracking, and mildew growth on your deck’s surface.

Inspect Your Deck For Damage

When you’re inspecting your deck, you want to make sure that it’s in good shape. Look for any cracks or other damage, such as:

• Mildew or mold growth
• Loose boards
• Damage from pests, such as termites and carpenter ants

If you see signs of any of these problems, contact a professional for help with repairs before they get worse.

Maintaining your deck can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few maintenance steps, you can keep your deck looking as good as the day it was installed. With these three tips, you’ll be able to keep your deck looking great without breaking a sweat! Contact us today for any repairs you may need for your deck!