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How To Maintain Your DeckBy Jim Sulski Summary: Decks have replaced many patios and porches but are far from being low-maintenance. Jim helps homeowners learn about the basics of taking care of your deck. Across backyards, the treated wood deck has in many cases replaced the patio
and the back porch as the place to beat the summer heat. Decks are usually made from pressure-treated pine. By forcing chemicals into the wood through pressure, the wood is protected from insect and rot damage. But pressure-treated wood is far from being a no-maintenance or even low-maintenance material, said the decking experts. Water, the sun's ultraviolet rays, foot traffic, furnishings, mold and mildew are just some of the things that can affect a pressure-treated deck's lifespan. For example, the most prevalent problem is the sun. The sun will not only discolor wood but will hasten the drying of wet wood, causing cracking and warping if not correctly waterproofed. In other words, pressure-treated wood is not waterproof. In fact, if you have a deck that's several years old, now is the time to take action to stretch its life, said the experts. The most important step to prolonging a deck's life is to refinish it at an appropriate time. Depending on the finish, exposure and the usage, some decks may need to be refinished every year, others every few years. A good rule of thumb is to refinish the deck when it starts to look bad. REPAIRING CRACKS, WARPS, ETC. Your first step should be to check the deck for any physical deformities such as splinters and cracks or warped boards or rails, etc. Sand out splinters and replace boards that have deteriorated. If a crack goes more than halfway through the thickness of a board, than that board has lost its structural integrity and should be replaced. To replace a board or rail, remove any screws, nails or bolts holding it down in place. You should be able to find a replacement piece at a home improvement store or lumberyard. About the only deck piece that may be too complicated for a do-it-yourselfer to replace are those support posts anchored in cement. A warped board should be unfastened from the deck and refastened in place with a new screw or bolt. Also, check for loose boards or rails. Use only rustproof galvanized nails or screws, which will provide more support and will not stain the wood. Make sure to drive the heads of the nails or screws slightly below the surface. REFINISHING Before a deck is refinished, it should be thoroughly cleaned. A good cleaning solution is one cup of detergent and one cup of bleach to a gallon of warm to hot water. There are also commercial deck cleaning products available. Wear protective gloves and clothing and apply the cleaning solution with a deck broom or scrub brush. The solution will mildew and lighten dark spots. After rinsing, let the wood dry for two full days. If your deck is colored with a wood stain, your options are somewhat limited. If you know the color of the stain, you can re-stain the deck the same color. Or the other choice is to remove all of the stain by sanding or pressure washing. After the deck is cleaned, you have three choices on how to refinish your deck. They include: • A water seal or waterproofer is just that - it keeps water from seeping into the wood and causing the wood to split. In addition, water seals also have mold and mildew inhibitors. Water seal usually needs to be reapplied every few years and foot traffic will wear it off as will exposure to the sun. • A wood protector will offer the same protection as a water seal but will also somewhat inhibit the deck from turning gray. It's a nice touch if you want to keep the wood a natural color. • Wood protectors often need to be applied more frequently than water seals. • For a more aesthetic touch, semi-transparent stain can be applied to the deck. The various color stains also have the properties of a water seal. But staining takes a lot more maintenance. And once you stain a deck, your only option is to continue staining that deck, or strip off the stain. GENERAL CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE There are some other steps you can take to help prolong the life of your deck. For example, removing from the deck anything that can rust - such as metal plant pots, grills or toolboxes - to prevent staining. Also, clean off the desk occasionally with a garden hose. © by Jim Sulski. All rights reserved. January 24, 2005. NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher. © 2005 by Ilyce R. Glink. Distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate. |
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