Your Guide to Deck Maintenance
If you have invested in a deck, then you’ll want to keep it maintained and enjoy it for years. In this blog, Citywide will help you become a pro at deck maintenance.
Follow these steps to keep your deck in good shape:
Contact us to install a new deck or to learn more about how to best maintain your deck.
Learn how to keep your deck looking new with proper deck maintenance.
Become a Pro at Deck Maintenance
Deck maintenance is important because your deck faces the elements every day. Both wood decks and composite decks (decks made with a combination of wood and plastic) will become weak over time with exposure to rain and sun. Different elements have different effects on your deck, for instance:
UV rays dry wood and can wear its finish
Moisture and heat can cause rotting and warping
So, save money by becoming a pro at deck maintenance so that you don’t let your deck get to a point beyond repair in need of a complete overhaul.
Continue reading for our deck maintenance guide, we’ve even thrown in some videos to help you.
Over time, decks become weak. Deck maintenance is essential. (Image Source: Pixabay)
1. Inspecting Your Deck
Part of maintaining your deck means just keeping an eye on it. Be observant. Here are some things to check for:
Loose, rotten, warped, splintered or damaged deck boards
Rusty nails or screws
Nails or screws that have become loose or are out of place
An unstable deck railing (rattle it a bit or put weight on it to see how it stands up)
General water damage
Cracked plastic or metal guards
Damaged flashing or ledger boards
Rotting leaves or other organic material that may be lurking in the corners of your deck!
Once you’ve inspected your deck, you can then focus on cleaning and making any necessary repairs.
Be prepared to replace damaged deck boards. (Image Source: Los Muertos Crew)
2. Making Repairs
Once you’ve done your inspection, you’ll be ready to make repairs.
Remove and replace those loose, rotten, warped, splintered or damaged deck boards. We’ve included a video below to help you with this task as it is one of the more common repair jobs!
Replace rusty hardware. If a nail is raised or has come loose, take it out and replace it with a screw
Consider filling holes with exterior wood filler
Replace wobbly railings and uneven steps
While you can make these repairs at any time, it is nice to get this done before doing any further staining and sealing. Next, we’ll look at cleaning your deck as part of regular deck maintenance.
Keeping your deck clean prevents decaying matter from accumulating and causing rot.
3. Cleaning Your Deck
Keeping your deck regularly cleaned is important when it comes to deck maintenance. You’ll want to do both regular cleaning and a yearly deep clean. Here’s what to remember:
Regular Cleaning
Sweep away dirt and debris regularly so it can’t accumulate and rot away. Otherwise, it can cause mould, mildew, and discolouration. You can even use a shop vac if you prefer.
You can use water to rinse off your deck, applying gentle pressure from your water hose.
Yearly Deep Clean
Practice regular cleaning and sweep your deck. Also, remove any decorations like furniture or potted plants from your work area.
If necessary, use a putty knife to clear material that is stuck to your deck or in-between boards.
Wet your deck before applying a cleaner with your hose or pressure washer.
Spray a biodegradable outdoor cleaner that removes mildew and use a scrub brush to remove it.
Then rinse your deck with a hose or pressure washer as you would during regular cleaning.
Some Cleaning Products to Consider:
Simple Green Heavy-Duty Concentrate Pressure Washer Detergent (Can be used manually or with a power washer, but see our “other tips” section before you use a power washer.)
Don’t forget to protect nearby plants and shrubs if you are using a cleaner containing chemicals. Cover them with a tarp or other protective material.
Spring or mild days are great times to stain your deck. (Image Source: Đỗ Huy Hoàng)
4. Using Stains & Sealants
In this section, we’ll look at 3 things:
Sanding
Staining
Sealing
Before you seal or stain your deck, make sure you sand it. Then, it’s up to you whether you decide to stain or seal your deck.
Sanding
First, before you apply sealants or stains to your wood deck, you’ll want to sand your deck to remove any splinters or rough patches. You can use a pole sander and 80-grit sandpaper. You can also use an orbital sander or other electric sanders. When you are finished sanding, use a blower or brush to remove sawdust.
Staining
If you wish to colour your wood deck, you can apply a stain when doing deck maintenance. Keep in mind that this should be done after you’ve cleaned your deck and sanded it. There are different stains to choose from, including:
Semi-transparent stains
Transparent stains
Solid stains
Some stains can help protect your wood from UV rays, fading, and mildew. They can also be water-resistant. Some people will opt to stain their wood deck while others may choose to apply a sealant which we’ll look at next. Note that some stains include a sealant which is a plus!
We’ve also included a video below outlining the steps for staining your deck. And, yes, they involve using a power washer!
Sealing
Like applying stain, applying a sealant on your deck increases its lifespan. Sealants are usually a clear coat applied to help repel moisture and bring out that natural wood look. You use a sealant as you would a stain, cleaning your deck and sanding it before application.
Refresh and restore your deck with regular deck maintenance.
5. Other Tips
Pressure-Washers
Before you consider using a power washer to clean your deck, consider this: Power washers can be too powerful and can damage softwood. If you do use one, use the fan spray in a low-pressure setting. You can also check the instructions to see what is recommended on different materials.
Also note that if you have a deck made from composite materials, don’t use the power washer as it can damage your deck.
Scrub Brushes
Remember, don’t use a metal brush on soft wood like cedar or redwood.
Stains For Composite Decks
Since composite decks do not need sealant, there are some stains available that are specially made for composite decks.
When To Apply Stains/Sealants
If you pour water on your deck and the wood absorbs the water, it’s probably time to apply a stain or sealant. If, however, you see beads of water, the deck is not in urgent need of protection.
Painter’s Tape
Use painter’s tape to protect the edges of your house and other edges surrounding your deck from stain or sealant.
Plan Ahead
Make sure you check the weather before doing major deck maintenance like staining. You’ll need ample time to let your deck dry between cleaning and sanding. You’ll also want mild weather without rain or too much sunshine when staining.
For other questions and help related to decking, contact us here.
Citywide Decks
If you need serious repairs or deck renovations, Citywide would be happy to help. With over 10 years of experience in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, they are your local deck experts.
Citywide installs wood and composite decking in any size or style you desire. With Citywide you don’t have to settle for a standard deck - you can get a custom deck! They’ll build a deck for any budget and you’ll also receive a free, no-obligation quote.
Contact Citywide to learn more or to have a new deck installed.
“A very highly recommended Company to complete your landscape/Deck needs & wants! Great communication, skills & know-how. Sod install last season, unbelievable Deck build this year. Prompt to quote, friendly & very reliable. Cost effective. Really, we cant say enough good things to justify the work they do. Future projects ahead from them, for us!”