How to Maintain the Beauty of Your Deck

You’ve gone through the process of having HA Construction Design build a beautiful deck for you, completing the landscape of your backyard oasis. Now, the question remains, how do you maintain your deck and keep it in top form for years to come?

If you’ve yet to have your new deck built, then request one important thing from HA Construction as you make plans for the project. Essential to the longevity of your deck is the use of pressure-treated lumber that has been rated for ground contact. This will be much more resistant to rot over time. Untreated wood can be easier on your budget now, but it will cost you more in maintenance and repairs down the road.

While it may take a couple of years for your new or newly restored deck to start showing signs of use and the effects of weather, you’ll want to start on maintenance now. Making a habit of these routine steps will most certainly give your deck a long life.

Keep it Clean and Dry
While a bit of rain here and there won’t hurt your deck, you need to make sure that it dries sufficiently after the clouds part. Use a rubber broom (a large squeegee) to remove the water from your deck and clean off debris. Look around the area of your deck and remove any overhanging tree limbs or repair guttering that may cause excess water to hit the deck.

Check between boards and next to the house for dirt and be sure to remove it. While you’re friends may not be able to see it when they come over for a deck party, dirt in the cracks soaks up water and promotes rot. A putty knife is a great tool for this simple maintenance step.

While you may be tempted to use a pressure washer on your deck to get off all the grime from the past couple of years, and many other resources will tell you that a pressure cleaning is a good idea, avoid doing this task yourself. One false move and you’ve caused irreparable damage to your deck . Instead, have HA Construction do the big cleaning jobs for you, so that you can be sure your deck will look the way it’s supposed to when finished.

Mopping Up the Mildew
Alright, it’s not as easy as mopping, but a deck that begins to have dark stains or turned a weathered gray may have some mildew you need to tackle. Incidentally, keeping your deck dry as previously explained will help curb this problem, but sometimes mildew is unavoidable. Keep in mind before you proceed that decks built with redwood are often left untreated so that they turn gray, for a desired silvering effect.

Clean sporadic mildew stains with a mixture of soap, water and just a bit of bleach. Make sure that the area you clean is allowed to dry out to avoid reoccurrence. If the whole deck needs a good scrub down, you’re better off purchasing a commercial grade cleaner or a TSP heavy-duty cleanser. Thoroughly read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but it generally means scrubbing the deck with the cleanser and then rinsing it off.

Resealing the Deck
After a thorough cleaning, and allowing for enough time for the deck to dry, sprinkle a few drops of water on the wood. If it beads up, you’re in good shape for another season. However, if the wood soaks up the water, it’s time to restain. HA Construction can give you great recommendations on the right stains for your specific deck.

It’s important to note that you should avoid using paint on your deck if it’s built with treated wood, because the chemicals in the treated wood will cause the paint to peel – it won’t adhere to the wood well at all. Instead, use a stain. If you want the look of paint, then get a solid-body stain. If you prefer to see the wood grain in your deck boards, then a transparent stain is the way to go. Most stains have a built in sealer (just check to make sure).

Keep in mind that it needs to contain oil or paraffin as a means of repelling moisture. If you don’t want your deck to turn gray from the sun, then the stain also needs to contain UV blockers or coloring (pigment). Additionally, if you have bugs around that enjoy wood as their main course, get a stain that contain an insecticide. Most stains last three to five years. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application.

Your beautiful new deck is an essential element to your home’s landscape and curb appeal. Take the time to perform these maintenance tasks regularly, and your deck will be the exclamation point of your home for years to come.