Get Your Deck Ready For Spring

Now that we’re heading out of the cold doldrums of winter, you and your family are surely eager to get outside and enjoy the weather on your deck. Before you send out invitations to your first barbecue of the year, inspect your deck. Wooden structures take a beating over the winter from precipitation and temperature fluctuations. Here is how to get your deck ready for spring.

Inspect the Structure

Natural wood and pressure treated lumber both can suffer from winter weather. The first step to correcting damage is to find it. Do a full inspection of the entire wooden structure. This includes the support beams underneath and all plans across it. This is one situation where you need to know what’s going on. Turning a blind eye to potential issues will only allow them to grow and need larger repairs.

Seek Out Rot

Looking at your deck doesn’t do any good if you don’t know how to identify damage. Wood rot is the most damaging issue that can crop up. Rot will only lead to a complete deterioration of the structure. To seek out rot, look for discoloration, wood, splinters or parts of the deck that are falling away.

Replace Rotten Areas

Should you find any rotten areas in your deck, it’s important to replace those pieces. You can simply cut off the damaged areas and replace it with new wood. Keep in mind that a board with a bit of discoloration on the outside could be rotten completely through. Rot runs deeper than most expect.

Look for Mildew

After rot, mildew is the second most common issue from a harsh winter. It’s a much easier solution than rot. Visit your local home improvement store to get wood cleaner. While some homeowners choose to clean the mildew with bleach, the chemicals can get into the ground and contaminate water and kill plants. The wood cleaner is made to remove mildew, but be gentle for nature.

Address Flaking Stain

If your deck was previously stained, it is possible the stain is failing and flaking off. If that’s the case, it is time to remove it and put a new stain down. Flakes are most common in corners and around the edges of individual boards. Inspect those areas first for flaking stains.

Clean it Up

Now that you are aware of the problems in your deck and have corrected them, it’s time to clean. Rent or hire a pressure washer to come and give your deck a thorough cleaning. The pressure washing will remove dirt, debris and some staining. It’s the first step toward an updated deck before summer sets in.

Upgrade for Summer

With issues like mildew, flaking and rot addressed, dress your deck up with a new stain or paint. Stains will soak into the wood and leave a more natural look. Paint will sit on top of the wood and allow an opaque color option. Both protect the wood beneath from water damage and weather issues.

Schedule an Appointment

Sure, this all can be done by the novice homeowner. If you are unable or unwilling to put the time in yourself, don’t worry, we’re here for you! Schedule a no-obligation estimate with our crew today. We’re happy to inspect, repair and refinish your deck.