Deck Maintenance, Painting and Staining in Surrey, BC
Posted on July 30, 2020
Decks take a beating year-round, with snow and ice in Winter, rain in Spring and Fall and sun in Summer. Deck maintenance is essential so you can enjoy your outdoor spaces in the long-term. If you feel lost on where to start, here is a primer on deck maintenance in Surrey and surrounding areas.
Inspect
Start with a thorough inspection of the wood making up your deck. Look for any signs of damage in the wooden planks. Cracking, splitting and splintering are all ways of telling you the wood needs assistance. This can occur from water getting into the planks, freezing and cracking the boards.
Staining
In addition to the fracturing of wood, you may find staining on your deck. Water damages wood by pooling on or near it and allowing mildew, mold and rot to form. Any discoloration or water rings should be investigated. It’s also important to address the cause of the water. Repairing the downspouts or pooling water causes will be crucial to the success of your repairs.
Repair
Repairs to your decking can look different depending on the issues you’re dealing with. Simpler fixes include sanding and repainting or restaining. More intricate repairs include removal of boards or areas of boards and complete replacement.
Protect
Once the issues in your deck have been repaired, you’ll want to protect your investment. This means sanding and painting or staining it. The paint or stain gives the wood an extra layer of protection for the seasons to come. Maintaining this protective layer will avoid the more involved repairs listed above.
Paint or Stain
To protect your deck, you have a choice to make: paint or stain. If your deck was already sealed with either, you should stay with the same style. If it was stained, restain, if it was painted, repaint. Because these are made with different ingredients, the oils in stains may cause the paint to peel and chip very quickly. The same is true for the opposite. The oils in stains will not work on painted wooden surfaces.
Paint
Paint sits on top of the wood, protecting it similar to paint on a house’s substrate. The layer keeps moisture out while maintaining the wood’s strength. Paint is typically an opaque covering that is available in a variety of colors to match your color scheme. As it wears on for several seasons, you could notice chipping and peeling in areas. That’s the first sign you could be in need of a repainting.
Stain
Stains work a bit differently than paint does. It soaks into the wood, yet still provides protection for the boards you put down. Stain allows a more natural look to shine through, with the stain being semi-translucent. It’s a bit more difficult to tell when your deck is beginning to fail with a stain. Typically, the stain will begin to fade and look dry. That’s the time to consult a professional and get new stain applied.
Contact Us
CertaPro Painters is here to help! Our crews are experts when it comes to deck care and maintenance. We are happy to evaluate your deck’s current state and make suggestions of next steps. Schedule a no-obligation estimate with CertaPro Painters of Surrey\White Rock\Langley\North Delta today.
