Adding a deck can be a great way to increase the overall value of your home, but taking care of it is a whole other matter. Unless you purchased pre-sealed wood, you are going to have to take the time to maintain your deck, or your investment will quickly go to pieces. Here are some great tips on how to weatherproof your deck and make it easier to maintain.
Whether your deck is brand new or aged, these tips can make a big difference in the amount of work you do throughout the year on your deck. They will require a weekend, or maybe more time depending on your schedule, to complete. However, once you are done, you should not have to do much to your deck throughout the rest of the year, besides washing it occasionally.
Let’s get started!
1. Power wash the entire deck.
This is a vital step and will impact the finished results. Take the time to make sure that the deck is really clean, even in between the boards. A power washer will make short work of this chore, but you can also do the same thing with a hose and a pressure sprayer.
2. Sand the whole surface.
After the deck is completely dry, it’s time to sand down any damage, imperfections or snags. A power sander is recommended for this task, and will save you a lot of time and effort. Do at least one pass on all of the boards and make sure that they are completely smooth.
3. Sweep the deck.
Once you’re done power sanding, there will be some detritus left behind so it’s now time to completely sweep away all of your shavings. Take the time to make sure you get it all to avoid common cosmetic issues that we’ll talk about in our next step.
4. To seal or stain?
This step will depend on your personal preference. If the wood is already the right color or in good shape, sealing it should be sufficient. If not, you may need to stain it first. This can take up to 3 to 4 coats, depending on the depth and intensity of the desired finished color. Decide which method is right for you, and then double check to make sure that all of the shavings are gone.
Failing to do this will cause bubbles in the finish and may impact the overall effectiveness of your weatherization preparation. Make sure that your family knows they cannot walk on the deck until this process is completely done. It may take up to two coats of sealant, depending on the brand and how bad your wood is.
5. Make a note of the date.
You will probably need to redo this in about five years, so make sure you mark down in your home improvement journal when you finished weatherproofing the deck. By keeping your maintenance up to date, you can be assured that your deck will beautify your home for many years to come.
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Originally posted 2008-09-04 05:30:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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1 comment so far ↓
Excellent post! Being that a deck is no small investment it really makes a lot of sense to care for it. Not doing so will only cost you more in the long run. One really great example of this was several years ago I had a customer that had a new deck installed. The deck was about one year or old when they called me in because the guys who build the deck used interior polyurethane used on interior wood flooring to protect it. They had actually done a beautiful job on the carpentry, but by the time I got there this beautiful deck which was basically unprotected was a mess. I followed all the above steps which should have been done in the first place and this deck has now lasted these people for years. An exterior deck is an investment and like anything else needs to be protected – the correct way.
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