How to Maintain Wood Decks

Wooden decks should have a regular care and maintenance program in order to restore, beautify and preserve the deck for a long time. Since deck finishes can start to fade in as little as one year depending on the environment, deck maintenance is a good way of protecting your investment. This usually involves restoration of the deck's horizontal surfaces around one year after application of the original finish. The wood is lightly cleaned then reapplied with a coat of finish; there is no need to do the same to vertical surfaces since they weather at a slower rate.

Maintenance Tips

1. Water is known to cause mildew growth on a coating's surface, so puddles that have been sitting for more than two days on a deck or porch should be brushed off.

2. In some types of wood species like Southern and White Pine, a non-water soluble, organic wood extract known as pitch can cause pitch stains or crystallized sap to form around the knots of pressure-treated wood. This can either be scraped off or removed with turpentine, which will not harm the existing coating.

3. Snow found on a deck should not be removed with a metal shovel, as it can pierce the underlying coating which will cause it to erode.

4. A water-repellent coating's effectiveness will be reduced by calcium chloride salts, so use only sodium chloride types of salt on a water-sealed or stained wood deck or porch.

Maintenance Methods

1. preparation of surface 2. use of cleaning products 3. sealing the deck surface 4. use of traditional decking materials

Professional Maintenance

Cleaning a wooden deck usually involves the removal of dirt, algae, moss and other organic matter, while resealing is done by applying a clear or semi-clear liquid sealant to exposed surfaces. In both these cases, the homeowner can do these jobs on their own, but it is often better to hire a professional firm that offers deck maintenance services. These specialists charge varying fees, so it is always a good idea to choose an experienced and well-known firm to ensure that you get excellent quality work done.