You finally have your deck. And it`s probably the place you`re planning to spend a nice, relaxing summer.
But don`t get too comfortable. Because if your deck is several years old, now is the time to take action to stretch its life.
”If the deck is structurally sound and was built right to begin with, you can easily prolong its life for 20 years by taking the right steps,” says Mike Alger of Archadeck, a deck building firm in Aurora.
Whether built just above ground or several stories up, these structures are usually made of one of three types of wood: pressure-treated pine, cedar or redwood. Because cedar and redwood are very expensive, most decks built in the last decade have been made from pine.
By forcing chemicals into the wood through pressure, the wood is protected from insect and rot damage. But pressure-treated wood is far from being a no-maintenance or even low-maintenance material, say decking experts. Water, the sun`s ultraviolet rays, foot traffic, furnishings, mold and mildew are just some of the factors that can shorten a pressure-treated deck`s life span.
The most prevalent problem is the sun. The sun will not only discolor wood but also will hasten the drying of wet wood, causing cracking and warping if the wood has not been correctly waterproofed. In other words, pressure-treated wood is not really waterproof.
”Consumers were lulled into thinking that pressure-treated wood meant that they had permanent protection,” says Scott Seman, the product manager for DAP Inc., a manufacturer of deck finishers. ”There are literally millions of people out there who watch their decks crack and split and discolor in a couple of years. But with a little effort, your deck should stay as nice as new.”
The most important step in prolonging a deck`s life, the experts say, is to refinish it at an appropriate time.
Depending on the finish, exposure and usage, some decks may need to be refinished every year, while others will need refinishing only every few years.
”A good rule of thumb is that if the wood starts to look bad with some graying and mold and mildew spots, or the wood is starting to drink up water, it`s time to refinish the deck,” said Bettie Dixon, the consumer relations manager with Thompson & Formbys, a manufacturer of deck finishers.
But first you should take some preliminary steps.
Repairing cracks, warps
Your first step should be to check the deck for any physical deformities, such as splinters and cracks or warped boards and rails.
”If there is some minor splintering, you may be able to sand out the splinters and smooth them out,” said Dixon. ”But if the board is bad enough, it should be replaced.”
”If a crack goes more than halfway through the dimensional thickness of a board, then that board has lost its structural integrity and should be replaced,” added Alger. ”If cracks are minor, you may want to replace the wood pieces for aesthetic reasons.”
To replace a board or rail, remove any screws, nails or bolts holding it down. You should be able to find a replacement piece at a home improvement store or lumber yard. (About the only deck pieces that might be too complicated for a do-it-yourselfer to replace are those support posts anchored in cement.)
A warped board should be unfastened from the deck and refastened in place with a new screw or bolt. ”But if the board keeps pulling the fasteners up,
(you`ll have to) replace it,” said Alger.
The deck should also be checked for loose boards or rails.
”Sometimes you can just redrive in the nails or retighten the screw
(holding down the board),” said Dixon. ”But if the nails or screws are gone or the nail or screw holes are bad, use a new nail or screw to tack down the board.”
The experts recommend using only rust-proof galvanized nails or screws, which will provide more support than other nails and won`t stain the wood. Make sure to drive the heads of the nails or screws slightly below the surface, they add.
Sometimes deck pieces are held together with carriage bolts that may also require fastening.
If you notice a floorboard dips when you walk on it, the joist underneath may be weakening. If the joist is in bad shape, it should be replaced. Otherwise, shore it up by attaching similar-sized boards to both sides of the joist.
Refinishing
Before you refinish a deck, you should clean it thoroughly.
You can make a good cleaning solution by mixing one cup of detergent, one cup of bleach and a gallon of warm to hot water, says Dixon, but make sure to wear protective gloves and clothing.
”Apply the cleaning solution with a deck broom or scrub brush,” Dixon says. ”Work it in well and let it sit for a while. A good washing will kill any mildew and lighten any dark spots. After rinsing, always let the wood dry for two full days.”
There are also numerous deck cleaning and brightening products available commercially that will produce the same effect. Companies like Alger`s also offer cleaning services.
After the deck is cleaned, you basically have three choices of how to refinish it. They include:
– A water seal. These basically keep water from seeping into the wood. In addition, water seals have mold and mildew inhibitors. ”Water seal is important because if water gets into the wood, mold and mildew appear first and then surface splitting of the wood will occur,” said Seman.
Water seal usually needs to be reapplied every few years, the experts say.
”Foot traffic will cause wear on your water repellency,” says Seman.
”And if you have a hot tub on your deck, you`re going to have water splashing and a higher concentration of moisture. If you have plants sitting on your deck, the wash from the plant will also cause a higher concentration of moisture. So you may need to apply a water seal more frequently in those areas.”
”The sun is also a big factor,” adds Alger. ”If your deck has a southerly-or full sun-exposure all year round, you may need to waterproof it every year.”
– A wood protector. This will offer the same protection as a water seal but will also somewhat inhibit the deck from turning gray. ”If you want to keep the wood a natural color, use a wood protector, which has a sunscreen, a mildewcide and the properties of a water seal,” says Dixon.
Wood protectors need to be applied more frequently than water seals, adds Dixon, maybe as often as once a year.
– A stain. For a more aesthetic touch, semi-transparent stain can be applied to the deck. The various color stains also have the properties of a water seal.
But staining takes a lot more maintenance. And once you stain a deck, your only option, short of stripping off all the stain, is to continue staining the deck.
If the deck is already stained, you will need to remove the current stain via sanding or pressure washing unless you`re planning on using the same color or a darker one.
”If you`re going to stain, you`re probably going to end up staining every year if the deck has a lot of use,” says Seman. ”Or at least every 24 months.”
Stain will also make mud and grime more apparent and require more cleaning, the experts say. And always test the stain color on an inconspicuous spot on the deck.
”We recommend that the finish be put on until it puddles,” says Seman.
”Sometimes, people put on too thin of a coat. The finish should be applied heavily with a brush or a roller, forcing the preservative deeper into the surface.”
General maintenance
There are other steps you also can take to help prolong the life of your deck.
For example, Alger advises removing anything that can rust-such as metal plant pots, grills and tool boxes-from the deck to prevent staining.
In addition, he recommends using pads to protect the deck from the legs of any metal tables or chairs.
Also, the desk should be cleaned occasionally with a garden hose, and caution should be taken when grilling to avoid burn marks or stains from ashes.
Not only will these maintenance steps help the deck last longer, but they also will make it more usable, Dixon says.
”You`ll enjoy your deck a lot more because you won`t have problems such as splinters and cracks,” she says. ”And you`re deck will just look nicer.”
