| Regular deck maintenance is necessary to keep your | | | | reinforcements, and should be checked regularly. If |
| wood surfaces clean and to detect a repair before it | | | | only a small area needs repair, you may safely |
| gets out of hand. Your deck is the launch pad to | | | | replace the individual boards and spare the expense |
| backyard fun, and you want to preserve and protect | | | | of a total deck overhaul. |
| your investment with an easy do-it-yourself | | | | 6. Railings. |
| maintenance program to keep the platform in mint | | | | The railing is a critical part of the deck and a feature |
| condition. | | | | that gets a lot of wear and tear, especially near to |
| 1. Blemishing. | | | | the steps. To ensure safety, be sure the screws are |
| Even the best cared for decks are subject to stains | | | | tight and the railing remains in a vertical positions |
| and blemishes, most often caused by normal wear | | | | without wavering. Extreme weather conditions can |
| and tear. To clean your boards and eliminate the | | | | weaken the railing components and you may need to |
| threat of deep contamination, swipe the stains with a | | | | replace this deck feature more often than others. |
| mixture of soap and water, or you may opt for a | | | | 7. Symptoms of Decay. |
| mild cleansing solution with low chemical compounds. | | | | Dry rot can wreak havoc on your deck, regardless |
| 2. Sharp Surfaces. | | | | of the climate you live in. Rainfall and even morning |
| An older deck that has not had a recent inspection | | | | dew can create a fungus that spreads through your |
| may contain loose nails and screws that need to be | | | | floor boards and weakens the entire structure. If a |
| tightened or replaced. The nails break loose over time | | | | dark coloring appears, it may be an indicator that |
| and could cause a serious injury to children and pets. | | | | your floor boards are infected which will soon cause |
| When you check for loose screws, be sure to | | | | shrinking and loosening of the screws. Contact a deck |
| examine the under side of the deck and any corners | | | | maintenance professional to evaluate the dry rot |
| that are covered by foliage. You might not see a nail | | | | damage and provide you with solutions for your |
| extended out of the boards until its too late, and the | | | | species of wood. |
| damage it can do is a serious matter. | | | | 8. Pool Decks. |
| 3. Peeling. | | | | The pool deck gets a lot of use and can take a |
| A once pristine deck can fade fast when exposed to | | | | beating in the summer months. Before you use your |
| an excess of sunlight and weather conditions. | | | | pool deck, be sure to follow the inspection rules to |
| Sealants are used as a protective covering, and when | | | | secure all nails, screws and faulty floor boards. This |
| their time is up, the deck will shed its skin. To correct | | | | type of deck will generally weaken must faster than |
| this problem, use a sander to shave down the | | | | a sun deck, so get your flashlight handy and make |
| bubbles and boards until it has a smooth appearance. | | | | sure it is safe and secure before the kids are ready |
| To re-seal the deck, you may wish to avoid products | | | | for their summer fun. |
| with varnish, as this will attract the elements and | | | | 9. UV Blockers. |
| cause you to repeat the process again. | | | | The marketplace is ripe with a variety of cleaning and |
| 4. Secure The Stairs. | | | | staining products to minimize your deck maintenance |
| If a loose footing condition is to occur, it will most | | | | routine and keep your platform in pristine condition. |
| likely happen on the deck stairs first. To correct the | | | | Decks that are exposed to extreme heat and sun |
| unstable conditions without completely replacing the | | | | conditions fare well with a finish that contains UV |
| steps, just anchor the steps down with wood and | | | | blockers to keep the wood surface from fading or |
| metal brackets. This strategy will work as long the | | | | turning a luscious redwood deck to gray. |
| condition of the wood is stable, and remains free of | | | | 10. General Cleaning. |
| rot and splintering. At some time down the road, you | | | | Your deck should get a regular scrubbing with simple |
| will have to replace the steps, but there's no need to | | | | cleaning tools of a scrub brush, mop and thorough |
| make that investment until your old steps finally give | | | | rinse with a spray gun garden hose. However, when |
| out. | | | | stains and blemishes have built up in excess, you may |
| 5. Board Security. | | | | need to use a power washer for large surface areas. |
| The boards on the deck are subject to a variety of | | | | Rather than using bleach or caustic chemicals, try a |
| pressure points and do not give way at the same | | | | mild solution of Simple Green to protect and preserve |
| time. To have a safe deck, be sure to inspect the | | | | the wood's luster. If the cleaning job requires heavy |
| top and lower floor boards for possible rot and | | | | washing, your best bet it to consult a professional |
| structural damage that could cause someone to fall | | | | deck maintenance company to handle the cleaning |
| through. Older decks that creek or shift under your | | | | and waxing with care. |
| feet are especially susceptible to needing | | | | |