Regular Deck Inspection

Regularly inspecting the wood deck for rot and determining whether it is structurally sound is one of the keys to good wood deck maintenance. Summer is an excellent season to check on the state of a wood deck while learning how to maintain one because the weather is warm and dry.

• Check the wood carefully where the ledger board of your home meets the side of the building and where the steps touch the ground.
• Check the rails for tight connections by wriggling or pressing against them as part of the deck examination.
• Pry up any nails that are elevated or exposed and replace them with wood screws.
• Using external wood filler, repair holes in boards.
• Any additional hardware that is rusty should be replaced.
• Ensure the deck is swept clear, especially when leaves are falling in autumn.

Changing out damaged deck boards

• Your deck may occasionally need a board to be replaced if it is broken or damaged.
• The old board should be removed with a claw hammer.
• Cut the replacement board to size, or have it done. Select the same kind of wood as the other boards, then stain or varnish it to match.
• With the use of a power drill and a screw drill bit, install the replacement board. As opposed to the earlier, more weathered boards, anticipate the new replacement boards to stand out.Advice: For a clean, uniform appearance with structural integrity, think about replacing all of the deck boards at once if you have several boards that need to be replaced.

How to Keep a Deck Clean During the Year

Giving a deck a thorough washing once a year is part of deck maintenance. If possible, plan it for a time of year with mild temperatures, like spring.

• Clear any deck furniture, toys, and potted plants out of the way before cleaning.
• Cleaning the deck.
• If a broom or scrub brush can’t get to the debris between the deck planks, use a putty knife.
• Spray a mildew-removing biodegradable outdoor cleanser on the deck to clean it.
• If required, scrub with a stiff-bristle brush while holding it by the extension handle.After that, use a garden hose to clean the deck.
• You can pressure wash, but make sure you follow the directions to prevent harming the wood. Use a fan spray nozzle on a low pressure setting and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the type of wood.
• On a composite deck, never use a pressure washer since it might harm the decking.Using cleaner and scrubbing from the bottom up, clean wood railings.
• Cleaning agent splashed over dry wood during top-down scrubbing may leave marks. Cleaning from the bottom up splatters on a wet surface.

Need your deck maintenance? Consider hiring American Painting and Deck Care and we’ll get the project done.

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