As your local deck contractors at Deck It, we know how excited you are to have a beautiful new deck to enjoy! A deck is a great added outdoor living space perfect for a cool drink after a long day. A deck is also a great added resale value to your home. Owning a deck also has some responsibilities that come along with it to help it last year after year. If you complete simple regular maintenance on your deck yearly, you should get many years out of your deck.
When choosing your deck materials, deciding on how much maintenance you are capable of is important. Composite materials have far less maintenance requirements compared to wood. Composite decking is less vulnerable to insects and weather. However, typical wood decking can be much more cost effective, and can last a long time with proper care.
Here’s a few tips to keep your deck up to par:
Check for rotting wood: Check the entire deck and frame for rotting wood yearly. Don’t forget to check the joist and support beams too. Make sure nothing feels soft or if there’s any decay from bugs.
Clean your deck often: Make sure you’re cleaning off leaves and debris from your deck often. Sitting leaves can create rot or mold. Also make sure to keep your deck clear of snow so it can dry in between storms. You can clean your deck yearly with a pressure washer to keep it clear of mold and mildew.
Stain your wood deck yearly: It’s important to stain or seal your deck yearly to ensure the longevity of the wood. If you follow proper steps when staining or sealing your deck, you should get many years from your deck. You should stain or seal your deck shortly after pressure washing it so it has clean wood to seal to.
Make sure railings are safe: Regularly checking your railings to make sure they are secure and safe is important. You want to check to make sure the fasteners are tight and make sure there’s no stray or loose nails.
For more information on deck maintenance you can always contact the Deck It team, we’re always available to help.
