Summertime means more time to enjoy the outdoors. Whether it’s a Fourth of July barbeque or a warm evening under the stars, a deck is the perfect place for all your summer activities. While decks are a beautiful addition to any home, they require consistent treatment and attention.
Deck remodeling, painting, and refurbishing can help prepare your deck for the intense summer months. Let’s discuss three tips to prepare your deck for the season ahead.
Deck Painting and Remodeling: How to Prepare Your Deck
As the seasons change, it’s important to ensure your deck is clean, sturdy, and ready to go. Failing to take preventative measures can cause your deck to splinter, crack, warp, and rot. Here are 3 steps to take to ensure your deck is healthy enough to handle the summer sun.
Clean Your Deck Thoroughly
Doing a deep clean at least once a year is essential. Dirt, mold, and sap can accumulate on your deck, potentially damaging the wood. Simple cleaners like dish soap, alcohol-free soap, and vinegar water can go a long way toward killing mold and removing scum. You can also use a pump-up sprayer and deck wash for more stubborn stains.
While it’s crucial to maintain a clean deck, try to avoid cleaning it weekly. This can actually damage the wood over time. Instead, do one deep clean yearly and several smaller cleans every few months.
Painting or Staining
Deck painting and staining can extend the life of your deck and keep it looking great. Both painting and staining are known to help a deck last longer and avoid damage caused by the sun.
Paint is much thicker than staining, which is particularly good for decks that have already experienced damage. Moving forward, it can also protect the wood by making it more mold-resistant and easier to clean. Paint also gives you many color options, allowing you to have fun and be creative. However, darker paint is often recommended because it’s easier to clean than lighter colors.
Staining is also a great option, especially if you prefer a more natural color. Stain is less slippery than paint and is easier to cover up if you miss a spot.
Replace Any Bad Boards
If any of your boards are splintering, warped, or rotted, it’s important to replace them before the summertime. If there are more than a few damaged boards, you may need a much bigger deck remodeling. If you’re planning on walking barefoot, it’s crucial to ensure no loose nails on any part of your deck. You can either hammer them in or replace them to avoid injuries.
Upgrade Your Deck with Ma & Pops Painting Today
Do you want to upgrade your deck before the summer? If so, Ma & Pop’s Painting is ready to help.
Over the last decade, Ma & Pop’s Painting has helped homeowners refresh and enhance their homes. Our team offers deck upgrades, which include repairing steps, handrails, porches, patios, balconies, and more!
We also offer siding refreshes, which include painting vinyl, wood, brick, composite, and stucco. Don’t wait until your deck is damaged—get ahead of it by trusting Ma & Pop’s Painting. Request a quote today!