Quora Question: What Is The Proper Maintenance For An Outdoor Wooden Deck Or Patio?
There’s no getting around the fact that outdoor wooden decks and patios need maintenance. And, of course, regular maintenance is a lot cheaper than emergency repairs. Follow these do’s and don’t’s of deck maintenance and take the stress out of deck maintenance!
What Materials Are We Talking About?
It’s not just wooden decks that require regular maintenance. If your deck consists of any sort of wood (lumber, hardwood, composite decking) or even vinyl or aluminum, you’ll want to keep reading.
Regular Cleanings
All decks require regular cleaning, but this is especially important for wooden decks. You’ll want to clean your deck annually (at a minimum). The goal here is to clean off the accumulated gunk, grime, and dead layers that stop protective sealants from doing their job.
Tip: It’s tempting, but try to avoid a pressure washer. You run the risk of damaging the surface of the wood if the pressure is too high.
Sweeping, Cleaning, and Prep Work
When you’re looking to stain or seal your deck, you need to clean it first. Take the time to do a thorough cleaning: remove all debris, sweep the deck, and make sure it’s as clean as possible. This is a great time to give the deck a good once-over and verify that no repairs are in order.
Check for wood rot and loose fastenings — it’s easier to fix them earlier rather than later!
When it comes to sealing, be sure to give the deck a good sanding beforehand. Much like a pressure washer, a power sander is probably too harsh for a wooden deck. Stick with sandpaper (80-grit works best). The smoother and cleaner you make your deck, the more the sealant will sink in.
What Not To Do
As a general rule, avoid chlorine bleach. Chlorine is terrible when used on natural wood — avoid! As mentioned above, try to avoid using a pressure washer. It’s great for saving time but it’s easy to damage your deck if you’re not careful. Lastly, avoid using paint: it might look good for a little while, but paint is no replacement for a true sealant.
Decks Take Work
It’s true — decks take some serious elbow grease to maintain properly. Thankfully, preventive maintenance is the name of the game. An annual cleaning, sanding, and sealing is a small price to pay for a beautiful wooden deck!