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Prepare Your Deck For Fall
Sam Lutz • Aug 29, 2017
Summer weather can be hard on a deck. Summer sun can drain can wear away your deck’s protective seal, causing damage to the wood. As summer turns into fall, it’s important to check your deck’s sealant and renew your deck’s protection, if needed.
Test Your Deck’s Protective Seal
A deck that has been properly sealed against the elements will be water resistant. As the protective seal wears away, your deck will absorb water that falls on its surface. To test your deck’s protective seal, spray the deck with a light sprinkle of water from a hose. Water should bead up on the surface of the wood without soaking in. If the water soaks into the wood immediately after being sprayed on the deck, then the deck needs to be re-stained.
Clean the Deck
Clean your deck before staining and sealing to ensure that the stain and sealer will properly adhere to and protect the wood.
- Cover nearby plants and landscaping with a tarp. This will help protect your plants from the chemicals that you’ll be applying to the deck.
- Sweep away dirt with a broom.
- Apply deck cleaner to the wood with a roller. Do not allow the deck cleaner to pool on the wood.
- While the deck is still wet, scrub the wood with a stiff bristled plastic brush.
- Allow the deck to dry for 48 hours before applying stain and sealer.
Follow all manufacturer’s instructions as you’re applying the deck cleaner to the surface of the deck.
Make Deck Repairs
Once the wood has been cleaned, it shouldn’t be hard to identify parts of the deck that need to be repaired. Replace protruding nails with ceramic coated deck screws, fill in any holes with wood putty and sand down splintered areas.
While you’re doing this, inspect the boards for rotten wood, and replace any rotten boards as needed. Rotten wood will be discolored, cracked and soft enough to puncture easily with a screwdriver or awl.
Stain and Seal the Deck
Staining and sealing the deck must be done at a time when no rain is expected for your area. Check weather predictions before beginning, and don’t start your project unless the weather is expected to be clear for at least two days. Before beginning your project, don’t forget to check the manufacturer’s recommended temperature conditions on the side of your stain/sealer product. Only apply the stain and sealer when the outdoor temperature is within acceptable parameters.
- Pour the stain/sealer combo into a paint tray.
- Cover your long-handled paint roller with sealer.
- Cover the deck with sealer, starting at the farthest point from the deck exit or the door.
- Use a narrow, angled paint brush to apply sealer in small cracks and crevices. Use a wide, flat paint brush to apply sealer on narrow, flat areas like railings.
When you’re finished, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding additional coats. Wait at least 24 hours before placing furniture on the deck.
Prepare For Late Fall
When late fall comes, plan to place large objects that normally sit on your deck into storage. Objects with a wide base, like planters, are especially bad for decks because they can trap moisture on the wood and damage the seal. Clear a space in your garage or elsewhere on your lawn to protect the wood and its seal.
Stop In At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture
At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we stock materials and products that help homeowners protect and maintain their decks. For materials to get started
on your deck cleaning and sealing project, stop in at one of our stores today!
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