Preparing Your Deck For Fall
Sam Lutz • September 27, 2016
Fall is upon us and winter will be here before you know it. Now is the time to seal your deck against the rain, snow and sleet that you can expect later in the year. Protecting your deck will help your deck last longer and look its best in the coming spring.
Inspect
Start by inspecting your deck. Look for signs of rot, water damage, mold and discolorations in the wood. You'll be able to tell if the wood is rotten by sticking a pointed object, like a screwdriver or an awl, into the wood. If the screwdriver penetrates the wood, the wood is rotten and needs to be replaced.
Finally, spray down your deck with a strong jet of water. If your deck is properly sealed, the water will sit on top of the wood. If the water is absorbed into the wood, this is a sign that your deck needs to be resealed.
Clean
Use a scrub brush dipped in water and oxygen bleach to scrub off any mold or mildew on the surface of the wood. If your deck has dirt or mud on the surface of the boards, use a long-handled scrub brush dipped in warm water and detergent.
Repair the Deck
Remove boards that were soft enough for the screwdriver or awl to penetrate the wood. If you don't have professional experience replacing deck boards, call a contractor for help with this step. This is especially important if the wood that needs to be replaced is the same wood that supports the structure.
If you're comfortable fixing the deck yourself, use a pry bar to pry old damaged boards from your deck and replace them with pressure-treated lumber. Fasten the wood to the deck with the same type of fasteners that were used to build your deck.
There are several great products that can help repair your damage deck. Abatron epoxies can be used to repair rotted portions of wood. Wood Epox can be used to build up real structures and Liquid Wood can be poured or injected into rotted beams to solidify them.
Waterproof
Once your deck has been cleaned and repaired, sealing the wood is the last step. Wait several days after cleaning the wood to waterproof the surface, as this will give the wood chance to dry out. Seal the wood on a day that is dry.
If your deck has a buildup of old paint or clear sealer, start by using a professional-grade sealer or paint stripper product. This will help ensure a smooth finish on your wood deck.
Once the sealer or paint has been stripped, it's time to seal your deck. This can be done with paint, clear sealer or stain. Use a long-handled paint roller to apply your product to the large, flat areas of the deck, and use a paintbrush to apply your product to the railing, corners and other narrow parts of the deck. We suggest Sikkens Log Pre-Treatment, an inexpensive Oil finish that can applied to unsealed decks to help protect them over winter.
Allow the sealing product to dry for the manufacturer's specified amount of time, then apply a second coat of sealer or paint to the deck. Once this is done, your deck will be ready to face the harsh Pittsburgh weather to come.
Stop in At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture
At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we help people purchase the supplies they need for projects like deck staining and painting! Stop in at our store today to check our line of quality paint products and sealers.
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