Deck Maintenance: Wood decks don’t last forever, but you can keep yours stronger and looking good longer with a little maintenance and a fresh coat of sealer every few years. Here are some pointers on what to do.
Deck Condition
To develop a maintenance plan, you need to assess the deck’s condition. Start with the structural elements, the “bones” of the deck. A pro should fix serious problems before you deal with the deck boards. Get under the deck to:
- See how it connects to the house. Ideally, you’ll find a ledger board firmly anchored to your home’s rim joist, with no gaps and no evidence of moisture or rot. You can test for rot by probing the wood with a screwdriver. If it sinks in, there’s rot.
- Check that each support post is anchored to a footing at its base and a beam at its top with appropriate hardware and fasteners.
- Verify that the joist hangers are tight and plumb. Flag for repair or replacement of any joist hangers that are missing nails, twisted or show excessive corrosion.
- Look at the condition of the joists and plan to replace any that are splitting or showing signs of rot.
On the deck side:
- Test the railings, balusters, and stair handrails. If they wobble, refasten or replace them.
- Identify loose or raised deck boards. Sometimes they only need new screws, but any warped, twisted, or rotten boards should be replaced.
Again, check the connection of the deck to the house. The ledger board should be protected from moisture by either metal flashing or flashing tape.
Keeping Up Appearances
Preventing problems is easier and cheaper than fixing them. Here are some tips for keeping your deck in good shape.
Prevent Moisture Buildup
Moisture retention is the source of many deck problems. It corrodes fasteners and hardware and causes wood rot, even in pressure-treated wood. Decks that retain moisture also promote mold and mildew growth, attract termites and carpenter ants, and diminish the durability or sealers, paints, and other coatings.
To avoid moisture problems for routine deck maintenance:
- Sweep the deck regularly to prevent dirt and tree litter from accumulating on the deck and between the deck boards. Otherwise, the debris will hold moisture against the wood. Use a narrow brush or an improvised hook-style tool to get between the boards.
- Trim back shrubs to promote airflow around the deck to help dissipate moisture.
- Ensure rainwater and melting snow flow away from the deck and don’t pool under or around it.
- Fix leaky gutters and downspouts, and ensure sprinklers water only the plants, not your deck.
Clean the Deck Boards
Try to keep stains in check by cleaning up spills as they occur and by shifting planters and furniture around on the deck so that they don’t leave dark “coaster ring” stains.
Wash the deck at least once yearly using either a scrub brush or a power washer. In humid environments where mold and mildew take hold easily, wash the deck at least twice yearly.
The work requires some elbow grease, but it isn’t complicated:
- Clear the deck of all furniture and other items and sweep it clean.
- Wet the deck using a garden hose. This moistens the dirt and makes it easier to dislodge. It also allows the cleaning solution to penetrate better.
- Buy deck cleaner or make your own by mixing water with mild dish soap (not dishwasher soap), an all-purpose cleaner such as Simple Green, or white vinegar. Combine the detergent or vinegar with water at a ratio of one cup per gallon in whatever quantity you require.
- Scrub the cleaning solution over the wood with a soft bristle brush in the direction of the wood grain. With some cleaners, you need to wait 30 minutes before rinsing. For others, you can rinse off immediately using a hose or pressure washer.
- Don’t scrub too hard on softwoods like cedar or weathered pressure-treated lumber. You risk raising the wood fibers and leaving behind a fuzzy surface requiring sanding.
- Treat mildew and other tenacious stains with a solution of oxygen-based bleach (not chlorine bleach), such as OxiClean, or a paste of baking soda and water.
- Clean oil spots and cooking spills with a grease-cutting detergent, such as Dawn dish soap.
Pressure Washer Precautions
If you’ve never used a pressure washer on wood, be careful. Using the wrong tip, dialing the pressure too high, or getting too close to the wood surface can roughen and even gouge the deck boards. For best results, use a fan-type nozzle of 40 degrees, set the pressure at the lowest effective setting, and keep the nozzle in constant motion, staying 6 inches away from the surface.
Staining/Sealing Tips for Deck Maintenance
Cleaning the deck is also the first step in preparing it for stain. Just be sure you give the wood plenty of time to dry after washing it. That could take three days to a week.
Next:
- Sand the wood using 120 to 150 grit sandpaper. To save your back and knees, use a pole sander. Avoid belt sanders and random orbital sanders. They’re too aggressive. A vibratory palm sander works better, although you’ll still need to hand-sand some areas.
- Sweep or blow the wood dust away and check the forecast. You don’t want to apply stain if you are expecting rain. Also, make sure the temperature is within the manufacturer’s recommended range.
- Apply the stain using a roller, brush, or sprayer as the label specifies. Avoid working in direct sunlight. Otherwise, the stain will dry too quickly, and the finish will be uneven.
- Many deck stains also perform as sealers, but not all. If necessary, check the label and apply a sealer just as you did the stain. But first, verify that the sealer is compatible with your stain.
By following these tips, novices and experienced DIYers can maintain and refinish their decks effectively, ensuring they remain beautiful and functional for years.
- Check that each support post is anchored to a footing at its base and a beam at its top with appropriate hardware and fasteners.
- Verify that the joist hangers are tight and plumb. Flag for repair or replacement of any joist hangers that are missing nails, twisted or show excessive corrosion.
- Look at the condition of the joists and plan to replace any that are splitting or showing signs of rot.
On the deck side:
- Test the railings, balusters, and stair handrails. If they wobble, refasten or replace them.
- Identify loose or raised deck boards. Sometimes they only need new screws, but any warped, twisted, or rotten boards should be replaced.
- Again, check the connection of the deck to the house. The ledger board should be protected from moisture by either metal flashing or flashing tape.
Want to learn more about Robinson Painting and exterior home and deck staining? Check out our About Us page to learn more about our company and the Colorado areas we serve