Care Can Help Make A Deck Last For Many Seasons

You've spent three weekends carefully crafting your deck do-it-yourself project. Everything's framed out, nailed in, lined up and looking great. You're ready to pull out the lawn chairs and barbecue grill and enjoy the fruits of your labor. But, wait, there's something missing.

That's right. No deck is ready until its wood has been properly sealed and cared for. To ensure your deck lasts through all kinds of weather, it's a good idea to make sure it's been properly sealed and you'll also want to maintain a regular schedule for cleaning it and resealing. A few minutes here and there to ensure a deck receives proper care can save you from having to do the job all over again in a few years and at the very least it can spare you expensive repair jobs and avoid damage.

When your deck is fully built, seal the wood according to package instructions on a good sealing product. Make sure the entire deck receives necessary treatment and take care to get even those hard to reach pieces of wood.

Once that's done, make sure the deck is kept clean on a regular basis. This means cleaning off all debris and making sure none gets stuck in little cracks and crevices. Debris left in those tough spots can turn into mold and mildew, which leads to rot. Rot, you will find, is the worst enemy of wood – something you don't want to have happen to that deck you've spent hours and hours building or paid a fair amount for a contractor to create.

Aside from surface cleaning, every so often you'll want to deep clean your deck. Use a power nozzle on a hose to blast all debris out of wood cracks and scrub the surface with a mix of mild detergent and water. A stiff brush with a long handle is great for helping get this job done.

Reseal the wood as necessary. Follow the regimen suggested by the wood sealing product you've chosen and stick with it.

In addition to regular care, you'll also want to inspect your deck fully from time to time. Make sure all boards remain firmly in place and check for any signs of damage. Replacing a broken board is much easier than fixing a sprained ankle if a board is left unattended.

Building a deck is only half the work. To ensure the fruits of your labor stand up to the test of time, you'll want to take good care of your handiwork. A few minutes here and there are all it takes to help ensure a deck stays in good condition year in and year out.

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