HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DECK
You proudly stand in front of your deck admiring its beauty and newness but how will you keep this sexy look for as long as you can?
Being proactive is key. If you’re taking care of your deck from day one you’ll see that a little preventative maintenance will go a long way.
WOOD
Many decks are built using treated lumber but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Treated or untreated lumber should be stained or painted even if it’s just a clear stain, this alone will add years to your deck. The thing is you will need to reapply every couple of years or so but purchasing or renting a sprayer (make sure that your sprayer is stain friendly) can make this job a lot quicker. Personally I prefer to roll stain on to walking surfaces and using a sprayer for the rest.
Some people treat their lumber decks with oils and that works well also.
COMPOSITE
Composite is the most carefree option when it comes to maintenance. Saying that there’s still a few things to keep in mind about it’s care.
It’s true that composite decking requires very little maintenance but they do require basic cleaning in order to keep them looking presentable. You don’t need to repaint or reseal composite decking, and it is very resistant to rot, however, it’s a good idea to sweep them clean weekly.
One more thing about composite decks is not to use a snow shovel on them. Clearing snow with a shovel will likely scratch the surface, use a non-colored ice melt instead.
VINYL
DO NOT power wash vinyl decking material. Although this may seem tempting, power washing will damage and affect the longevity of your deck. It will also affect it cosmetically.
You can purchase vinyl cleaning products that are specifically aimed towards vinyl decking but I personally find dish detergent for cleaning then rinsing off with a hose does the job quite nicely.
