Tips To Take Care Of Your Deck

Living in the south has many advantages and disadvantages. For one thing, you’re lucky to enjoy the outdoors for the majority of the year. From relaxing in the evenings or neighborhood cookouts, having a deck is a great way to not only use this space for entertainment but also to just have the luxury of never leaving your home. At some point of hosting so many gatherings all the time, having a deck can take some maintenance to keep it looking pristine and structurally sound year after year. There are a few issues that should be addressed so make sure you’re taking a look at what needs to be done.

1. Gaps -While there may be a few gaps in your deck, the biggest thing you don’t want to do when it comes to filling them is with a wood filler or caulk. The natural movement of these boards eventually causes the materials to break loose and could actually make these gaps even worse month after month. After you clean your deck, cut a sufficient amount of natural fiber robe that will fit the length of the gap. Make sure that the rope is a little wider than the gap so you will have a tight fit. Pour a stain or a paint that matches your deck into a bucket and put the rope in the bucket. Have it sit so it reached the desired color that matches. One it’s dried, insert it into one of the ends of the gap and use a flat head screwdriver to push the rope into the gap until it reaches the other end of the board. Cut the end of the rope and repeat this procedure to fill in any other gaps that your deck has. 

2. Slipping – if you live in a rainy or humid area, you’ll want to make sure that your deck doesn’t have any mildew on it that can cause people to slip. If your deck seems prone to slippery areas, you can apply a marine grade anti-slip decking product. This type of product has sand in the paint to provide extra traction. You can add an adhesive strip that has a coarse grit surface to the front edges of the steps for extra grip there are as well. In addition, it is important to apply a Deck Oiling treatment regularly as this will keep your outdoor decking resistant to UV rays and water damage, and keep it looking at its very best for as long as possible. 

3. Replacing Boards – If there are any damaged sections in your deck boards, it might be best to replace them with new pieces to keep your deck looking it’s best and strong. Instead of placing a board here and there, it might be wise to just start from scratch with a harder wood. Brazilian Wood Depot is an Atlanta company that offers a variety of hardwoods for you to use including a popular favorite, ipe wood. This eco friendly wood is a fire resistance, non slip and highly recommended for its ability to last many decades in extreme weather conditions. It’s also great for steering clear of wood bugs such as termites who enjoy eating through this type of wood. This Brazilian Ipe decking has rich brown and red hues to it which makes it extremely appealing.  The decking grain is extremely dense and tight with visible cathedral arches and contrasting gain patterns throughout. Due to the wood’s texture and interlocking grain, it’s superior slip resistance which makes it popular for many homeowners to use. 

4. Warping – If your deck isn’t treated properly for the weather or if you live in an area where there is a lot of harsh weather conditions, warping can occur more frequently. Boards that are extremely warped are easy to notice because they’ll have some extreme curvature and will likely have nails pop up. Boards that are just starting to warp can also be easy to spot if you get eye level with the deck. You’ll want to replace these boards as soon as possible to assess the damage.

Making sure the inside of your home is clean is one thing but also maintaining the appearance of your home both in the front and backyard patio areas are also essential. If your deck stays properly organized, well kept and another area for your guests to enjoy and mingle, then you should take the proper steps to keep it looking it’s best year after year. While replacing the entire thing and starting over from scratch may seem a bit nerve racking as far as cost is concerned, it may be helpful in the long run to help you from replacing board after board for maintenance issues. Again, if you’re thinking about looking into this, call Brazilian Wood Depot which offers incredible customer service, quality wood and easy installation.