Keep Your Wood Deck Ready for Any Season

As Chicago residents know, the winter can often feel long and overwhelming. With the spring and summer fast approaching, it can be difficult to remember to take the necessary precautions to maintain and care for your deck.

As you prepare to head outside and relax in the warm weather, a question that comes up for both new and seasoned home owners is how to protect and repair your deck in varied weather conditions. Here are just a few tips to help you get the longest life out of this investment.

Protecting your deck

When you own a wood deck, whether old or new, it will be susceptible to elements like rain and snow. If moisture collects and pools on the deck surface, it could encourage water damage. Additionally, the sun’s radiation can damage your deck due to constant erosion from everyday foot traffic and furniture on the surface. This can lead to the wood cracking, splitting, and rotting.

A key to an undamaged deck or patio is adequate surface preparation with a wood stain. Make sure your deck surface, whether new or previously stained, is free from oil, grease, dust, dirt and loose wood before applying the stain. And don’t forget to check for splinters or holes; you may need to sand the deck and apply a wood filler.

Once you’ve cleaned the deck surface, ensure you apply the stain in the proper weather conditions. If the deck is damp, or if it rains within 24 hours of application, it could compromise the absorption and drying of the stain.  Also, avoid applying the product in direct sunlight to ensure the best results.

Maintaining your deck

If you want to grill out and enjoy being outside in the beautiful Chicago spring and summer, maintain and restore your deck through these easy steps:

Step 1:

Inspect your deck for decay or rot. If your screwdriver sinks into the wood easily, then you have significant decay. Hammer down or remove any nails that are loose or sticking out.

Step 2:

By cleaning your deck, you could prevent future deterioration through a variety of products and methods of sealing and refinishing. There are many available products that are designed specifically for cleaning wood surfaces. Power washers are often used for this task, but if you are unsure how to use one, consult a professional at Bauer Construction who can do it for you. Close attention should be paid to the spaces between the boards because that is where moisture and termite infestations can build.

Step 3:

Once thoroughly cleaned, protect your deck with a sealant or treatment that will help combat threatening elements. Let the wood open up and soak in the treatment while protecting from the harsh exposures of rain, wind and sun. It’s important to strip away any paints and old treatments, while also sanding away any abrasions. There are clear sealants that will protect from wet environments, but last for a shorter time period. Pigmented sealants, on the other hand, can last up to three years.

Step 4:

Make sure the wood has dried completely, allowing for proper absorption of the new sealant. Give that sealant time to sink into the wood!

Whether you are a newer deck owner or not, if you are unsure about the steps to maintaining, repairing and preparing your deck for the seasons ahead, give our team at Bauer Construction a call at 847-553-5331. We can determine if your deck is in need of some careful attention so it can last longer. No matter the weather conditions we are here to help.