Cleaning Up The Mess Father Winter Left On Your Deck
Posted on: 27 April 2018
After Father Winter has finally made his exit, it's time to get busy undoing all of the damage that he's done. One place to start is your deck. It probably looks awful after all of the snow, ice, and deicing materials you've put down over the past few months. Here, you'll learn how to bring your deck back to beautiful in time for your Memorial Day picnics.
Clear the Deck
The first thing to do is remove everything possible from the deck. Set it in the yard, in your garage, or wherever you have space. The less time you have to spend moving things around while you're restoring your deck, the faster things will move along.
Check the Deck
Now that you have no obstacles to work around, take a good look at your deck. Get your garden hose and adjust it to a misting setting. You want to spray a light mist over the wood to see what the water does—does it bead up and roll away, or does it get absorbed into the wood? If the water isn't beading up, the sealant on the deck is in dire need of reapplication. If you fail to seal the deck, the wood will continue to absorb the water and will soon begin to rot.
Look for any splintering boards and screws or nails that have begun to lift. If you find lifting screws or nails, get a little bit of clear fingernail polish, apply a bit to the inner edge of the screw or nail and screw or pound them back into place. The nail polish will keep them from lifting back up later. If you notice splintering boards, use a hand-planer to shave off the splintered edge.
Clean the Deck
The best method for cleaning a deck is using a pressure washer. If you don't have experience working with a pressure washer, don't have a pressure washer or aren't comfortable with taking on this task on your own, you have the option of contacting a pressure washing company like A Blast to the Past and having it done for you.
If you choose to pressure wash your own deck, be sure to use the tip meant for cleaning wood. If you use the wrong tip, you could cut gouges into the wood. Spray with the grain to prevent lines from showing up in the wood.
Tip: If mold or mildew has begun to grow on your deck, you'll need to purchase cleaning products formulated for killing the mold and mildew without damaging the deck.
Seal the Deck
After the deck has dried, you'll need to apply a coat of sealant to it. If you live in a moist area, it could take several days for the water to dry off of your deck before you can apply the sealant. Once you've applied the sealant, give it a couple of days to fully dry, and then replace all of the furnishings.
This project can take some time to complete, but it will help to improve the look of your deck and keep it in good condition for many years.
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