Your Deck-A Little Maintenance=A Lot of Enjoyment

Your Deck-A Little Maintenance=A Lot of Enjoyment



With summer here, one of life's simple pleasures is drinks or dinner on our deck. With a little maintanence, our deck will be a source of enjoyment for years to come. Here's some tips to help you keep your deck looking good and lasting long.

Moisture
Moisture from snow and rain causes expansion and contraction of wood resulting in loose nails and warping, cracking or splitting of boards.
Prevent moisture damage by sweeping your deck regularly, clearing away puddles and any dirt and leaves that retain moisture and don't dry out easily. In winter, its especially important to include your deck in your snow shoveling routine.

Sun
With Colorado's abundance of sunshine, you'll want to sand the surface to expose the fresh wood below and then keep your deck covered with a good coat of sealant or stain.

Cleaning
When preparing your deck for its summer debut, you'll want to get the surface very clean before applying a sealant or stain product. Depending on the situation, a deck cleaner or brightener may be needed. You can use a garden hose, but power washing is the best method for quick and detailed cleaning. Unless you have experience using a power washer, you may want to leave that to the professionals. Improper power washing can cause splintering of wood, stripping of the surface or uneven streaking.

Finishing
After washing, let the deck boards dry out for a few days in our warm Colorado sunshine. With our dry climate it won't take long to get a nice moisture-free surface to insure proper adherence of your finish coat. There are several finishing products on the market and your selection will depend on the particulars of your deck.

You've done the work, now get out there and enjoy!


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Greg Lell got his start in the painting business as a teenager working for his older brothers' painting company. Under their guidance, Greg learned the the importance of proper surface preparation and attention to detail and customer care. Some forty years later, those same principals are put into daily use by providing top-quality services to his customers. Greg's knowledge and experience is reflected in every project. With his expertise in product knowledge, Greg guides his clients in choosing the proper products for the job whether it be paint, stain, laquer or other material.

Greg and his wife, Patti, share their Conifer home with two horses, Sparky & Mica, two shelties, Lacy & Breezy and one young black lab, Gracie.

Hi, after power-washing and letting dry for a few days, is sweeping any debris off of the deck sufficient even if it's still a little dusty? And when applying the protectant coating, what method of application do you recommend and/or use?
Thank you very much for the info!

Great questions.
After power-washing, let your deck dry overnight and it should be ready for application of the product. You won't want too much time to pass before applying the product so that dust doesn't accumulate. If using a semi-transparent stain (recommended), a little dust won't be a problem. If you need to sweep, that's fine. If it's been too long and too dusty (watch out for all that pollen we get up here), you'll have to wash off the deck again.

You can apply the product by spraying or using a brush and roller. This will be based on your preference. If you spray, you may need to mask off areas that could get overspray. When using a brush and roller, you can get into all the crevices.

Let me know if you have any other questions. Keeping your deck in tip top condition gets easier every time you do it.

My deck rails have shrunk and now are loose. Do I need to replace them or is there a fix?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news . . . Once the wood on your deck has shrunk and become uneven, it's time to replace them. Wish I had a cheaper fix for you. This is exactly why it's important to keep your deck in tip top shape. The cost of powerwashing and applying a protectant pales in comparison to the cost of replacing the decking or rails. Even when you replace the wood, you'll need to apply a protective product so that you don't have to go through this again.

Figured, thanks ,do you this type of work?

Sorry, I don't do the carpentry work, but once you've got that done, give me a call and I can put a really nice finish on your deck.

Greg, I just gave your number to a lady who is looking for someone to do vinyl wallpaper in 6 Village In Restaurants.

Thanks, Becky. I remove wallpaper to paint the walls, but I don't install it.

Hopefully you can direct her to someone who does.