3 Wood Deck Cleaning Tips
/Oh man. Today was so beautiful. I put the windows down in the car and turned off the radio to enjoy one of the first glimpses of fall. I can’t wait to have the back doors of the house open all day and not run the air conditioner.
We are coming up on the time of year when we find that wood deck in our backyard again. You know the place where you keep your grill and your kids like to run free like the wind without keeling over from heat exhaustion? Yeah, that’s the place. When the mosquitos die off and you can sit with friends or family out there and talk about how we all made it through the summer.
Of course, this like many things in life, comes with its share of work. Over the course of this year it has sat out there in the sun or under the trees, collecting dirt, mold, algae, pollen and grime. And if you haven’t paid much attention to its well being over the last couple years, it may need a good cleaning and sealing. If this is the case, we have some tips for you:
1. Survey the deck for loose boards, loose screws and nails and any other fixes that need to take place before a good cleaning. Don’t skip this step. You may think, it looks great from the house, but when you start looking around you will find a lot of areas that need more attention.
2. Pressure wash the deck. Pressuring washing a wood deck is tricky. It is definitely nothing like pressure washing a driveway or pressure washing a house. To clean it properly you have to take your time and apply the correct amount of pressure. If you apply too much you’ll splinter the wood. If you apply too little it won’t come clean. It is an art that takes time to master.
3. Seal the deck. If you don’t hire a professional to pressure wash your wood deck and decide to clean it yourself, you will NOT want to skip this. After all the hard work of pressure washing, you will want to go inside and call it an afternoon. This is the most important step. Apply the sealer with a pump sprayer and brush. Let it dry and then apply a second coat. The sealer can be pricey but don’t skimp because as you know, you get what you pay for.
Now, you can go inside and call it a day. Get a good night's rest and soak your muscles in Epsom salts. The next day, pour yourself a nice cup of coffee and invite your favorite person out to help you enjoy your clean wood deck. It’s a great experience and can last a long time if you follow a proper maintenance plan.
If you decide that you just want to skip straight to the coffee part, call us at the number above or click here to schedule an estimate. We are used to soaking in the salts.
