Everyone loves a great summer gathering, but your outdoor party isn’t complete without a rejuvenated deck. There are many things you can do to spruce up your deck to make it look fantastic, and Schedule Fred is here to help you.
- Inspect Your Deck
Nothing puts a damper on an outdoor party like loose deck beams or shaky handrails. It can be a safety hazard for guests and can cause more long-term damage than you would expect. Check the joints, joist beams, and posts for loose or rotting wood. Reinforce railing with nails, ensuring that each post is equally spaced. Also, if you have ever heard the phrase, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” It applies to decks as well. Rotting wood can deteriorate the structural foundation of a deck so be sure to replace any rotting boards.
- Get Rid of Debris
The first step to giving your deck a facelift for summer includes a good cleaning. Dirt, leaves, and twigs naturally settle into decks. Start with the mobile dirt and debris by giving the wood a good sweep. Next, you can get a more thorough cleaning job by using a power washer or a scrub brush. This will remove the unattractive set-in stains. Be sure to use a cleaning solution that is not too harsh for wood surfaces because you want to preserve the natural color of the wood. Deck solutions can be easily located at your local home improvement store. Make sure you protect your eyes and skin and let the cleaning begin! Helpful hint: Periodically cleaning your deck throughout the year will save you time and money and also preserve the life of your deck.
- Make Cosmetic Fixes
If you notice that your deck has exposed nails, remove them using the opposite side of a hammer. Check for splintered wood all around and pay close attention to the handrails. Sand down the frayed wood pieces for a smooth finish and to avoid potential splinters. Once you’ve finished that, you can move on to the best part.
- Stain Your Deck
Many people view applying stains as a gruesome task. That’s just not true. There are many foolproof ways to get the best looking stain job. The most important thing to do when staining a deck is to plan properly and take your time. Rome wasn’t built in a day and a beautiful stain job will take a bit of patience. Make sure that your deck is free of any cleaning chemicals by rinsing properly and be sure to wait until the wood has dried completely. Choose a color that suits your style and then apply an even coat over the entire surface. Still seem too complicated? Then, ask Fred.
This is a great project to take on for summer and the end result has even greater rewards. Can anyone say outdoor fun? The only thing left to do now is to relax and enjoy your new deck.
For more information on home projects, feel free to contact our Fred consultants and they will happily will guide you through it.
