Monday, October 24, 2022
Outdoor decks need to be maintained. It needs to be cleaned at least twice a year. But with wood decks, even if you take good care of them. They can still warp, rot, or get termites. Plus, paint and stain don’t last forever, and after years of exposure to the elements, wood decks can fade badly. Fortunately, you can repair and repaint your outdoor deck. The job doesn’t cost much, especially compared to replacing a deck, and you don’t need any special skills to do it.
The cost of refinishing a deck depends on its size and how bad it is. In addition to that, the refinishing price depends on the deck material. The refinishing price for pressure-treated wood decking, cedar decking, or composite decking is different.
Once the worn part is replaced, the whole deck will need to be refinished. If you plan to do your own DIY restoration, then you may need to rent a pressure washer and purchase a chemical stripper, sandpaper, and cleaning gloss. DIYers can spend $0.50 to $0.65 per square foot on these materials and paint or stain. If you don’t think you have the skills to do the job yourself, you may want to hire a professional to completely restore and repair your outdoor deck. The cost of labor will depend on the person you hire.
It is important to note that most composite decking boards only need to be cleaned once in a while and do not require much maintenance to keep them looking good.
Wood decking requires a lot of care, and when that care is not taken care of, it will show. To restore a weathered wood deck, look for rot or termites and replace the damaged boards. Then, get rid of the old finish. The traditional method of removing paint is scraping and sanding, but chemical strippers can also be used. After cleaning and rinsing the deck, apply a new stain or paint to the deck.
Take out and sweep up everything on the deck, such as furniture, planters, carpets, grills, etc. Pay attention to areas where dirt has built up and poke the wood with a screwdriver to see if it’s damp or rotted. Any place where tools tend to sink in shows rot. If the wood is near the ground, it is more likely to rot. Also, look at the area where the deck meets the house. If there is a lot of rot in any part of the deck structure, get it fixed before moving on.
Replace any broken or warped boards. Also, watch for dry rot. This is because there is a fungus that eats away at the cellulose, which is what makes wood strong and rigid. Before you replace rotted or broken boards, take pictures of the entire deck with close-ups of the boards and send them to your deck supplier. They will be able to tell which wood is already on the deck so that any new planks are made of the same wood. If most of the deck boards are broken, you may want to replace them all with composite decking. it doesn’t require as much care as wood, and it won’t rot.
To make sure the new finish sticks to your deck, scrape and sand off the old paint or stain until you reach the bare wood deck surface. Make sure to push any nail or screw heads below the surface before you sand or scrape the wood. Replace any screws or nails that are starting to rust.
To avoid getting too tired, try to use a scraper that pulls rather than pushes. Remember to wear knee pads to protect your knees. Be careful not to use high-speed power tools or rough sandpaper for scraping. They may leave marks that are difficult to cover up. High-pressure cleaners are great for removing unsound finishes, but they can damage the wood if used improperly.
Deck cleaner is sometimes referred to as “cleaner-whitener”. It is a chemical that can be placed directly on the deck or mixed with water and placed on the deck. Follow the directions given by the manufacturer. Most of the time, you wet the deck with the cleaner and then scrub the wood with a hard plastic brush to remove dirt and grime. The whitening agents in some cleaners also neutralize the residue of chemical degreasers. Wash the deck with water and let it dry.
Before you stain or paint the deck, cover the house with tape and plastic. Start at one corner and follow the same direction through the deck as the boards. Although a sprayer or roller can apply paint quickly, a brush will work better to get it onto the wood. Work in an area of no more than 50 square feet, applying the paint as evenly as possible. Use the brush to brush in drips and small spills as you proceed.
Early composite decking was more difficult to clean and care for than today’s capped composite decking. But with the advancement and development of science and technology, composite decking boards can save you a lot of trouble.
Modern composite decking boards have a PVC shell or cover that protects them from the weather and makes them easy to clean with mild soap and a soft bristle brush. Even moss and algae are easy to remove. If you use a pressure washer, don’t turn it up past 3,100 psi, and use a fan-shaped nozzle. Use a deck polish to remove stains such as those left by decaying leaves and other common stains. Be sure to do what the manufacturer says to do. You can also use white vinegar to remove spots caused by hard water.
For traditional or early composite decking without a cover, a different cleaning method is required. Use a pressure washer instead. That’s too harsh. You also shouldn’t use modern chemical cleaners made for covered laminate floors. They are too harsh. You can also contact the manufacturer of the deck and ask specific questions about how to clean it.
Composite decking will not break like wood, but if they break or have deep scratches, scuffs or stains, you may want to replace them. Please don’t worry, replacing composite decking boards is very easy. Even if you haven’t done this type of work before, you can follow the installation instructions provided by the composite decking manufacturer for deck replacement.
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