Wooden decks are a place where family gathers, cookouts happen, and kids play. Sweeping away debris and wiping up spills should be party of regular maintenance. There is, however, a time when your deck will need a deeper cleaning and repair. Depending on use and weather, this can range from every year to every two years.
Before you begin, you will want to gather all of the supplies needed for this project. With good weather, most homeowners can complete the refinishing of their deck within one weekend. Take safety precautions such as wearing safety goggles and mask while sanding. Protect your skin by wearing gloves during the entire project.
Here are steps to take in maintaining your wooden deck:
- Prepping: Using a paint scraper, remove any flaking or loose finish. If you find that there are damaged areas, use the scraper to get down to the wood below the finish. Using an orbital sander, sand down the rest of the deck to the bare wood, removing all old paint or finish.
- Cleaning: You will want to clean the wood surface. Start with a scrub brush that will remove any loose dirt and stain that has flaked. Then, you will want to wash the wood with a deck brush and soapy deck cleaner. After following the deck cleaner’s manufacturer’s recommendations on application, use a pressure washer to rinse off the cleaner, along with the dirt and grime. Be careful to use a low pressure nozzle on the pressure cleaner so that you don’t damage or splinter the wood. The last step in cleaning is to let the deck thoroughly dry.
- Assess: Take a detailed look at the wood planks. If you find any that are damaged beyond repair, then replace with new planks. If your deck boards are very old and the new planks look mismatched, then you might want to consider replacing all of the boards. This is the perfect time to do it and helps in the structural integrity of the entire deck.
- Stain: using the stain manufacturer’s recommendations on application, begin applying the stain to the wooden boards. Work in small sections in the case that you run into inclement weather and have to stop the project until the storm passes.
These steps are simple, but can be time consuming depending on the size of your deck. Possibly enlist some help from family and friends to get the job done quickly. For lumber and refinishing supplies, come on over to Shell Lumber where we have everything that you need to this project. We look forward to talking with you! Shell Lumber is located at 2733 S.W. 27th Avenue Miami, Florida 33133, visit us online or give us a call locally at 305-856-6401 or Toll Free 800-621-6391.