How to Refresh Your Deck?
If you plan on doing any outdoor entertaining this summer, you will first want to make sure your deck is safe, secure, and photo-ready. Back yard pool parties, barbecues, and other outdoor recreational activities are great until liability issues arise. Avoid this nuisance, beautify your outdoor space, and enjoy the summer by prepping your deck for the warming season and months beyond!
1. Safety First
Does your deck have pest damage, visible mildew, rusted fasteners, or other issues? Unfortunately, no matter how minor, deck damage takes away from the overall appearance of your home and can cause serious injury to guests.
It just takes a single moment for a young child to slip across a slick, unprotected deck surface and break a bone. Before you say, 'not my deck,' consider that the Consumer Production Safety Commission estimated that an average of 33,000 people were injured as a result of a structural failure or collapse of a deck, porch, railing, or staircase between the years of 2003 and 2007 in the U.S.
For these reasons, it is better to stop these issues before the summer months.
Types of deck damage:
- Rotted Wood
- Visible Mildew & Mold Growth
- Rusted Fasteners & Connectors
- Loose Railings
- Creaking & Unstable Slats
- Pest Damage
- Unstable Support Posts & Joists
- Unstable Stairs
If you have noticed these issues with your deck, then you may need to contact a deck inspector. Your outdoor deck is exposed to weather all-year-long, making regular inspections necessary in assuring your outdoor space is fully functional.
Once damages have been laid out, a professional deck repair contractor can help restore and stabilize your outdoor space.
2. Spring Cleaning
Start by removing deck furniture and sweeping any debris left over from the winter snow. Then through power washing, pressurized steam, or a good scrubbing, remove any green mildew and mold with a deck cleaning solution. Also, if your old deck sealant or stain is cloudy or stripped, it will need to be replaced.
Regular deck washing, staining, and sealing will protect your deck long beyond the summer months!
3. Out With the Old & In With the New
Next, take a look at your furniture. Is it ripped, stained, or flimsy? New patio furniture may be all you need to give your outdoor space a new life. You can also refresh your old furniture by sealing or staining surfaces, updating seat cushions, and performing any quick repairs that may be needed.
4. Let There Be Light
Why let the fun stop when the sun goes down? Outdoor lighting will help create a safer, well-lit atmosphere that can also boost your overall deck design. Whether you hang simple string lights or contact a licensed electrician to create the perfect exterior lighting solution, there are many options to suit your home’s style and budget.
Refresh Your Deck Today
Do not let your outdoor parties be overshadowed by worries of injury, dirt, and grime. Whether you need simple deck repairs or creative deck design ideas, our pre-screened, reliable contractors are ready to take your outdoor space to the next level!
