How Can I Repair My Backyard Wood Deck

Wood deck on a sunny day — Deck maintenance is a must before the summertime.

Spending time out on your deck visiting with friends, or simply relaxing and soaking up the sun, is one of the best parts of summer. Simply if your deck is cracked, warped, or infested with moss or dry rot, it tin become an eyesore and may even exist dangerous to apply.

Read on for valuable tips on how to fix and prevent deck issues to keep your forest deck functional and beautiful for years to come up.

Step #1: Check Deck for Problems

The virtually important role of taking intendance of your deck is to stay vigilant. Finding an issue early can go along a small problem from turning into major deck damage. Check your deck regularly for:

Loose nails. Drive any protruding nails flush with or below the surface, or replace them with deck screws. Check floorboards to brand sure that they are evenly aligned, so they won't pose a tripping take a chance. As well, check any handrails to make certain they are sturdy; and examine the bolts, screws, or nails that attach the deck to your house to make sure they're not loose or corroded.

Croaky or warped boards. Examine your deck and replace any badly cracked or warped decking. Cheque the handrails, posts, sills, and joists as well. Wait for whatever splintered wood on exposed boards.

Dry rot. Dry rot is fungal growth that gets inside the decking and digests the woods, causing permanent damage. Check for shrunken boards, a musty aroma, or boards that are soft, spongy, or discolored.

Mold, mildew and other growths. Mold and mildew is fungal growth on the surface of the decking that can cause discoloration and a musty scent. It's normally gray, black, or whitish in colour and can be slimy and slippery when wet. Also check for moss, which can damage decking; lichen, which can cause pitting on decking; and green or black algae, which crusade discoloration and tin can too make your deck dangerously slippery.

Debris. Debris, such as leaves and pine straw, can pb to staining and hold moisture which can encourage mold and mildew to class. Keep your deck free of debris, and trim trees that overhang your deck. Once you've removed the debris, clean the deck with a simple spray-and-rinse formula similar Olympic Deck Cleaner.

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Pace #2: Repair the Deck

Now that y'all've identified whatever problem areas, it's time to fix them before they brand a mess of your deck. Here are some deck repair tips:

Dealing with cracked decking. If your decking is starting to develop small cracks, information technology'south probably a sign that it's due for a new coat of stain. For bigger cracks a coil-on deck re-surfacer can fill up in the cracks and extend the life of your decking. In severe cases where the boards have begun to split, you will need to replace the damaged boards.

Replacing boards. In cases of badly split or deteriorated woods, replacing deck boards may be necessary. Where dry rot is concerned, any lath that is infested needs to be removed and replaced in club to prevent the problem from spreading.
Removing damaging growths. To eliminate mold and mildew on your deck, Wet & Forget Outdoor is an easy, no-scrub solution. Just spray it on, and Wet & Forget Outdoor works with the wind and pelting to become your deck make clean and keep it that manner for a year or more in most cases. Moisture & Forget Outdoor wipes out mold and mildew, moss, lichen, and algae without scrubbing, bleach, or pressure washing. Its gentle, non-caustic formula won't impairment your deck's surface, like harsh chemicals or pressure level washing tin. Just spray and leave! Problem solved. Check out Wet & Forget's store locator to find out where you lot can buy Moisture & Forget Outdoor nigh you.

Staininga deck — (Credit: ©Sayayute, Adobe Stock Photos)

Pace #three: Protect the Wood and Prevent Issues

In one case you lot've dealt with whatsoever problem areas, regular deck maintenance will help keep them from occurring once again. Here are some key steps for protecting your deck:

Staining your deck. Protecting a forest deck from the elements is essential for extending its lifespan. About woods decks should be stained every couple of years, depending on the weather where you live. Brand sure that you selection a stain that contains a commercial sealant to keep moisture out. It's best to use a stain similar Olympic Elite Solid Advanced Outside Stain and Sealant in One, which is peculiarly formulated for decks. Best of all, it stains and seals.

Preventing dry rot. Dry out rot develops when moisture is able to get into your decking, so brand sure that your entire deck is well-sealed, including whatsoever new boards. Putting a layer of plastic on the footing below your deck tin help proceed moisture away from the wood. Painting the underside of your deck with wood preservative will also add a layer of protection confronting dry rot. Keep a close eye on the boards next to where the rotten ones were to make sure the dry rot hadn't started to spread before they were replaced.
Keeping mold, mildew and other growths away. Once you've eliminated mold and mildew, moss, algae, or lichen from your deck with Wet & Forget Outdoor, keeping information technology away is even easier. Because Wet & Forget Outdoor works with the wind and rain to go on growths away for a twelvemonth or more in most cases, simply make Wet & Forget Outdoor part of your annual deck maintenance routine, or re-treat your deck at the offset sign of any new growth. This will proceed these ugly stains from ever gaining a foothold on your decking.

Enjoy your deck!