Preparing Your Deck for Winter

As fall has begun, thoughts turn to seasonal tasks that every homeowner should take on before the weather turns colder and/or snowy. Now is the perfect time to think about deck maintenance and how to prepare your decking material for the change in seasons.

A well maintained deck adds great value to your home and provides years of activity and enjoyment for the family. If you have a deck built of a material like redwood, which is strong and durable, your maintenance will be low. But it will still need some maintenance, as do all decks.

“The easiest thing that homeowners can do to maintain their deck is to give it a good cleaning,” says Bonny Weil, general contractor at BW Build in San Francisco.

Throughout the summer season, decks accumulate dirt, barbecue stains, rust, mold and mildew. Deep stains may require a hard cleaning.

But, don’t get out the power washers just yet. Bonny advises against using high-pressure water nozzles, as they are a deck’s worst enemy and can carve the wood along the grain lines. The best cleaning technique is to use a garden hose, a soft car brush and a deck cleaner such as Wolman Deck & Fence Brightener.

“If you clean your deck once a year in this manner, it will look practically brand-new,” Weil explains.

If a homeowner insists on sealing their deck, Bonny recommends a clear penetrating finish such as: Penofin or Thompson’s Wood Protector. Plan on re-applying this finish yearly. However, if you have a choice, stay away from products that coat your deck such as urethanes, lacquers and paints. “When they chip and peel, you’ll have to sand to get the rest of the product off.”

For decks that are chipped or peeling finish, that need to be restored, it’s best to hire a painting contractor to sand it. For do-it-yourselfers, the best tool to use is an orbital sander. Start with 80 grit and work your way up from there.

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