Whether you live in a Port Credit home on the water or a country home along the 30,000 Islands of Georgian Bay, your deck is an important part of your home. The addition of a deck has likely increased the overall value of your home, and it definitely required an investment of capital on your part. Not only that, your deck becomes a major social gathering place in the summertime; it's likely that you will hold barbecues out there, or just sit around and relax with your friends, family, or by yourself. Because you have so much invested in your deck, both in terms of money and with your social life, it is important that you care for it using the highest possible standards. It doesn't have to be as complicated as making crimp terminals. Just a few things will make all of the difference in the world for your deck. In this article, we will provide you with some tips that the professionals recommend as far as maintaining your deck come summer time.
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Do a pre-summer check. After you fire up your barbecue for the first time this year, take a walk around your deck and note any areas that look like they may need to be worked on. In particular, check for loose or damaged boards in the decking, on the rails, and on the stairs. You should also look at the paint and do a quick assessment of any sanding and painting that you may need to do. If you've chosen to decorate with words on your deck, make sure that you're using an outdoor paint.
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Repair damaged boards. There are two ways of doing this. If the board is loose, then it may be just a matter of putting in a few new nails or screws. If you are looking at holes or peeling boards, you may be able to patch them over with some wood filler. If the boards are really in rough shape, you may have to prise them up and put in a new board. This is especially important if you have kids in diapers who are going to be walking around barefoot this summer.
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Check your posts and other supports. This should be done both at the beginning and the end of summer. Insect pests are the main concern here; over the summer termite populations can explode and do a lot of damage. You want to catch them at the beginning, ideally, but if you spot them at the end of one season they probably won't have done that much damage.
Ongoing cleaning. In order to keep your deck looking its best, you will want to keep up with cleaning it all summer long. You should also move furniture around, as moisture accumulated in the legs may start to rot or rust and leave permanent marks on your decking.
Summer is the busiest time of year for your deck, so you want to be sure that you are at your most vigilant at this time in terms of deck care. A little bit of maintenance will really extend the overall life span of this important addition to your home.
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