Most Common Repairs that Deck Owners Often Miss
Winter is over, which means deck season has officially arrived. To get the most out of your deck this year and beyond, it’s a good idea to seal your deck with quality stain or paint, especially if it’s been several years since you’ve last applied these coatings. Before you slap on a new coat of deck stain, however, you’ll want to make sure your deck is in decent condition. Indeed, some repairs may be in order following harsh winter weather. Here are some of the most common repairs that deck owners sometimes miss.
What Are the Most Common Deck Damages?
Rotting Wood
It’s no secret that wood is susceptible to rot when exposed to consistently damp conditions. That said, wood rot isn’t always visible and, in some cases, can be mistaken for other issues like impact or pest damage. It’s important to deal with rotted wood early in its development so it doesn’t spread across more portions of your deck. Decking professionals can spot wood rot even in its nascent stages and delineate this problem from other deck repairs.
Pest Damage
Like wood rot, pest damage can range from clearly visible to somewhat hidden depending on its location and time of inspection. Termites, beetles, carpenter bees, and other wood-boring insects can greatly diminish a deck’s integrity from the inside out, drilling holes and eating away at the wood’s surfaces layer by layer. The first step to resolving this issue is identifying the intruders in question and removing them from the equation. From there, portions of your deck may need to be repaired and patched up with wood fillers while others may need to be replaced entirely.
Slick Surfaces
A slippery deck might not seem like a major concern at first. However, all it takes is for someone to slip and hurt themselves on your deck to make you realize what a safety concern this slick surface truly is. If your deck is slippery, it’s usually because it’s hosting a layer of dirt and grime. To prevent these injuries, you’ll want to start by thoroughly power washing your deck. From there, sand down your deck’s surfaces and consider applying a slip-resistant stain or paint to seal the deal.
Loose Screws
When inspecting your deck for repairs, it can be easy to stare at the big picture and lose sight of the smaller details. For instance, most deck owners notice when boards are warped, cracked, or discolored. However, they might not notice that a board, rail, or post is slightly loose, usually as a result of loosened screws. Indeed, sometimes the biggest problem with your deck stems from those small metal fasteners. The good news is that repairing this problem is usually easier than most other deck repairs -- some fresh screws and a functional power drill can save the day.
Avoid a Decking Dilemma This Summer
You might be eager to tackle your deck staining project as soon as the weather allows for it. If you coat your deck before you address some of these potential concerns, however, you might end up facing bigger problems down the line that interfere with your summer plans. The pros at Anderson Painting are here to help you fortify and beautify your deck for a relaxing and fun season. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
