The basics of wood deck maintenance and repair are fairly obvious. As a home owner, you should know the basic principles to caring for your deck. These simple rules can be helpful in preserving the beauty of your deck.
The first and most important rule about maintaining your deck is to clean it regularly. This includes removing debris such as leaves, twigs, sticks and any other kinds of debris. This prevents algae from growing and rot can develop.
Professional deck repair company www.gtadecks.com offer all types of services for this purpose and are highly recommended.
Next, you should make sure the surface on which the deck is placed is properly sealed. This will help to keep the water out of the area. This also helps to maintain the splintered boards. If you do not maintain the splints properly, they could easily crack, split or become weak. Professional services know how to deal with such problems and will seal the cracks in order to protect your deck.
If you have a gutter and downspout on your deck, you should clear away any trash and debris before it sinks into the ground. This also protects your deck against any kind of rot. If you allow garbage and trash to sit, the smell can actually seep into the soil and spread diseases.
The rotting garbage and smells will damage your deck tremendously.
The next step involves repairing minor damage. Small cracks and pieces that have sunk below the surface can often be repaired by using an adhesive. This will allow you to repair the deck almost completely without having to replace it.
For more severe damage, such as those that have sunk deep into the ground or those that are coming apart, you may need to remove the boards or parts of the deck until all the work is done. Then, you should install new ones and then cover up the broken ones using landscape fabric. You will not need to hire deck repair services for this job.
If you have small holes or scratches in your deck, they can usually be patched up fairly easily. However, you should first consult with professional deck maintenance services. They will know exactly what to do for your situation. It may not be necessary to replace the entire piece.
In some cases, the damage may not be visible to the naked eye. Over time, wood will swell. Even though the surface may be level, this does not mean it will stay that way.
Over time, the weight of people and equipment will cause it to settle.
In fact, if you live in an area where winter temperatures drop below freezing for extended periods of time, you may not even be able to see the damage to the wood decking because it may have sunk so deeply that the snow has distorted it.
Professional maintenance companies also provide annual inspections and repairs. This can save you money since they know how to get a hold of the problem before it gets out of control. They can often identify problems that you may not notice yourself and fix them right away without having to drill any additional holes. Make sure you consult with these professionals before deciding to repair or replace any part of your decking.
