Decking has been around forever, but it’s only in the last ten years, or so that regular homeowners have begun to appreciate its utility. It’s a fabulous way to extend your living space, create outdoor seating areas, and even form the basis of an open kitchen. The potential of decking seems practically limitless.
There’s a problem, of course: it’s not always as good as you imagine in reality. One of the main issues for a deck is exposed to the elements. You can’t bring it inside at night. It’s out there, rain or shine, soldiering through – and sometimes that reality takes its toll. While your decking looked fab when you had it installed, a couple of years later, it can become a shadow of its former self.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at how you can sort out your beleaguered deck. Take a look at these tips.
Check Your Decking For Safety
First thing’s first: before we even more onto the appearance of your decking, it’s vital to check it for safety. Decking can develop serious structural imbalances, especially if yours is raised on stilts. You’ll want to check the supporting beams themselves to make sure that the weather hasn’t attacked them. And, if you haven’t already, check the cross supports, underneath the main deck. Everything should be fastened together correctly, and there should be no missing flasher ledging.
Choose Tougher Decking
If you want a deck, there’s no need to stick with old-fashioned wood. While it has a beautiful look, there are now far more durable options on the market. The problem with wood is that it’s naturally porous. Water can seep into the cracks, expand as it freezes, and force them open, damaging the material. Mold and other plants can also gain a foothold and can be challenging to dislodge later.
A composite deck is a current state-of-the-art. It’s made of a combination of plasticated materials designed to look like wood but last much longer. Most of them require less maintenance too.
Pressure Wash Your Decking
If your deck is looking a little worse for wear, then you might want to consider pressure washing. The great thing about pressure washing is that it’s able to remove dirt and debris much better than regular scrubbing ever could. What’s more, it’s relatively effortless. You just stand there and let the pressure washer do all of the hard work for you.
Use Flashing Tape
Flashing tape is a special kind of outdoor tape you can apply to the deck to prevent deck rot. All you do is find a suitable brand, and then use it to cover any joists or drill holes immediately beneath the decking. That’s it.
Encase Your Deck Posts
Your deck posts are an essential part of the support structure of the deck. Without them, the whole thing would collapse. The vast majority of deck posts, however, are made of wood, which makes them susceptible to the elements. You can, however, encase your deck posts in artificial cladding to protect them from the wind, rain, and ice.
