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How to Clean a Wood Deck and How to Protect that Deck
Once people learn how to clean a wooden deck, they often find that they enjoy cleaning it. This could be the connection to the outdoors or the desire to have a clean and protected living space. No matter why they do it, the deck appreciates it and needs it.
Connection from Exterior to Interior
A wooden deck in the living room was placed outside. This area allows people to bring electronics and furniture outside, while not having to put the items on the ground.
This is usually a favorite place for people to relax during the summer months and can provide a connecting area from the internal to the external worlds. However, this connection takes a lot of abuse.
The deck experiences a lot of wear and tear from its use and even more from the elements that it is then exposed to. The deck must be cleaned yearly and then protected as needed.
Only through the use of this cleaning and protection can one hope to enjoy the deck for years to come.
Cleaning and protecting a wooden deck is not difficult, once one learns how to clean a wooden deck. Once a person understands how to clean a wood deck, they often wonder why it seemed so difficult before.
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Cleaning the Deck
One of the first things people must do in order to care for the deck is to clean it. This begins with sweeping all of the loose contamination off the deck.
This will seem like a never-ending challenge and eventually, you will need to simply stop sweeping and move on to the next phase.
This is because the deck is exposed to the outside and on breezy days, the wind will pick up dirt and dust and deposit them onto the deck as you attempt to sweep the deck. To limit this, clean the deck on a still day.
Once the deck has been swept, it is important to remove any debris from between the boards. This debris will cause the wood to rot faster than it otherwise would.
This can be done using a power nozzle on a hose or by inserting a putty knife between the boards. If there is anything you would like to protect under the deck, consider covering it up with a tarp before beginning this step.
Follow this step up with a soapy water application to remove any ingrained dirt and debris from the deck. White vinegar also works very well and also has the properties of an insect repellent.
Protecting the Deck
Allow the deck to dry completely before beginning to protect the deck. This will take several days. Once the wood is dry, you can apply for deck protection.
This protection will prevent the deck from becoming waterlogged, infected with mildew, and experiencing the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays. It is important to find a deck stain that provides these qualities.
While it is possible to paint the deck, this is not recommended as the paint often sits on top of the wood, rather than soaking into the grain of the wood.
The paint also has a tendency to peel and show wear marks from people walking over it. Instead, a waterproof stain should be used and applied yearly to the deck. The stain may say that it is good for up to 4 years, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
Resources
Home Tips: https://www.hometips.com/repair-fix/deck-maintenance-wood.html