CLEANING, STAINING, AND SEALING OF DECKS AND FENCES

Spring is the time for those last minute outdoor home improvement projects. One area that can have a huge impact on the look of your outdoor spaces are exterior wood structures, including fences and decks. Not only can they provide privacy, style, security, convenience and comfort, they can also provide a stunning backdrop for your landscaping. Because of this, and the expense of repairing or replacing these wood structures, it is important to keep them looking great while protecting them from damaging water and ultraviolet (UV) rays. One of the best ways to do this is by having your outdoor wood surfaces professionally cleaned, stained and sealed.

CLEANING

One of the first steps in restoring any outdoor wood surface is cleaning the surface using specialized cleaners and a pressure washer. The purpose of this cleaning is to remove mildew, mold, and fungus as well as any graying that may have resulted from water and UV rays. The pressure washer, in conjunction with the cleaners, can prep your wood surfaces for staining and sealing. While this might seem like a do-it-yourself project, it is highly recommended homeowners hire professionals due to the hazards of working with pressure washers and cleaners. Also, without the proper knowledge and experience, anyone choosing to clean their outdoor wood surfaces themselves can damage the wood or worse.

Cleaning Deck with Power Washer

Staining

For most outdoor surfaces, experts recommend stain instead of paint. That is because stains not only penetrate wood more than paint, it also won’t peel like paint may, saving you time and money down the road. In situations where a deck is too old and wouldn’t look good with an application of a transparent stain, a full body stain can be used instead. While a full body stain looks a lot like paint, it still penetrates the wood like a stain and won’t crack or peel as paint does over time.

Staining of the deck is beneficial in the long run.

Sealing

By far the most important step in refinishing your outdoor wood surfaces is sealing it. That not only protects the wood from harmless UV rays and water damage, it also keeps your deck looking like new. There are many wood sealing products on the market, and while each is designed to do the same thing, some are far better than others. When sealing your outdoor wooden surfaces, it is strongly recommended you hire a professional. Not only will they be able to complete the job in a fraction of the time you could do it yourself, but they will also usually guarantee their work. That helps to ensure your outdoor wooden surfaces are beautiful for years to come.