Denver Deck Restoration
Denver decks take a lot of abuse. Wearing and exposure to the weather will cause the deck to lose its luster. Years of fun with your deck requires yearly maintenance for an inspection and a little preventative care. Coatings protecting your deck do not last forever, so plan on cleaning and resealing every few years. The first coat of a deck’s finish is crucial. The wood must be less than 20% moist. A 12-15% moisture content is ideal. Although lumber that has been pressure treated might look dry, it’s actually likely to still be wet internally. Wait at least a month or a whole season prior to application of the finish on treated wood. When the wood soaks up a small amount of water easily, it is ready for finishing.
Obviously you want to inspect the deck first, looking for trouble spots. Look for any stains or discoloration. You can use mild detergent or soap from around the house to remove stains as necessary. Scrub mildew with a mixture of water and bleach, or with a deck cleaning product. If your deck is very dirty and discolored or if it is older and neglected, you may have better results using a power washer. You can find a pressure washer at any store that rents out utilities. Prior to using, be sure to read and also follow all safety instructions. Use a pressure washer on the whole deck. Let the deck dry and rewash as necessary. If any rotten wood is found, replace it!
Just like any DIY, make sure that safety is your first priority when you restore the deck. Because sanding removes material from the object, it ends up creating dust particles in the air. You should wear safety glasses or goggles, work gloves, a work apron or close fitting clothing and an approved dust/mist respirator. Before cleaning you will want to treat your deck with 120 grit sandpaper. The finish will penetrate much better if you sand and remove some of the top coating of the wood. A sanding pole makes the process faster and it is easy on your back. All Purpose sandpaper is perfect for light sanding and removing rust.
Use a broom on the deck and then use water to rinse so you get rid of any bit of dirt. It is important to make sure that the deck is clean because the finish will penetrate the wood better. Allow for the deck to dry. Next, you can apply a stain to the deck. Make certain you follow every one of the instructions provided by the manufacturer for safe application. Make sure you are periodically wetting the edge and making sure the finish does not completely dry up. Do the coating again as needed. Clear deck finishes sometimes require many applications. On the grain that is exposed at the end, be sure to apply a minimum of two coats. An overcast yet dry day is the best time to coat your deck. Sun dries out the finish.
DOWD RESTORATION is a knowledgeable and trusted contractor in Denver. For answers to all your questions about deck restoration, Give us a call – 303-522-8730.
Denver Deck Restoration / Web Development Orlando
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