Every piece of lumber is unique. No one tree is the same. Every board in your deck is going to have different characteristics. Once installed, you want to give your deck the proper maintenance it needs to increase its lifetime and your overall enjoyment. Be rest assured, even though a deck made of Brazilian hardwoods is proven to outlast and outperform softer materials, giving it a little attention once in a while is a good thing (After all, even a Lamborghini needs its oil changed and tires rotated!) Here are some guidelines to follow to maintain the lifetime and beauty of your hardwood deck.
Decking Maintenance
Deck Inspection: Posts and Footings are the Foundation of Your Deck
Deck posts are an extremely important part of your deck. So, it should be obvious that ensuring they stay in good condition and a part of any routine deck inspection is critical.
A deck is built for load to be evenly distributed throughout the entire surface area. This suggests the ledger board and posts will have an equal load. This assumption is wrong in most cases. If you plan to entertain on your deck, your guests will have a tendency to hang out at the end of the deck where the railings are; thereby increasing the load on the posts and not the ledger board.
Deck Inspections: Facts
Did you know that roughly 40% of all the decks in America are deemed safe? When you add in the fact there are an estimated 40 million decks that are over 20 years old and you quickly realize becoming a statistic is a real possibility for many homes.
Just like every aspect of your home needs to be solidly and correctly built, so does your deck. Even though decks appear to be simple and straightforward structures, you should consider them to be a rooms without walls or a roof. It’s an outdoor space that needs to be planted in strong foundations.
Deck Maintenance – How to Prevent Mold
Unfortunately mold is something that we have to deal with. Mold is everywhere, all the time, but only under the right conditions can it cause a threat. While mold itself is not always bad (think of it as nature’s way of recycling), it can be detrimental to older decks made of soft wood and composites.
Mold only needs a few things to grow: food, such as dirt and pollen, water, and favorable weather conditions. When these three elements are all met, the mold begins to have a feast on whatever it’s sitting on.
5 Warning Signs Your Deck Could Collapse – Quick Deck Inspection Tips
Make sure that you do not have any of these problems occurring on your deck to ensure a safe sanctuary you can rely on! Are All Your Connectors There? To date, there are over 40 million decks in the United States that consist of wood, nails, and some screws. If your deck looks like it …
A Safer, Longer-Lasting Deck in 5 Easy Steps
It is important to build your deck to code and to maintain it after installation to ensure that it stays structurally sound and safe for you and guests. Here are some quick tips to ensure a secure surface to entertain the ones you love! 1. Monitor Your Deck Exposure to the elements, improper maintenance and …
Is Hardwood Railing a Safe Choice for Your Family’s Deck?
When your deck railings get old and worn, they start to become weak and dangerous. That is, if you’re your railings are made of anything but hardwood. And I’m willing to bet that when it comes to your family, you want safety. This means that in order to ensure your family and guests stay safe …