If you have a wooden deck attached to your house, it’s vital to protect it from the elements! A deck is going to get hit with plenty of sun, wind, rain, snow, and ice, which can all quickly wear away the wood and its natural beauty. Your deck needs to be protected with staining and/or sealing, which both guards the deck and the investment you made.
Hiring professional Westchester deck refinishing services can make this easy. Let’s talk about why it’s so important to periodically refinish your deck and offer some tips on best practices.
Why You Need Westchester Deck Refinishing Services
In short, untreated wood won’t stand up against the weather for very long. It needs to be regularly treated with a sealer, and potentially a stain, so that it keeps looking good for longer.
Staining is exactly what it sounds like and employs a colored liquid that’s designed to seep into the wood and bind to it. Stains can come in a wide variety of colors and intensities, from extremely light coloring that preserves the wood’s natural look, to brighter colors that largely cover up the wood. Stain alone will not protect your deck, however.
You also need sealing, which is a top coat that’s designed to resist water intrusion. Deck sealant is transparent, so it simply allows the wood or stain underneath to show through.
Barring unusual damage to your deck, you should hire Westchester deck staining services every two years or so, to keep your deck looking great, and to extend its lifespan. This is a small price to pay to ensure your deck is ready for fun and enjoyment for many years to come.
Tips For Protecting Your Deck & Its Finish
1 – Don’t immediately stain/seal a new deck
A lot of people don’t know this, but you should NOT stain or seal a deck right after it’s installed. The wood is full of preservatives which need anywhere from 30-90 days to fully evaporate. If you seal the deck too early, it seals those in – which reduces the effectiveness of the stain or seal and potentially harms the wood as well.
2 – Stay off the deck for two days after sealing
Even though the sealant may seem dry after just a few hours, it’s going to take a few days to fully dry and bind to the wood. Don’t allow anyone onto the deck during this time and do what you can to keep debris off it. Hang netting around the deck if you can, to protect it while the sealant dries.
3 – Regularly clean the deck
Dirt and grit can work their way through the sealant and into the wood if they’re allowed to sit on the surface for too long. Simply hosing down your deck from time to time or cleaning it with a mild soap and a soft mop, will do a lot to extend the life of your stain and seal.
C.E.T. Painting offers top-quality deck staining and sealing, at reasonable prices. If your deck is looking worn, contact us to spruce it up!