With warmer months right around the corner, now’s the time to start preparing your deck for another scorching summer. In Colorado especially, it’s never been more important to ensure your outdoor structures are well-protected and performing as they should be. With the ebbs and flows of the housing market combined with potential record-breaking heat, investing time and energy into your deck space is a must!
Beware Of Sun Exposure
One of the biggest problems deck owners come across is sun exposure. Too much sun can leave decks with a faded color or splintered dry surface. This can happen to both natural wood decking and composite materials, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye out for any signs of damage.
The main way to prevent sun exposure from ruining your deck is to initially build with materials known to resist harsh levels of sunlight. If you know that your deck can easily get affected by light, it may be a good idea to stain its surface. It also helps to move any furniture or items off the deck if you know a heatwave is coming in. This prevents any weird fading lines and darker shaped patterns left on the deck’s surface.
Depending on your location, harsh levels of sun exposure can even be detrimental to the longevity of your deck. Deck boards that are heating-up and cooling-down too often may begin to warp. Do not sacrifice the structural integrity of your outdoor structures, act now and prevent any damage that the sun may cause this summer.
Clean Leaves And Debris Off Regularly
For those with decks in partially shaded or wooded areas, leaves and other debris are a common occurrence. Although mostly harmless, these items can become a breeding ground for pests and other potential dangers to your deck. If left on the deck surface for too long, leaves and debris can also begin to change the coloring in the deck boards. Over time, this can cause rot and decay in the deck.
We recommend brushing off any leaves or items you find on your deck regularly. Of course it will depend on the location and environmental conditions for how often you should attend to this. But as a general rule of thumb, once a week should do the trick. Wind storms and other weather conditions can cause more or less extremities to land on the deck surface. Be mindful, and maintain your structures when needed.
Make Necessary Upgrades
Summer time is the best time for a deck. Make it great! A simple addition of a firepit or railing can go a long way when it comes time to spending time with loved ones outdoors. Not to mention, these upgrades will certainly increase the value of any home. And in this unpredictable housing market, a little goes a long way.
In addition to the fun add-ons that decks can be upgraded with, there are lots of other things homeowners should watch out for. Necessary upgrades to the structural integrity of the boards and framing should be done as soon as possible. Be sure to inspect your deck surfaces at least once or twice a year to ensure no obvious signs of damages or cracking. Replace boards as needed and add extra support when you can.
Consider A Stain
Ultimately, one of the best ways to protect your deck during the summer months is with a stain. This can come in the form of anything from a light clear coat or a thick and dark stain to totally transform its look. A stain is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to prevent damages from sun exposure and the high amounts of traffic that decks see in the summer.
For more ways to protect your deck or to get a quote today, contact our representatives here.
