Early fall is the best time to do routine wood deck maintenance in Maryland because temperatures are mild. Constant wear and tear, as well as abuse from the elements, make it important to care for your wood deck year round. Before your deck sits through the winter, we suggest you follow these preventative maintenance tips.

Fall Deck Maintenance Tips

Wash Your Deck

You should clean your deck at least twice a year—once before the winter and then again in the spring to clear off all debris like dirt and mold, which can discolor the surface. There are two ways to clean your deck: hand washing or pressure washing.

• Hand washing your deck is exhausting and can be very time-consuming. Plus, you may not be able to get all the dirt off scrubbing it by hand.  The only time we suggest hand washing your deck is when you have a stain that needs to be specially treated.
• Pressure washing is the easiest and best way to clean your deck. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can always rent one at a local home improvement store. Pressure washing your deck will get into every crevice and ensure you get rid of all debris, even the caked on stuff!

Why Seal Your Deck?

You should seal your wood deck with a water repellant. Without proper sealing, rain, snow, and ice will damage your deck. If you do not seal your deck, the wood may begin to rot, crack, and become warped.

Care for the Area Around Your Deck

Not only should you care for your deck, but you should also maintain the area around it. Use this time to trim back bushes and plants in surrounding areas. Trimming back the debris now will keep it from falling on your deck later.

Avoid Deck Discoloration

To avoid discoloring the wood finish of your deck, you should occasionally move tables, chairs, and planters around. The sun fades the color of the wood, so if your furniture is constantly in the same position, shading part of your deck, it will be different colors. You should also keep gutters and nearby downspouts in good working condition to keep water from continuously overflowing and ruining your deck.

Preparing your deck for the fall and winter months takes time and effort, but it will save you money down the road. Performing preventative maintenance will help your deck last longer and may keep you from having to make costly repairs in the future.

For deck repairs and installations in Maryland, call Diamond Decks today at (443) 688-6072!