Nashville Deck Maintenance Tips

Deck Maintenance Tips for Nashville Homeowners

Like any part of your home, your deck needs proper care and maintenance. This ensures the safety of your outdoor living space, extends its life, helps you save from major and frequent repairs, maintains its beautiful appearance longer, and preserves the value of your investment on your deck. With the following deck maintenance tips, you can maintain the longevity of your outdoor space and save on expensive deck repairs in Nashville, TN.

Deck Maintenance Tips According to Our Expert Deck Builders

1. Clean Your Deck Regularly

Perform basic cleaning at least once per week. This involves sweeping off debris from your deck. Doing so can prevent fallen leaves and dirt from sitting too long on your deck, which causes discoloration, mold, and wood rot. However, never pressure wash your deck since it can cause irreversible damage to it.

Aside from weekly sweeping, you also need to clean your deck with the appropriate cleaner for its material. It will remove the dirt, mold, mildew, algae, and oxidation that have built up during the year. Here are the suitable cleansers for the material of your deck:

Wood deck: Most standard wood deck cleaners will do. Just make sure to use one that suits your stain or sealant.
Composite deck: A mixture of a gentle detergent or dish soap and water is a suitable cleaner for composite decking material. For more stubborn grease and oil stains, you can use a commercial degreaser or a cleaner formulated for composite material.
Vinyl deck: A mixture of warm water and mild soap is all you need to clean mold, mildew, and dirt off of your vinyl deck.

When cleaning your deck with a cleanser, it is advised to use a brush to scrub the surface clean (soft brush for composite and vinyl decks). You should always seal your deck after cleaning it but wait for two days after to ensure it’s dry.

2. Perform regular inspections and repair damaged parts as soon as possible

Your deck is constantly exposed to the elements and heavy loads. This makes your deck prone to damage that may pose a hazard to you and your family and that may require you to have expensive repairs done on it, or, in some cases, replace it altogether. You can prevent this by inspecting your deck, at least, once a month.

Below is a checklist that you can use to perform deck inspection by yourself:

Inspect wood rot: Check for any signs of wood rot by probing wooden parts of your deck with a flat-blade screwdriver. Pay special attention to your structural members, joists, posts, and beams. If you can push it into the wood by a quarter-inch, it probably has rot.
Check if the ledger is attached properly and free of rust or holes: Go underneath your deck with a flashlight and inspect your ledger - the framing attaching your deck to your house. This should be attached with lag screws, has a metal cap covering its top, and is free of rust or holes.
Check for cracks or rot in your decking boards: Go over your deck and see if there are any cracks or rot in your decking boards. Although these do not risk the structural integrity of your deck, they can easily worsen with time and pose a safety hazard to anyone stepping on them.
Check your deck railings: Give your deck railings a check to see if the posts and any connection points are loose. Look for cracks around the nails, screws, and other connection points.

If you find anything from your inspection, it is best to repair it immediately to prevent it from worsening over time. For damage on the ledger and structural supports of your deck, it is best to leave its repair to a professional deck contractor.

3. Seal your deck once a year

Pressure-treated lumber and composite and vinyl material can resist insects and decay. However, it is still vulnerable to moisture and the sun’s heat and UV rays – both of which can deteriorate and shorten the lifespan of your deck. The sealant or stain on your deck provides a layer of protection between your deck and the elements.

A newly constructed deck by a professional contractor has this layer of protective sealant. This layer of protection is not only subject to the elements but also to the wear and tear from your deck’s daily use. Eventually, the sealant wears out in some parts of your deck and the elements will start to damage the decking material, making it look worn and even compromise its strength.

If you want continuous protection from the elements, you will need to apply sealing and staining on your deck at least once a year. The best time to do this is right after the major annual cleaning of your deck with clear skies and moderate temperatures.

4. Do Simple Preventive Measures Regularly

Aside from sweeping your deck at least once a week, you will also need to take some preventive measures to ensure the longevity and lasting appeal of your deck. These preventive measures are the following:

Cut bushes and trees near your deck: These should be 12 inches away from your deck to prevent, or, at least, slow down mold, moss, and rot from getting in your deck.
Clean leaves and other debris around the support posts: If left piled up, these can increase the chances of your deck's support posts rotting.
Move planters and outdoor furniture occasionally: This will help avoid or minimize discoloration on your deck.
Place outdoor rugs in high-traffic areas: This can reduce the wear and tear on your decking material and the sealant.
Keep nearby gutters and downspouts in good repair: This can prevent rain from flooding the area and causing water damage and wood rot in your deck and the ground supporting it.

5. Have a Professional Inspection At Least Once Every Two Years

Inspecting your deck regularly at least once a month is key to maintaining your deck and spotting potential problems immediately. But, nothing compares to an inspection done by a professional. They can identify problem areas before they even occur and provide workable solutions so that you can rest assured that your deck lasts for as long as possible. This is why it is recommended to have a professional deck inspection at least once every two years and once per year for decks more than 10 years old.

Do You Need Professional Deck Repair in Nashville, TN?

By following these deck maintenance tips, you have a good chance of ensuring the safety and longevity of your outdoor space. But, your deck will still require repairs and repairing your deck still requires extensive knowledge and experience to ensure it’s done right. With Nashville Deck Systems, you get a team that can revamp and restore your deck in Nashville with our professional services, offering a thorough upgrade and repair experience. Contact us today to learn more about the services we offer.