Torrential Designs

As the days become shorter, we wrap up another summer of outdoor activities and enjoyment of our outdoor living spaces.  Now’s the time to perform a little bit of maintenance to ensure your patio and deck is protected over the winter and will be ready to go when the spring arrives again.  For most areas of the US & Canada, the warm weather season only lasts for about 6 months of the year.  This means that during the other 6 months of the year, your deck is facing the harsh cold weather elements and the shock that comes from the extreme climatic changes from hot to cold.

Wood Deterioration
By far, the most common source of deterioration and damage to decks is water.  Even a small amount of moisture causes the wood to expand and then contract when it dries.  This swelling and shrinking action can cause fasteners to pop or loosen and may warp, crack or split the boards.  If the deck remains wet constantly, fungus and bacteria can begin to grow and begin rotting the wood, turning the wood into mush over time.

Prevention for this can be as simple as keeping your deck clean by sweeping regularly and clearing away any puddles to help keep the wood dry.  A good coat of sealant can help greatly, especially when combined with prevention.

Depending on your area, a wide variety of insects may have taken up residence in your deck and are slowly destroying it.  Remember that many woods are insect resistant, but not likely insect proof.

Inspecting your deck
At the beginning and end of each season, be sure to conduct a thorough inspection of your deck, stairs and foundations.  Walk around the deck and listen for squeaks.  Feel for any soft spots or sagging areas.  Pay special attention to areas where there is direct wood-to-wood contact as this is a prime spot for wood rot.

• Check where the joists contact the beams
• Check where the beams contact the posts
• Check the posts contact the concrete footings, as these are especially moisture prone
• Check the ledger board where the deck connects to the house
• Check the bottom of the stair stringers where the wood contacts the ground, patio or the landing area.

Be especially aware of areas that are showing water stains, as this indicates that they received constant moisture and may have potential for future problems.

Replace Rotten Boards
If you find any boards beginning to show signs of rot, you need to replace them.  It may be tricky to remove just the rotten board without damaging the other boards.  A circular saw and a sharp chisel make easy work of removing the old board.

With some initial maintenance and repairs already taken care of, you will have more time to tackle other projects once the weather improves.

Photos by: redagain

Tags: deck, fall, maintenance