Here are two images of a recently completed deck restoration that utilized a semi-transparent deck stain. A semi-transparent deck stain will accent the wood grain and tint the wood the color that was chosen.
Deck Staining
When it comes to choosing what brand of stain to use for your deck, there are countless options. Even before choosing the brand, you will need to determine where to start your search? The box stores or your local hardware store are common starting points however the internet is the most common.
Let’s back up even further, let’s determine if you really want to do your deck maintenance yourself or if you want to hire a professional to do the work for you. A cost benefit analysis should be performed in order to determine if the benefits of using a professional outweigh the costs. The average deck will take 3-6 hours for a home owner to power wash a deck (that is assuming they own a power washer). If a rental is needed, there is the additional time with driving to the store, purchasing the rental and then also returning it.
After the cleaning is completed, the deck needs to dry. This will mean week nights or waiting until the next weekend. When the deck/wood has dried, the decision making needs to take place for which stain product to use.
Unfortunately the help you will get at a store with your questions are limited. How many decks do you think the employee behind the counter has completed? So when they answer your questions, how much experience is behind those answers. At a minimum call a couple deck contractors and get their opinion. If you are up front and honest, a true professional would be happy to provide their opinion on what you should do if you are tackling your own deck staining.
Deck Board Replacement
Unprotected exterior wood is prone to damage and decay. It is important to maintain exterior wood by cleaning it routinely and sealing/staining it to keep it looking its best.
When the situation arises that a board has been damaged due to the elements or has rotting occur, it will need to be replaced. When replacing a deck board it is important to know what you are getting in to. When you put a brand new board next to an older board, the two will never match. The only way to aesthetically get the boards to match is to use a solid stain to cover up the boards. When using a transparent stain or a semi-transparent stain, once the new board is installed it will be very obvious that a new board was installed. Of course in some situations there is not an option to prolong replacing boards, however it is important to know what your deck will look like once this service is completed and to know your options for maintenance.
The picture below shows old boards (more reddish), next to boards that were replaced about a year prior to this picture (gray boards) and then new boards that were just replaced. With this deck, the only way to make the surface match is to properly prepare the wood and then to apply a solid stain. The gray boards were left un-stained or finished (turned gray due to being un-protected and exposed to the sunlight).
How do I know when to maintain my wood?
A great time to maintain your deck is before the plants come up and the furniture comes out in the spring. This will allow for easy access to all areas of the deck and at the same time eliminating the risk to your plants and vegetation. At the same time, deck maintenance can be completed throughout the entire spring, summer and fall months of the year. Even though the spring is the busiest time of the year for deck maintenance professionals, the fall is close behind. If your deck was not maintained during the early months of the year, it is critical to maintain it prior to the harsh winter months that can wreak havoc on an unprotected deck surface.
Maintaining your wood will maximize your enjoyment and protect your investment. The typical maintenance is a light wash annually of the deck in order to rid it of any dirt or debris and then having the horizontal surfaces cleaned and stained every 2 years and the vertical portions every 4 years. This will keep your exterior wood looking its best for many years.
What are the products that should be used for wood protection?
Wood that sits in the exterior environment must be properly maintained in order to extend the life of the wood. In addition to extending its life, maintaining exterior wood protects your investment and provides beauty that maximizes your enjoyment.
When protecting horizontal wood surfaces, the only option is an oil based semi-transparent penetrating stain.
All too often a deck is painted with the same product as the siding. This is due to a variety of reasons. The facts on paint and solid film forming stains is that there are not effective on horizontal surfaces that get traveled upon. These types of products are effective on wood that is vertical. Painting horizontal surfaces results in peeling within as early as several months. Horizontal wood surfaces that are stained with a coating versus a penetrant will have the same results as a paint product.
Power Washing is a Home’s Best Friend
Power washing is one of the most efficient and effective ways to clean and maintain your home. With the use of a pressure washer, you can clean all parts of the house exterior, including the roof, as well as sidewalks and driveways. Power washing is a practical way to keep the exterior surfaces of your home looking like new. With proper maintenance and upkeep, a wood deck or the siding on your home can last up to 30 years or longer.
Most don’t realize that if simple maintenance is neglected, the value of your home may be affected. We all want to be the envy of the neighborhood, so why not take the time and “wow” everyone. Power washing is not just meant for the exterior of a home or for cleaning your deck, it can be utilized on other projects as well. Cleaning a sidewalk of the unwanted weeds or your paver patio from the ground moss can make the area look new. When taking pride with the upkeep of our homes, we find that life is more enjoyable.
We were raised to wash our hands daily, why not give our homes that same chance. After seeing a clean roof, freshly cleaned deck or patio, most find a sense of accomplishment and pride. So let us take time to treat our homes just like our bodies, stay clean and healthy for a lifetime of smiles.
Fence Maintenance (Fence Cleaning and Staining)
Wooden fences add a great amount of curb appeal to any home. Their sturdy appearance may give the impression they will last indefinitely, a long life is not assured without proper maintenance. Here are some tips for extending the life of your fence.
Wherever possible, keep soil out of contact with the wood. An outdoor fence will be exposed to some amount of soil. However, you should plan your landscaping so that it does not involve piling gardening soil or mulch up against your fence. The parts of the fence exposed to the soil will soak up much more water without having access to the drying effects of the sun. Worse, the soil may contain termites that will be more than happy to burrow in and start destroying the wood. For these very same reasons, you should keep plants and dead leaves away from your fence as well. Essentially, play it safe and lean nothing against the fence if you can help it.
Adjust your sprinklers so that you are not watering the fence. Not only do you want to avoid exposing the fence to unnecessary moisture, but your water may contain chemicals, such as chlorine, that will change the color of your wood.
In addition to these tips, it is important to have your fence power washed and sealed/stained approximately once every four years. The power washing (along with the use of an environmentally safe cleaner) is critical for removing dirt, debris, mold, and mildew that has settled into the cracks of the wood over time. By sealing and staining the wood after power washing, you are giving it a layer of protection and a preservative against the sun’s ultraviolet rays, as well as preventing water absorption.
Remember, proper maintenance can double the life of your wooden fence. The professionals at Bright Services are ready to assist you with any questions regarding your wood fencing needs. Call us at 215-357-3058 or email us at info@brightservicesgroup.com.
The Importance of Home Maintenance
Home Maintenance is critical to both the longevity of your home and your overall enjoyment of it. The recent onset of warmer weather serves as an excellent reminder to check your home maintenance to-do list. Your first thought may be regarding the things you need to do indoors, such as flipping your mattresses or changing your air filters. However, now is the time to consider outdoor maintenance as well, and this extends beyond simply turning on your outside water and mowing your lawn.
For example, while you are removing the cover from your barbecue grill, it’s time to take a look at the condition of your wooden deck and fence. You should be checking for nail pops, discoloration, unstable railings, signs of mold or algae, and boards that are loose, splintered, or warped. Any nail pops or loose/cracked boards should be replaced right away to prevent injury. Additionally, you should keep in mind it is highly recommended that you power wash, then stain or seal your outdoor wood at least once every 2 years. This is great preventative maintenance because it will drastically reduce damage to the wood caused by rain/snow and the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It also inhibits the growth of mold, algae, and moss in your wood.
Another major outdoor item you want to inspect is your roof. If your roof has black streaks and/or appears dirty, it is a sure sign of algae growth. This is something you would want to put a stop to immediately, as algae will quickly turn into mold. Mold is able to plant roots in your shingles, causing them to loosen and fall off, thereby exposing your roof to further damage. In this case, power washing your roof is a must.
At Bright Services, we can assist you with all of these outdoor maintenance needs. All of our employees are certified in the latest techniques and our environmentally friendly cleaning solution is guaranteed not to harm your pets, plants, or grass. We also offer a wide variety of attractive stains and sealants to fit your aesthetic needs. To get started, we would be happy to provide you with a free quote. Please complete and submit our form online at http://www.brightdeckandroof.com or call us at 610-522-7494.
What about deck stain that are supposed to last 4 to 6 years?
To keep your deck and wood healthy, beautiful and long lasting it is important to keep it protected from the sun. In addition to protecting your wood from the damages of the sun, it also must be kept clean –much like skin must be kept clean to stay healthy. It is healthier for wood to be thoroughly cleaned and stained every 2 and 4 years than to extend it out every 6 to 7 years. Dirt falls down, accumulates and gets ground into the horizontals surfaces of your wood. This dirt needs to be removed with a thorough cleaning every couple years. The vertical portions of your deck will not accumulate dirt like the horizontal surfaces so the vertical surfaces need to be thoroughly cleaned and stained only every 4 years. Using a deck stain that is not found in stores and is used for commercial use, is the best decision for maintaining your wood.
Is a rotating surface cleaning machine good for pressure washing wood?
When pressure washing and cleaning horizontal surfaces, a rotating surface cleaning machine should not be used. Surface cleaners are designed for concrete cleaning and should not be used on wood due to wood being soft. Surface cleaners rotate which means the wood is being cleaned against the grain nearly 98% of the time. Cleaning wood should always be done with the grain to protect the wood.
