Know When to Get a Deck Replacement
More often than not, having a large outdoor deck can be a large selling point for a home. They can offer wonderful outdoor living possibilities, essential for any family who loves to entertain. However, like anything else, decks can fall into disrepair and they need to be maintained before completely falling into shambles. This, however, begs the question: just when is the right time for deck replacement? Here are a few tips for spotting the signs before it’s too late.
Check for Cleanliness and Basic Maintenance
After enduring harsh seasons in some areas of the world, decks can certainly go through some harmful treatment and need to be consistently cleaned. Issues like moss, mold, and discoloration can overrun the wood paneling and leave it susceptible to greater problems, including cracking, breaking and ultimately structural damage. Properly cleaning and sealing your deck can give it a greater threshold for handling these situations.
Seek Out Any Rot or Decay
Doing strategic tests on your wood decking for rot and decay can help determine any damage and the need for deck replacement. Simple methods such as poking areas for spongy or soft areas can signal rot, whereas any splintering or breakage can often visually be a good indicator of potential decay. Avoiding such predicaments can be feasible by easily doing routine inspections once a month, especially during or after the harshest weather patterns.
Don’t Forget the Hardware
Paying special attention to your deck’s hardware including fasteners like nails, anchors and screws can also be a preventative measure. If any nails or screws appear to be popping up or out of place, they need to be addressed and more thoroughly inspected for signs of greater problems.
Owning a beautiful deck as part of your property can be a wonderful perk. However, they require maintenance and weather-protection like any other materials on the outside of your home. Keep these tips in mind and they’ll help determine the need for deck replacement before it becomes serious and not just a chore to get to later down the road.