A wooden deck is a wonderful addition to any Cincinnati, Ohio home. The tricky part of having a wooden deck is the upkeep that is required, specifically deck cleaning. House washing and power washing the deck are needed services to remove dirt and grime build-up as well as keeping your home in good working condition. In this short guide, you will be informed of the top four tips for cleaning your wooden deck.
1. Remove any unneeded items
With a patio or deck surface, we start out minimal with a table and chair and maybe a potted plant. And then life happens. The kid’s toys are left on the deck, the garden hose is coiled in the corner, painting supplies are left out, the roofing shingles are in a heap, and random other items are left about on the wooden deck. Before you can perform any kind of cleaning to the deck, you need to move all the unwanted items from the deck to their respective places in the garage or shed.
2. Perform repairs before cleaning
The next task you need to accomplish before deck cleaning can begin is to inspect the wooden deck for any repairs that need to be made. Examining the deck is similar to inspecting the gutters or the chimney. Repairs may be required on any of your home systems. With the deck, you are explicitly looking for loose planks, nails that are starting to come out, splintering of the wood, or any wood rot or termite damage that you notice. It is imperative that you fix these issues before cleaning or sealing the deck because if you proceed without repairing the items, the wood may be damaged further and can end up costing you in the end.
3. Power wash the patio
The next crucial tip in cleaning your wood deck is to power wash the area of any grime and build-up. Just like house washing, deck cleaning needs to be done meticulously, so you do not miss any spots. You want to make sure you take your time and perform the job carefully as pressure washing a deck can be difficult. It all depends on the amount of pressure that is applied. If you use too much pressure, you can damage the planks, causing splintering. If you do not apply enough pressure, you do not get a thorough cleaning, and the grime and dirt remain.
4. Place sealer
The last and most crucial step of the entire process is to apply sealer to the wooden deck once it has been rinsed and dried. You can hire a local handyman to perform this task if you want, but it is straightforward to complete. Make sure you have purchased the correct sealer for wooden decks and then apply the sealer with a sprayer. You can also use a brush to get into tight spots such as corners. The sealer can be expensive, but it is well worth the cost to have your wood sealed in so less damage can come from the weather, sunlight, and insects.
As you can see, there are multiple steps in the process of deck cleaning. Just like with house washing, you need to prep the area first by making repairs and moving unwanted items before you can perform the pressure washing of the deck. Lastly, make sure to seal in your hard work. If you follow our advice on the top four tips for cleaning your wooden floor, you will have the cleanest and most preserved deck on your block!
