How to Clean and Seal Your Deck in Five Easy Steps
Step One: Clear the Deck If your deck is like mine it is an important part of the family's summer scene.
Don't attempt to work around items such as outdoor furniture or the grill.
The first step is to clear the grill of any and all such items from the deck.
Keep in mind that they will not be returned for several days.
Step Two: Sweep the Deck and Clear the Cracks Sweep debris such as leaves and dirt away.
Pay special attention to the spaces between boards.
Leaves can sometimes come to rest in the cracks as they decompose.
This can eventually rot the boards.
Use a putty knife to get into these crevices clean.
Step Three: Scrub the Wood There are several products on the market to clean decks.
You can also use bleach.
Simply cut the bleach in half with warm water.
Use a scrub brush and apply evenly.
I would not recommend using undiluted bleach.
You should not leave the cleaner or bleach and water on for too long taking care to rinse the deck thoroughly.
Be aware that some cleaners along with bleach can damage your landscaping.
Care should be taken to avoid over exposing your plants to these chemicals.
Shrubs and plants can be protected by covering them with plastic to avoid contact with the cleaning solution.
If you are dealing with a large area you may want to rent or purchase a pressure washer.
Apply the cleaning solution and let it soak in before pressure washing.
Be careful not to get the nozzle of the pressure washer too close to the wood as it may leave visible streaks or even damage the wood.
Rubber gloves to protect your hands from the chemicals and eye protection if you choose to use a pressure worker.
Step Four: Allow the Deck to Dry This is an important part of the process.
Sealing the deck while wet may trap moisture in the wood severely decreasing the woods life expectancy.
Make sure that the deck is completely dry because the sealant is water repellent and you will get an uneven coat.
It may be best to wait at least two days depending on the weather.
Step Five: Apply the Stain or Sealer To apply the sealer, purchase a foam roller.
Go over the entire deck surface with the sealer.
Make sure to cover the bottom of your safety slats and rails.
This can protect them from "wicking" water from snow drifts or water that puddles or seeps into cracks.
Cleaning and sealing your deck will add many years of service.
Have an awesome summer.
Don't attempt to work around items such as outdoor furniture or the grill.
The first step is to clear the grill of any and all such items from the deck.
Keep in mind that they will not be returned for several days.
Step Two: Sweep the Deck and Clear the Cracks Sweep debris such as leaves and dirt away.
Pay special attention to the spaces between boards.
Leaves can sometimes come to rest in the cracks as they decompose.
This can eventually rot the boards.
Use a putty knife to get into these crevices clean.
Step Three: Scrub the Wood There are several products on the market to clean decks.
You can also use bleach.
Simply cut the bleach in half with warm water.
Use a scrub brush and apply evenly.
I would not recommend using undiluted bleach.
You should not leave the cleaner or bleach and water on for too long taking care to rinse the deck thoroughly.
Be aware that some cleaners along with bleach can damage your landscaping.
Care should be taken to avoid over exposing your plants to these chemicals.
Shrubs and plants can be protected by covering them with plastic to avoid contact with the cleaning solution.
If you are dealing with a large area you may want to rent or purchase a pressure washer.
Apply the cleaning solution and let it soak in before pressure washing.
Be careful not to get the nozzle of the pressure washer too close to the wood as it may leave visible streaks or even damage the wood.
Rubber gloves to protect your hands from the chemicals and eye protection if you choose to use a pressure worker.
Step Four: Allow the Deck to Dry This is an important part of the process.
Sealing the deck while wet may trap moisture in the wood severely decreasing the woods life expectancy.
Make sure that the deck is completely dry because the sealant is water repellent and you will get an uneven coat.
It may be best to wait at least two days depending on the weather.
Step Five: Apply the Stain or Sealer To apply the sealer, purchase a foam roller.
Go over the entire deck surface with the sealer.
Make sure to cover the bottom of your safety slats and rails.
This can protect them from "wicking" water from snow drifts or water that puddles or seeps into cracks.
Cleaning and sealing your deck will add many years of service.
Have an awesome summer.