Many people often confuse timber with wood. The latter is the substance or material that makes up a tree. But, the former is the wood at any stage after a machine or person felled the tree. Different types of timber are ideal for making decks. But, the material can get damaged from age or the elements. Still, it might not be impossible to restore the beauty of your timber deck.
Here are three tips to help you accomplish the restoration of your timber deck.
Inspect the Deck for Visible Damages
Rain, high heat, and snow might damage or break your timber decking. Inspect the deck’s surface thoroughly. Check for any visible damages, especially where the wooden material meets the ground. Ensure that there’s no structural damage. Wood can rot, and if this material weakens, then the deck might lose balance and structural integrity.
After inspecting the deck, you can start making repairs in hopes of restoring the material. Start by examining the timber deck where the wood connects to the house. The bolts and screws attached in this area may loosen and rust. Replace old or damaged spacers and flashing. Otherwise, these components may cause the deck’s band joist to rot.
Also, look for signs of cosmetic damage — for instance, hammer down any popped nails. Conversely, consider replacing popped nails with durable screws.
But, you don’t need to try and restore your deck using Do-it-Yourself (DIY) methods. If you’re having trouble from the get-go, consider hiring professional deck restoration melbourne services.
Clean (and Stain) the Deck
You can find formulated deck cleaners to help restore the organic stain on the wooden substance. However, if the natural stain wears out, then using a chemical cleaner might worsen the appearance of the timber. If so, consider replacing that piece of wood instead of applying the deck-cleaning formula.
Look for a stain finish in timber if there are signs of wear-and-tear in high-traffic areas. But, sealers might be challenging to spot. Old sealers may tend to remove with deck cleaners. Look for the film in low-traffic areas. If you find a film, use a stripper railing to eliminate the substance before applying the cleaner.
After applying light cleaning techniques, you might want to move to deep cleaning methods. Use a power washer to help eliminate hard-to-remove dust, dirt, and debris from the timber deck. But, use a power washer with a variable pressure feature. Use a low pressure if the timber comes from a tree that might not be as durable as other wooden variants.
Use a fan-tip and pressure of approximately 500 to 600 psi for softwood. Otherwise, use a higher pressure for harder woods. But, don’t exceed 1,200 to 1,500 psi, as the force might damage even sturdy timbers.
Specific scenarios might not need you to replace timber for restoration projects. Instead, you can recover the natural beauty of the wooden material with proper cleaning and staining methods.
Seal the Timber Deck
After cleaning and washing the deck, leave the timber to dry. Seal the deck afterward to help secure its structural integrity. Remember, restoring your home’s deck shouldn’t only be for aesthetics. Instead, it would help if you always thought about the durability of the timber material to remain as sound as possible. Perhaps the last thing you’d want is for people to fall through the floor.
Remember to put down tarps to protect surrounding areas when using chemical sealers. The cover should protect plants, appliances, outdoor furniture, and other items of concern. But, the level of protection needed during deck-sealing may depend on the amount of sealant required.
You can apply sealants using different methods. A few techniques you can use include brushing, spraying, or rolling the solution with a paint roller on the deck’s surface.
Out of the three techniques mentioned, spraying the sealant might be the fastest method to use. However, this scheme might be the most difficult to control out of the three sealing procedures.
Also, take note that sealants can damage the health of nearby plants. Make sure not to damage most, if not all plants in the immediate area with the sealant, especially if you’re spraying the substance.
Conclusion
Restoring your timber deck might not be as challenging as you might initially think. But, the whole process may require careful hands, or you risk hurting yourself and the structural integrity of the wooden material. It might be best to call professional services from the start to help reduce the risks of mistakes and accidents happening at the deck restoration site.
