The sun is shining, the air is warm and there is a few hamburger patties waiting to be grilled. The only problem, your deck is full of slivers and you don’t even like to stand out there to grill, let alone sit down to eat. It sounds like it is time to repair or replace your deck so it becomes safe and usable for you and the entire family. A deck can be a great house foundations project that improves the value of your home. The deck can also make your house seem bigger, if you spend any amount of time out there. It’s almost like making an addition on your house.

Repairing the Deck

Repairing the deck might come in several different forms. Is the railing falling off and needs to be replaced? Is the stain wearing off and looking a little dingy? Do you want to change the color of your deck? Before you do any facial work on the deck, you need to make it safe. Go over all of the boards and tighten any screws that came loose or pound down any nails that have popped up. Is the railing safe? Tighten any boards that are loose or starting to wobble. Are all of the boards in place? Replace any that are cracked, rotting or where ones have fallen off in the past.

Once the deck is safe, then you can begin the beautification part. In order to get the stain to stay on properly, it should be powerwashed. The powerwashing will get off the remaining paint or stain and make for a smooth surface to refinish. The powerswashing will also remove dirt, mold or mildew that has built up between the cracks or on the surface that would make the stain not adhere to it.

After the deck dries from the power wash, then it can be sanded. Blow the sanding remnants off before you paint or stain the deck. Make sure to get the dust off so there isn’t any texture or spots once you do stain or paint. Allow for the painting to dry for several hours on a clear day before you walk on it.

Replacement

One other way to work on the house foundations is to replace the deck or build a new one if you don’t have one. Design a deck that will be functional for all who use the backyard. Do you do a lot of cooking? Make sure the deck is large enough to hold a grill and seating for the entire family. Are you an herb gardener and need space for a lot of potted plants? Create a space with a lot of shelving that faces the south side of the house.

No matter what you decide, to repair, replace or install a deck, make sure you take the time to do it right. A well built deck will last for years, no matter if you are the owner of the home or if you sell it to someone else.

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