April 22, 2024
Four short jobs a year keep a Vancouver deck out of trouble: spring wash, summer refinish, autumn clear-out and a winter structure check.
Decks here rarely fail suddenly. They fail slowly, in the places where water sits and never gets a chance to dry. A little seasonal attention prevents most of the repairs we get called out for.
Spring — wash it. Sweep the surface, clear the gaps between boards with a putty knife or a stiff brush, and wash with a deck cleaner. Keep pressure washers on a wide fan tip and well back from the boards; a narrow tip at close range shreds softwood grain and does more harm than the moss you are removing.
Summer — refinish. Once the boards are dry, this is the window for stain or sealer on cedar and pressure-treated surfaces. Pick a stretch with a few clear days on either side. If water no longer beads on the surface, the finish has worn through and it is time.
Autumn — clear it out. Leaves and needles trapped between boards and against the house hold moisture all winter. Clear the gaps, clear behind planters and furniture, and check that any drainage under the deck still runs freely.
Winter — check the structure. Look at the ledger where the deck meets the house, at post bases, and at stair stringers for soft spots, rust streaks or movement. Push on the railing: any wobble means fasteners to check, not a job to leave until spring.
Year-round, keep planters and mats off bare wood or move them occasionally. A pot left in one spot for a season leaves a permanently darker circle and, on softwood, an early rot spot.
If something on that list turns up damage you would rather not tackle, get in touch — we repair and rebuild decks as well as building new ones.