Rain or shine, your wood deck can stay sublime!
Like your home, a backyard deck should be capable of withstanding heavy rains without a problem. However, unlike your home, you will need to look after it more closely if it is made of wood. Wooden decks offer a lot of charm for their warm, rustic appearance and affordability, but they do need a little more TLC than a vinyl or composite deck. Here are several tips to protect your deck from rain.
Make Sure Your Deck Has Proper Drainage
The deck’s construction is fundamental for ensuring its structural stability against forces like wind and rain, not to mention people walking on it. All decks need a working drainage system to prevent water from pooling and causing the wood to rot. The most concerning part about attached decks is water causing the ledger board, which connects the deck to the house, to rot.
Various under-deck drainage systems make it possible to stay dry under your deck. If you have room, you can make it into another outdoor living space. You can implement a drainage system on a new or existing deck.
Seal Your Wood Deck
Water is one of the greatest threats to a wood deck. Too much moisture, and it can swell up and start growing mold. A bit of water won’t ultimately hurt your wood deck, but sealing your wood deck will significantly help preserve its boards and beams. It is commendable to wash and seal the deck once every few years.
Shelter Your Deck
Sealing your deck is beneficial whether you have a deck shelter or not, but a sheltering structure will of course prevent a lot of moisture swamping your deck. You could add a gazebo, a pergola with clear panels over the roof, a retractable awning, a pavilion, or a roof extending from your house. It depends on how much shade vs. sunshine you’d like on your deck.
Take Care of Deck Furniture
One could consider deck furniture as part of the deck. Cover it before a big storm and store it away if you expect hurricane-level winds. Invest in outdoor furniture and accessories that cannot easily blow away.
Call Mid-Atlantic Deck & Fence For Your New Deck or Fence!
Mid-Atlantic Deck & Fence has almost 30 years of experience in building beautiful custom fences, gazebos, screened-in porches, and decks throughout the state of Maryland. We have the expertise to design your dream fence or custom deck and have it installed in a headache-free process. Give us a call at 1-800-833-9310 or visit us online for a quote today! We offer many different styles of fencing and decking, in addition to custom options designed specifically to suit your preferences and tastes. To see examples of our work and get more tips on how to choose the right decking for your family, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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