power washing Archives - All About Decks

Get Your Deck Ready for Spring, Graduation Parties, & BBQs

March 23, 2020
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NOTE: This blog was written before the current world health epidemic. With heavy hearts and at the same time hopeful optimism, we’re posting this blog for its useful content for the future. We can still pressure wash or build your deck at this time, but contact us for any updates because things are changing by the minute. And always feel free to call with questions. We’ll get through this together. After we do, we’ll come over and celebrate on your safe, sturdy deck.

Keeping your family safe is the most important job year-round. This task becomes more challenging as the weather gets warmer and brings in the season of entertaining on your deck. With spring and summer come graduation parties, BBQs, and many other opportunities to entertain family and friends. With more people using your deck, it is imperative that you ensure your deck is safe for your guests. If you’re planning on entertaining on your deck this upcoming season, here are some spring deck maintenance and repairs you may want to consider.

Power washing

Once the weather warms up, it’s important to have your deck cleaned before you attempt any other repairs. The best way to do this is by having it power washed. Power washing will remove any of the dirt, debris, and mold. It also removes anything that has accumulated on your deck throughout the winter months.

On average, you should power wash your deck once a year, and doing it after winter is a great time to get it done. Having your deck power washed prepares it to be inspected for any further needed upkeep or repairs.

Repairing Rot

A common repair that decks may need after a harsh winter is the removal of rot. Whether just early signs of the wood chipping away, mold formation, or a more advanced case of wood rot, you’ll need to have it removed immediately. If your deck wasn’t well-maintained through the winter, rot may have had the chance to form and worsen. Rot is a dangerous condition that can impair the health and structure of your deck. At the beginning of the spring season, we’ll inspect your deck for rot and will take care of it right away before it gets worse.

Repairing Boards

Your deck may be susceptible to cracked or warped boards. Cracked boards can break, causing injuries to you and your guests. If the damage is minimal, you can have individual boards replaced to keep your deck safe and beautiful.

An even better solution is to take care of your deck by having it washed, refinished, and sealed on a regular basis. This way you’ll be able to prevent cracked or warped boards and avoid the chore of having them repaired.

Checking Joints

Checking the joints is another important deck repair to do before you entertain people on your deck. Joints can rust and corrode over time and they may eventually need to be replaced. Have joints and other hardware checked for signs of wear. If they look like they need to be repaired or replaced, a professional can take care of them.

Deck Expansion

If you enjoy entertaining, you may want to be able to fit a large number of people on your deck. If your deck is on the smaller side, you may want to consider expanding your deck’s size. Creating more deck space can involve simply adding additional foundation, support, and deck boarding, or can involve more intricate plans that involve multi-level deck space, built-ins, such as planters, and much more.

Deck Staining

Finally, deck staining is one of the most important spring deck maintenance measures you can take. The winter weather can wreak havoc on the wood of your deck. The hot summer sun can dry and discolor your wood or wood composite deck material.

Entertaining throughout the summer can also cause your deck to see a lot of wear and tear. Periodic staining and sealing of your deck will help you preserve the beauty of the materials used to build your deck. If your deck hasn’t been stained in a while, you may want to look into getting it stained to keep it looking great and free from preventable damage.

All About Decks Omaha is here to serve you and help with your spring deck maintenance, whether you need deck repair, power washing, cleaning, staining, refinishing, or a whole new deck.

The Pros and Cons of Different Types of Deck Materials

November 19, 2019
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If you’ve decided it’s time to have your new deck built this season, one of the first things you’ll want to think about is choosing a deck material that is right for you. There are many different types of deck materials, including pressure-treated wood decks, cedar decks, composite decking also known as “plastic lumber,” aluminum decks, and even decks made with tropical woods.

It can be confusing because there are many choices of deck materials. At All About Decks, we offer three main types of deck building materials, each with their own set of pros and cons. Each can be useful for different types of projects and is good for different budgets.

Pressure Treated Wood Decks

The first type of material we offer for your decking project is pressure treated wood, sometimes known as “green treated wood.” Pressure treated wood is infused with different chemicals through a pressurized cylinder. These chemicals create a resistance to harmful rot and insects.

PROs of Pressure Treated Wood Decks:

Least expensive option; easy upkeep as it requires only a once a year power washing and then re-sealing every one or two years.
Pressure treated wood is easy to work with as far as cutting and nailing pieces together so your deck can be built relatively quickly.

CONs of Pressure Treated Wood Decks:

Splinters can occur when the sealing wears off.
The slats may warp or crack over time and require you to spend money to have your deck fixed.

Cedar Wood Decks

Cedar is another deck building material we offer for your deck project. This is an excellent option if you love real wood. The natural variety of cedar trees ensures that your deck is one-of-a-kind. We only use the best part of the cedar tree, the deep-colored heartwood.

PROs of Cedar Wood Decks:

Using cedar, especially the heartwood, will keep your deck from absorbing moisture, making it resistant to rot and warping.
Relatively inexpensive compared to other wood types like redwood, mahogany, ipe, and tigerwood; cedar decks last longer than pressure treated wood decks, often between 10-20 years.
Cedar is considered to be one of the most “green” materials because it does not contain chemicals that could be harmful to the environment.

CONs of Cedar Wood Decks:

To keep its beautiful color, a cedar deck requires staining.
Cedar is a soft wood, so it is subject to dings and dents more easily than other materials.
Annual winterizing, consisting of power washing, staining, and sealing, while not required, is highly recommended to maintain the finish and beauty of the cedar.

Some experts suggest that sealing and refinishing your cedar deck every two years is sufficient. Others suggest needing to do it less often. How frequently you need to reseal your cedar deck depends on weather conditions, whether the deck gets a lot of sun exposure, the deck owner’s tolerance for discolorations, and other factors.

Composite Decking Materials

The type of deck building material that offers an endless number of choices is composite decking. Composite decking is either all synthetic or a mixture of natural and synthetic materials, which makes it more durable than all other decking options. If you are looking for the least amount of upkeep, composite is a good choice of material for you.

PROs of Composite Decks:

Composite decks have a low environmental impact, since they’re mostly made of recycled materials that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
Composite deck materials are available in many colors, looks, and textures.
They’re stain-resistant, weather-resistant, and splinter-free for those who love to walk barefoot.
Maintenance of composite decks is minimal, though some composite deck owners have their deck sealed occasionally to protect against fading.

CONs of Composite Decks:

Since composite decks are made of plastics, polyvinyls, and other plastic configurations, they can look, well, plastic.
With the latest composite deck technology, however, some composite decks look pretty nice.
Composite decking materials are generally more expensive than cedar decks and are definitely more expensive than pressure treated wood.

With so many types of deck materials available, the choice isn’t easy. Going through the pros and cons of the different deck materials will help you decide which material is best for your new deck. If you still need help, reach out and we’ll provide all the information you need to decide.

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