pressure treated wood Archives

All About Wood Rot

February 28, 2020
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Wood rot is one of the most dangerous hazards for a home. Not only is it bad for the aesthetic of your home, but it can also be hazardous to you and your family’s health and safety if left unchecked. Many homeowners deal with rot every year, but why? What causes wood rot, and how can you stop it from happening?

What is Wood Rot? And What Causes It?

Wood rot is a type of mold that seeps into the wood structure of your home. It can be both external and internal, and once it has made its way into your home it can spread quickly. This type of rot is extremely harmful to the integrity of a home.

Wood rot can cause your house to become flimsy and weaken the structure. This can lead to more damage to the home itself, as well as to anyone who is in or on its premises.

Types of Wood Rot – Dry Rot and Wet Rot

Wood rot is one of the leading causes of damage in decks, buildings, and homes. Both types of rot require the same things to occur — moisture, wood, oxygen, and warmth. The difference between dry rot and wet rot is that dry rot only needs moisture to form, but then once the moisture content lowers it can still spread and continue to form.

Wet rot, on the other hand, needs a continuous source of moisture, such as from wet weather or a broken or leaking pipe. In order to fix wet rot, the source of the moisture must be contained, then the affected timber can be replaced.

Dry rot is more challenging to remove because it is the most damaging wood-decaying fungus. In most cases, samples of the affected wood need to be tested to confirm that dry rot is present. Once that’s done, a professional should be called in to assess the extent of the dry rot damage.

What are Signs of Wood Rot?

If you’re worried you have developed a rot problem in your home, there are a couple of signs you can look out for:

Soft spots in the wood
Black spots
Rings of moisture
Odd or musty smells
Black fungi
Crumbling timber
Cracked wood

If you notice any of these signs, you should have your home checked immediately by a professional. The earlier you can identify and stop rot, the better it is for the integrity and structure of your home.

How Do I Treat Wood Rot?

Treating rot can be difficult and is even more challenging when the rot has had time to grow. Always seek professional advice when treating rot. A professional can come in, assess the damage, and take proper steps. These steps may include applying a chemical to stop the rot, removing and replacing the damaged pieces of wood, and creating better ventilation systems to prevent future rot.

How Do I Prevent Rot?

Of course, it’s better to deal with a problem before it becomes one. To prevent the formation of dry rot in your house in the first place, it’s important to do a few things. First, make sure you inspect your pipes and water entry and exit points frequently, as leaky pipes can contribute and cause the rot.

Also, make sure your house is well-ventilated to keep moisture from gathering too long. Lastly, maintain your interior and exterior paint, finish, and stain on all wood surfaces, utilizing the services of a licensed painting contractor. Paint is an effective way to prevent rot and maintaining your wood surfaces will help seal them away from moisture and keep the rot from forming.

We offer free deck inspections in the Omaha and surrounding areas. Get in touch today and we’ll take a look at your deck and other wood in your home to see if you have any of these easily preventable issues in your home.

December 19, 2019
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Maintaining your deck is an important part of ensuring that your deck lasts for many years. As the temperatures continue to drop here in Omaha, it’s time to think about doing important winter deck maintenance and preparation work. This will help you maintain the quality of your deck throughout the winter. Here are a few steps you should take now to help keep your deck sturdy and usable through months of wind, cold, rain, and snow.

Clean It Up

Bring anything you don’t want to be damaged during the winter into your garage, basement, or other storage areas. If you have planters, chairs, umbrellas, or grills sitting on your deck, now is the time to move them inside. Move furnishings and other items from your deck to a safe place for the winter. Then give your deck a thorough sweep and remove any natural debris or trash that may have piled up throughout the fall months. This will ensure the least amount of moisture is trapped on your deck throughout this season.

Wash it Down

It’s not just enough to pick up around your deck. Giving your deck a thorough washing before the winter chill sets in will help keep your deck free from anything that will cause damage. Small amounts of debris can cause abrasions to your decks surface, and mildew will spread through the wet winter months and can cause serious damage.

Check for Defects

If your deck has any major repair needs, you should check for those now before winter truly sets in. If you need maintenance, you may not need to wait until summer to get it. Check out our list of deck maintenance tasks you can get done in the winter to see what you can fix now before it gets worse.

Shovel the Snow

While tedious, it is important to shovel the snow off your deck throughout the winter months. Use a rubber-tipped shovel (not a steel-tipped shovel) along the grain of the wood. This prevents damage to the deck’s finish. Doing this frequently prevents accumulation. If you have a dusting of snow, consider using a broom instead of a shovel to remove the snow. Avoid salting your deck if possible, as it can ruin the finish of your deck and corrode the fasteners and other metal parts.

The wintertime brings the joy of the holiday season and the upkeep of our home’s exterior. This includes the decks we love to utilize during the warmer, dryer months. Take these few steps of winter deck maintenance and preparation now and, come spring, you’ll enjoy a problem-free deck with little or no maintenance needed.

If you live in the Omaha area and all this sounds like a lot of work that you’d rather not do out in the cold, we are your Year-Round Deck Company. We’ll come out and do whatever is needed to make sure your deck can handle all the effects of winter. Reach out today.

Have Your Deck Repairs Done All Year Round

December 5, 2019
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With Winter rain and snow already appearing on your weather report, it can be tempting to put your deck repairs at the end of your to-do list. However, the dropping temperatures shouldn’t be a reason for you to let your deck continue to rot, wear, warp, or worse, become unsafe. Don’t wait until spring to take a good look at your deck and the maintenance it may need. Deck repairs can be done all year round and Winter is a great time to take advantage of getting this smaller project done for your home.

There are also plenty of things you can do during the winter months to prepare to have your deck repaired. Having your deck repaired now will make it is safe and ready to use as soon as the clouds clear and the weather warms up.

1. Preventative Care

With winter ice and low temperatures, it is not possible to do certain preventative care measures. Power washing is an important part of deck maintenance, but can’t be done in snowy or rainy weather. Make sure you schedule that much before the days start to cool.

There are still lots of important preventative measures you can take with your deck during the winter months, though. As long as snow and moisture have not started to stick, you can have your deck stained or sealed. This will make sure that your deck’s materials are prepared for when the moisture does come. Staining or sealing your deck is a great way to help your investment last as long as possible, and help you to do less maintenance in the future.

2. Wood replacement

Even in colder weather, replacing the wood of your deck is easy for us to do. You can have pieces of your deck swapped out, giving you a new-deck feel that will be perfect for the spring and summer seasons to come. While chips and warping of the wood contribute to a less-attractive deck, you also want to make sure you are looking out for dry rot in the boards.

If there are areas of your deck that are discolored, spongy, or look like they have been damaged by insects, these are all signs of rot. If you notice any of these, have a professional out right away. Rot in decks can quickly spread and make your deck unsafe for use.

3. Railing Repair

Sometimes railing repair is as simple as a couple of new screws. Sometimes it’s a matter of combating rot and mold. Whatever the situation is, you can get railing repairs done during the winter as well. A good railing is essential to making sure your deck is safe in slick and icy environments, so this is not a repair that you want to delay.

4. Rusting Fixtures

If you have fixtures or screws that are rusting, the moisture of winter can just make a bad problem a lot worse. If you have rusting hardware, have it swapped out as soon as possible.

Not only will your deck look better, but it will also be safer. Don’t wait for the damage to get worse. Deck collapses, while rare, do happen. Since deck repairs can be done all year round, it is much easier for you to protect both your loved ones and your beautiful deck for many years to come.

Have your deck repaired this Winter so it’s ready for the warm weather in Spring! Contact us to get your free quote for your 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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