6 Helpful Tips For Maintaining Your Patio & Deck

Depending on where you live, you might be lucky enough to spend more time outdoors than in-house, enjoying your lovely patio or deck with your family and friends. It’s important to take care of these outdoor areas if you want them to last and look good year after year. And as beautiful as your deck or patio may be, maintenance can be quite a chore if you don’t know what you’re doing or don’t have the right tools and supplies to do it properly. So, we’ve come up with helpful tips for maintaining your patio and deck so you can enjoy them for the entire summer.

Apply Waterproofing Membrane

A small amount of waterproofing membrane applied to your deck will help prevent stains and make your life easier when it comes to cleaning. A variety of deck waterproofing membranes are available to ensure that moisture is not absorbed into your wooden structure. This will also help keep staining and warping at bay, so it’s important to make sure you purchase a high-quality product and follow manufacturer instructions carefully. It’s also a good idea to have a professional apply any membrane since you’ll be trapping moisture underneath for quite some time. Another advantage is that water doesn’t sit on top of the wood causing long-term damage as well as minimizing splintering and cracking of your wood over time.

Sweeping

Have you ever given your patio or deck a thorough sweeping? If not, you should try it. Though for some, it may seem like just a good way to get rid of all that dust and debris sitting on your patio, sweeping can be much more than that. However, just as it helps keep your home clean and tidy, sweeping will help with any issues regarding pests, such as spiders and ants. When sweeping outdoors, make sure you use a broom that can stand up to all weather conditions because using a delicate indoor broom outside will damage it very quickly. It is one of the most overlooked maintenance practices for maintaining your deck or patio.

Move Outdoor Furniture Around

Don’t be afraid to move your outdoor furniture around every once in a while. Outdoor furniture takes a lot of wear and tear from sunlight, rain, snow, and from people sitting on it. Furniture can get faded and/or mildew can form when moisture remains on a surface for an extended period of time. It’s important to rearrange your furniture periodically so that one side doesn’t get used more than others.

Also make sure not to forget about smaller details like placing cushions under your cushioned furniture; it helps keep dirt away!

Washing Your Deck Or Patio

Washing your deck or patio is a great way to help maintain its appearance. First and foremost, ensure that you protect yourself from any potentially harmful residue by wearing gloves, eye protection, and closed-toe shoes. Next, gather all of your supplies (washing soap/clean water) together, and be sure to grab a pair of rubber gloves as well. It’s important to remember that if you have paint on your deck or patio surface, it may flake off when wet.

Sealing Your Deck Or Patio

If you want to keep your deck looking good for as long as possible, it helps seal your deck or patio regularly. Sealing protects against moisture damage and adds color and a beautiful shine that makes the wood look new again.