How to Get Your Deck Ready for Summer
Now that we are leaving behind the damp algae (and allergy!) season and heading for a hot summer, here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind for maintaining your deck.
1) Try to provide shade for your deck such as with an awning or by planting trees.
UV rays are more harmful than rain, snow and ice when it comes to wood damage. We have learned over the years that decks in the shade outlast those in complete sunlight by 50%.
This is true both with our staining treatment as well as the longevity of the wood itself. Sunlight causes cupping, warping, splintering and general loss of density in the wood.
This means that you’ll not only be staining your deck more often, but replacing boards more often, too.
2) When choosing a stain color for your deck, remember that darker colors reflect more heat.
On a 90-degree day in direct sunlight, the temperature of your floor reaches 140-degrees.
This is uncomfortable both for humans and the wood!
Choose a color that is not too dark, but also avoid clear-coatings as they offer no UV protection. They offer only water-repellency.
