Winterizing Your Ottawa Deck
You know the drill here in Ottawa – winter is coming and with it comes the harmful elements that can prematurely age your deck. Harsh Ottawa winters deteriorate wood, ruin the look, and depreciate the value of your deck. Or put another way, if you don’t take care or your Ottawa home’s deck, you’ll be building a new one soon.
But what does taking care of a deck in the Ottawa area mean? By taking these steps, you’ll be sure to maximize the life of your deck for Ottawa summers and barbeques.
1) Move everything off your deck. Beyond just preserving furniture and plants, moving everything off your Ottawa deck removes gets anything that could trap moisture out of the way.
2) Sweep your Ottawa deck off to remove dirt and debris – including between the wood planks. If you have one, a leaf blower can help you clear the surface quickly.
3) Give your deck a good thorough wash. Whether or not you can see the dirt, grime, and substances on your deck or not – it’s there. Mold and mildew are the enemy of an Ottawa Deck if left to eat away at wood during a long winter. Cleaning the deck can also prevent dry rot, which is wood decay caused by fungi. Wash your Ottawa deck with deck soap – we carry formulas for each and every type of wood. After washing, give it a good rinse with the hose.
4) And if your Ottawa deck needs it, you may have to restore the deck by stripping and refinishing the wood. You can’t stain over finish that is worn, so don’t take that shortcut. Buy or rent a power washer to remove old paint and stains BUT be careful not to be too aggressive with your power washer as they can tear up wood if you get too close.
5) And finally, protect your Ottawa deck with water repellant stain. And while it is always easy to procrastinate, do it before the winter strikes. It’s a lot less work now that it will be in the spring. PLUS, doing it before the winter helps ensure the long life of your Ottawa deck.
A deck is a great asset and aids in resale value – so make sure you prolong the life of your investment by winterizing your Ottawa deck today.
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