By Stan Garnet Inspectors
Associates August 1, 2004
Summer is a good time to address your deck issues. Most of us still have decks made with pressure treated lumber and have not yet moved to the new synthetic materials on the market. These wooden decks do require annual safety checks and regular maintenance.
- The first thing you need to evaluate is the structural soundness of your deck.
- How is it attached to your wall?
- Are there adequate support posts in place and are they strong enough to hold the deck and the added weight of people on the deck?
- Are your deck posts deteriorating?
- Are your stairs safe?
- Do you have adequate hand rails?
There are specific details for deck building and adherence to these details will ensure a safe deck. Preserving your wood on your deck for long term use is a good idea and one that can save you thousands down the road. A good cleaning of your deck before treating it is highly recommended. We do not suggest you pressure clean your deck since the high pressure can cause the release of chemicals and you can also lose some of the natural color of the wood. It is a good idea to avoid all cleaning products that contain sodium hypochlorite - the chemical name for chlorine bleach. Look for an oxygen type bleach compound and you can use this to wash your deck.
http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/oxybleach.html
After cleaning do a general servicing of the deck boards. Replace any that are badly damaged and secure all others that may be loose. You are now ready to add a good high end synthetic resin water based product. Check with your local
paint supply store to evaluate the different products on the market. To find out more about the EPA position regarding the chemicals used in treated lumber you can go to Evaluating the Wood Preservative Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) .
Click here
for instructions on how to clean your deck.
"Manual for the Inspection of Residential Wood Decks and Balconies"
by Cheryl Anderson, Frank Woeste, and Joseph Loferski
This manual is available through The Forest Product Society.
http://www.forestprod.org/shop/index.html
Have a happy and safe summer.