The Specs on Decks

That time of year is finally almost here. The clouds start to part, the temperature goes up, the snow starts to melt, and your deck finally starts to reappear. It’s time to make preparations for spring time in Naperville and Downers Grove! What better way to start the spring then to get your deck ready for good use. As the snow melts, though, you might see some things on your deck that might not have been there before…

Moisture – That ice and snow was not going to leave without putting up a fight. The moisture left behind can leave behind stains from mold and mildew. It can also seep in during the winter and cause cracking or splintering in the wood. This can cause your deck to look dirty, to become slippery, to warp or to be a potential hazard for use in the spring.

Fading – That long winter did not help the protective stain on your deck. Your stain may have faded, peeled or been scratched from your attempt at shoveling off the snow. It may even be splotchy or uneven in certain areas depending on how hard it was impacted with the elements.

Deck Damage – Sometimes despite all your best efforts to prevent any damage to the deck, winter leaves it’s mark and hurts your deck anyway. Nail pops and broken or rotten boards and spindles may become evident.

This is where the Pinpoint Maintenance Team is ready to step in and help. Pinpoint Maintenance treats many different kinds of wood in the Naperville and Downers Grove areas from pressure treated pine wood and cedar, to IPE wood and composite. What steps does our team take to make sure your deck is ready for spring?

1. Pressure Washing

The first step to getting a deck ready is completely cleaning it with a cold water low pressure washer. Our professionals make sure to pre-spray the deck with Restore-A-Deck cleaner before power washing. The Restore-A-Deck cleaner is the #1 rated wood and deck cleaner that safely cleans and restores the natural beauty of exterior wood. It is eco-friendly and restores the deck removing mold, mildew, and algae along with the silver-gray color that can develop over time. This process easily flushes out the dirt and grime without having to use aggressive pressure washing methods. It also removes previous semi-transparent stain on the deck. After the cleaning, we then use a mild environmentally friendly brightener to neutralize the pH and brighten the wood.

2. Sanding

Sanding is the next step in ensuring your deck is springtime ready. Our team makes sure to sand all horizontals with a 60 grit sanding disc that opens up the pores so the wood can absorb stain easier and is more protected. Any rough areas are also sanded to make sure they are smooth, presentable and ready to absorb the stain properly. Any left over stain not removed by the pressure washing will be sanded off. If your deck is in poor condition, we have equipment available to get those tough scratches and grooves out and make sure all surfaces are even. If there are any boards that need to be replaced, this will be the time those will be taken care of.

3. Staining

The final step is staining the deck. There are a variety of colors and brands to choose from. Pinpoint Maintenance recommends a TWP Semi-Transparent Oil-Based Wood Stain for this step of the process. This oil based stain is designed to penetrate the wood to prevent structural damage and wood decay. It resists water absorption that causes warping, cracking and splitting as well as prevents freeze damage in colder climates. It also prevents the wood from graying, darkening and fading and inhibits the growth of mold and mildew. The featured image is the TWP Semi-Transparent Pecan color. Our team is also happy to use the brand and stain type preferred by the homeowner.

Decks are a beautiful part of the home that invite frequent use. With spring around the corner in Naperville and Downers Grove, we hope you choose the Pinpoint Maintenance team to get your deck cleaned, sanded, stained, and ready for the season. Our team is always available for questions and advice on your deck cleaning and staining needs. We would be happy to schedule you for a free proposal with one of our professionals to help you decide what type of t.l.c. your deck needs before use. Call us at 630.437.1181 or submit a request by email at [email protected].