GFWC Indiana - Cleaning & Home Improvement

Many homeowners like to tackle projects they feel like they can do on their own. And many homeowners like to stain their own deck. But most of the time, it can become a real nuisance and very time consuming. Many homeowners we have spoken to in the St. Louis area hate staining spindles. Well, by the time you read this article, we will have made staining spindles a breeze for most homeowners.

The very first thing you need to do is to make sure your deck is prepped and ready for another staining. Make sure everything is clean, the wood is dry, and there is no debris. Hopefully you will have an oil based deck stain on your deck and you are just applying a maintenance coat. The best situation is to have no stain on there at all and to be starting fresh. If you have peeling or flaking deck stain, we highly suggest you call a professional deck staining St. Louis Company to come evaluate your deck.

The first tip to speeding up your process is to go to the local paint store and buy paint sponges. These sponges look to be about 2 inches wide and 4 inches long. Also buy some paint sticks, some paint pads, and paint pad holders. You can buy a brush but we don’t think you will need it. The paint pads should be 9 inches wide.

When staining, always work in four to six foot sections at a time. The first thing is to use the paint sponge and from inside of the deck, lean over and get the backside of the top rail where the spindles meet the top rail. While you are there, pad down about a foot or so on each spindle as well. Next, put your pad on a handle and lean over the top rail and pad the outside surface of each spindle. Usually you can do two at a time. Once that is done, come to the inside of the spindles and repeat with your pad coating the inside of the spindles. Now go back to your sponge and sponge the inner parts of the spindles where they face each other. While you are kneeling down, make sure you get the bottom board on the outside of the deck where the spindles are nailed too, just like when you did the top. Then you can stain the bottom board facing you. Don’t forget to reach under and do the underside that is facing the floor if you have an elevated deck. Stand up and stain the top rail. We can stain a six to eight foot section in about ten to twelve minutes.

The second tip to speeding your process up is to not tape off your vinyl siding. Just have a cloth and a can of mineral spirits with you when you are deck staining. Chances are the cloth by itself will take care of any stain you get on the vinyl. But if you need to, put some mineral spirits on your towel and wipe off the siding. Make sure you take care of the problem right away.

The third tip is to use the nine inch pad to stain the deck floor. Using the holder with the paint stick attached, begin staining your deck going with the grain of the wood. To keep your pad intact, always keep it moist. Don’t try and get every little bit of stain out of the pad before you go back and re-dip your pad into the pan. You will be wasting time, and money because of pad replacements. Buy two pads at the store just in case one comes apart on you during this process.

We are certain you will find these three tips about deck staining helpful. Even though this process takes a little longer than spraying a deck, there are a lot less mess to clean up and very few issues that could arise while you are deck staining.

For homeowners living in Valparaiso it is not always easy to find a reputable deck cleaning contractor that you can trust. With jobs at an all time low there are more start up companies than ever before. Many of them end up being fly by night companies that cut corners in order to make a profit. They leave a wake of unhappy customers in their paths and their unethical services eventually end up being their demise.

Deck cleaning is a skill that takes experience and knowledge along with the proper equipment, methods, and cleaners. When homeowners need a professional deck cleaning Valparaiso contractor they can ask around or do a search to choose a deck cleaning company that is established and provides deck cleaning services full time. This way homeowners know they will get the best results possible. Wood deck cleaning is not easy for the do it yourself homeowner but finding the right deck cleaning contractor can be.

Decks add curb appeal and value to your home. Having them properly maintained will ensure their beauty and longevity and will give you years of enjoyment. On the other hand, deck cleaning that is done incorrectly or a deck that has been neglected will decrease the value of your home by being an eyesore. Neglected decks will crack and splinter and can be unsafe for pets and children. It is not any fun entertaining guests on a greyed out neglected wood deck.

Wood that is subjected to the elements needs to be protected with wood sealer. Every day moisture and sun rays can damage unprotected wood in less than a year. This threatens the decks integrity and could jeopardize your home’s value. If you live in Valparaiso, IN find a professional deck cleaning Valparaiso company in your area to help you with your deck cleaning needs.

One cleaning project that you should not attempt without the right equipment, chemicals, and methods is deck restoration. A lot of home owners attempt to clean and seal their own wooden decks only to wonder why the new sealer is fading, flaking, or peeling off within a year. Many people think just because they applied an expensive sealer claiming to last 5 years that they will have a great looking deck for at least 5 years, but this is usually not the case. You can ask any professional deck cleaning company how true this is.

The number one reason a deck sealer fails is because the wood was not prepared properly. The right chemicals must be used to rid the wood of all dirt, mold, mildew, and any remnants of old deck sealer. The wood has to be completely clean to give the new deck sealer a chance to last. After using any type of deck cleaner, you must apply a deck brightener to neutralize the wood. This makes the wood more acidic and prepares it for new sealer.

Most people will not go to this extent mainly because they lack the knowledge. Another wrong that most home owners will do when it comes to deck cleaning is to use too much water pressure when cleaning the wood with a pressure washer. It is not about the pressure as much as it is about the right cleaning agents. As a matter of fact, low pressure should be used so the wood is not furred and splintered.

After using the right methods and wood cleaners and letting the wood dry for several days, a good quality deck sealer should be applied according to the directions on the sealer can. This will protect the wood from sun and water damage allowing it to last longer. Depending on the area you live, a deck sealer applied on a properly cleaned deck can last anywhere from 18 months to several years before needing maintenance again.

We decided to remodel part of our house last summer to help with its curb appeal and value. Also for us to enjoy for the rest of the time we live there. After a small kitchen remodel and some updating we decided to take it outdoors. We live in a warm climate area so we use our deck a lot for cook-outs and family parties. We have always hosted a lot of family gatherings so we thought it was time for an upgrade.

Our old grill had to go; it had seen better days so we got rid of it to start. Next we had a contractor come in and redesign our whole deck. We had a pretty elaborate design with flood lights, rope lighting, and the whole 9 yards. We went with a brick fire place in the middle of the deck and when it came time to choose a new grill for my soon to be finished deck, I decided to go with a built in Magic Fire grill.

I choose a Magic Fire Grill and had the contractor build it right into a brick wall so it was like a permanent fixture. It also will help to protect it and since it is built into the wall it takes up less space. He built a brick chimney out the back to vent it. You can barely even tell that it is there. You do not really notice it until I start to cook on it.

I love the Magic Fire Grills because they are stainless and very dependable. Of course I got the biggest grill that I could find since it was going into a wall. I wanted to get the best one possible. The contractor did make it so it could come back out if I wanted to remove or replace it.

Many people ask what type of deck stain is best to protect wooden decks. With so many stains on the market today it can be very confusing. If you ask, most professional deck stain contractors will tell you that oil-based deck stains are the best choice. A semi-transparent oil-based deck stain will hold up for 2-3 years before beginning to fade. After it begins to fade a light wash and a light re-coat of the same product is all that is needed to make the deck look good again.

Some stains on the market have ridiculous claims on the can label such as lasting 8 years or more. Any professional will tell you that this is just not true and to be quite honest I am not sure how they are able to claim such lies. It should be false advertising but when someone contacts the company to complain about their stain not holding up that long the company will say the deck was not prepped correctly or something of that nature so they are off the hook.

These stains are silicone enhanced and are very heavily pigmented. They are more like paint, they do not hold up any better than any other stain and the bad part is once you use it you are stuck with it. It cannot be re-coated without causing yearly peeling and flaking issues but it is also almost impossible to get it entirely off the deck so a different product can be used.

Water-based stains are just as bad. They may be more durable than a semi-transparent 2-3 year oil stain initially but once they do fade they can’t be re-coated and are tough to get rid off. As far as maintenance is concerned a 2-3 year oil stain is the best choice for wood. Just be aware of some of the stains on the market that make claims that seem to be too good to be true because they probably are.

Most homeowners around the country have a deck to enjoy cookouts and family get togethers. In the past, wood was normally the first and usually only choice when building a deck. Today wood decks are still very common and when taken care of can last a very long time. But it is that “taken care” of process that some homeowners have fallen behind with or are just sick and tired of doing. Many different types of wood are used for decks. Pressure treated wood is the most popular choice followed by cedar, ipe, and many other exotic and hardwoods. The bottom line is no matter what wood is used for an outdoor deck, maintenance is the key to its longevity. Every couple of years the deck needs to be cleaned and sealed to protect it against water and sun damage. To have this done properly can be expensive and in many cases decks have been ruined by weekend warriors or do it yourselfers. Professional deck restoration services are a must in order for the deck to last a long time.

It is because of this hassle of maintenance that in recent years composite decking has become increasingly popular. Most composite decking material is 50% wood and 50% plastic. It does make a nice deck but in my opinion the reason it is becoming so popular is because it is sold as “maintenance free.” For the above homeowner that is sick of the high maintenance wood deck, a composite material seems to be a logical choice. Many neglected wood decks are being torn down and replaced with this man-made material and many new home construction contractors have gone to the composite decking as their first choice on new decks.

But do homeowners really know what they are getting? Is this material really maintenance free? What does maintenance free actually mean? Well according to Google the words “maintenance” and “cleaning” mean the same thing. Maintenance free, to most people, means free from having to clean or do anything to the material once it is installed. Unfortunately, this is not the case with any composite decking material on the market today. That’s right, unsuspecting homeowners are being falsely sold on this man-made decking! Because this material is half wood, the sun turns it grey just like a wooden deck and mildew is a huge problem with this material. Mildew loves this material and appears in the form of little black spots or blotches. Once it is there it spreads and will take over the entire deck. It can be cleaned but many homeowners are extremely upset that their “maintenance free” deck needs to be cleaned.

It is no secret that this material is not maintenance free, at least not on the Internet. Just do a search for “composite deck lawsuit” and you will see page after page of complaints, lawsuits, and outraged consumers fighting back. It has become common practice for these composite deck companies to become so overwhelmed with consumer complaints that they simply shut the doors only to start up again under a different name.

Again, I want to stress that there is nothing wrong with a composite deck, it makes a nice surface for enjoying time outdoors, as long as homeowners know what they are getting. The fact that big box stores, deck building companies, and general contractors sell this material as maintenance free is what is borderline illegal. It is false advertising and they are betraying consumers when they sell composite decks as being maintenance free, because it is not. It is also a fact that there are composite deck sealers on the market. Why would you need a sealer for a maintenance free material? The bottom line is before ripping down your old wooden deck and having a new composite deck built, just know what you are getting. Nothing that is subjected to Mother Nature is maintenance free, composite deck cleaning will be necessary every couple of years just like it is for a wooden deck.

There are many types of wood to choose from when building a deck. There are also composite materials that have become increasingly popular in recent years. Mahogany, ipe, and cedar are a few of the woods that can make beautiful decks. Different hardwoods and exotic woods can be quite expensive but if protected, can last for many years. The most popular choice for a wooden deck is pressure treated wood. It is less expensive than some of the other woods but still makes for a durable and beautiful deck. Pressure treated wood will also last a very long time if correctly maintained and protected. Cleaning decks and waterproofing them with a deck sealer is important to the longevity of the deck no matter what type of wood it is.

Contrary to what a lot of people think, pressure treated lumber does need to be protected with a deck sealer. There is some confusion because it is called pressure “treated” lumber. Many people believe  that it is already treated or protected from the elements. The chemical that pressure treated lumber is treated with at the lumber mill is to deter bugs and insects from eating the wood.  The chemical treatment does not protect against the sun or water damage, it is still necessary to protect the wood with a sealer.

 Another popular choice for decks in recent years is composite man-made material. This material can make a nice deck but it also needs to be maintained on a regular basis. Many companies actually sell this composite material as “maintenance free” and have homeowners that are sick of maintaining their wooden decks buying into it. Many homeowners have actually had their wooden decks tore down to have a composite deck built in its place. Unfortunately, this material is not maintenance free and there are many lawsuits and cases of homeowners suing these companies because of it.

Composite decking is about 50% plastic and 50% wood. Both of these materials are susceptible to the elements. Because of the wood that is present, this material will turn grey just like a wooden deck, and the plastic will collect mold, mildew, and algae just like vinyl siding, and vinyl fencing. Composite deck cleaning and maintenance is not as involved as cleaning wood decks, but it is still necessary. There are even composite deck sealers on the market to protect the material. The fact that these materials are sold as maintenance free is a shame and should be considered false advertising. Many of these companies have filed bankruptcy and closed the doors only to start up under a different name.  This isn’t to say that composite material does not make a nice deck because it does, just do not be fooled into thinking it does not have to be maintained as does a wooden deck.

As mentioned earlier, plastic will also collect green mold and mildew, so a 100% vinyl deck or fence is not going to get you away from maintenance either. The vinyl will not have to be sealed but it will need to be cleaned and maintained in order to keep it free of mold and mildew.

If you have a wooden deck you know all too well how tough it is to maintain it. Wooden decks have to be maintained every couple of years, even when they are done right and coated with a quality deck stain. For Warsaw residents and most anywhere else across the country, keeping up with your deck on your own can be bit overwhelming.

Residents in Warsaw, In and surrounding areas can benefit greatly from deck staining services. Deck restoration is a skilled trade that is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners. A deck staining Warsaw company can keep your deck looking good all the time by restoring it and then returning every two years to maintain it.

Some of you may have noticed that some of the deck stain cans at the hardware store claim that the stain will last 3, 4, 5, and even up to 8 years old. Unfortunately, this just isn’t true. There is no deck stain or sealer on the market that will last that long on a wooden deck. To make matters worse, these products are normally solid stains that are enhanced with silicone acting more like a paint. So when the stain does fail it is almost impossible to do anything else with the deck except to paint over the old stuff with new. This creates a huge problem because the deck stain is not meant to adhere to itself, it is meant to penetrate wood. So the new layer begins to peel and flake just about every year. Sometimes homeowners will apply layer after layer as years go by and then they decide they want the deck to look like a deck again. Sadly though, the deck is just about ruined at this point because it is impossible to get all that old stain back off the deck.

If you own a wooden deck or you are thinking about building one, be aware that maintenance is an ongoing thing. But there are deck staining companies out there that can help. Finding a reputable full time deck restoration company will be your only challenge. It’s best to find the right deck staining company and have them put you on a maintenance plan. Some people are turning to composite decking, thinking that it is maintenance free. We will discuss composite deck cleaning Warsaw services in our next blog, stay tuned.