How to Protect Your Wood Deck

If you're planning to add a beautiful deck to your backyard, you'll want to take steps to ensure that it's beauty will last for many years.  Water, UV light, and wood destroying insects are natural enemies that will do their best to make untreated wood look terrible within 10 years. Water will rot the  wood. UV light will bleach it and give it an aged, unattractive appearance. Insects, which thrive best in a wet environment, will rot out the timber from within, weakening the  structural parts. You can take steps, however, to see that these natural disaster scenarios don't take place. 

To being with, protect your deck by using strong wood that is resistant to rot. Heartwood makes the best rot resistant decks. Redwood, Cyprus and Cedar are the wood species that most people use when they want to build a deck that will last. 

Once you've built your deck, apply a wood preservative. Wood preservatives seep into structure and protect it from insects. This class of chemicals are pesticides, so carefully follow the instructions on the label when using them. They can be toxic to humans when misapplied. 

The best defense against UV light and water is a coat of paint. However, even if you are going to paint your deck, you should still protect it underneath the first coat.  A varnish or wood seal will protect your wood against water intrusion, but the varnish will provide additional protection against UV rays. If you add paint above this protective coat, the wood will be safe as long as the paint job holds. 

If you aren't planning to paint your deck, you should add varnish or a wood seal every year. There are many inexpensive but effective wood seals and varnishes and one container will cover a wide area of the wood's surface area. 

By protecting your deck, as needed, you can keep your outdoor structure looking good for longer than 10 years. Since you or your landscaper worked hard to install the outdoor feature, you will certainly want to put in the effort to see that it looks in top condition for many years to come. If you prefer, ask your deck installer to provide the necessary upkeep and restoration for you. 

Resources: For the best in outdoor deck care in Westchester County and Putnam County, NY., call the Turf Barbers at 914 302 2469; 2929 Quinlan Street Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; http://www.theturfbarbers.com for the tops in back yard landscaping.