If your deck is located in a heavily-shaded area, consider trimming tree branches.  This will provide more sun exposure and less moisture from overhanging branches.  Planning is the key to any project of this magnitude and that’s why it’s a good idea to have a dumpster delivered ahead of time.  Keeping your yard free of nail-infested boards is safer for everyone, especially small children and pets.  If you are using alternative materials, like composite decking or vinyl, always follow the manufacturer’s recommended installation procedures for the product you buy and check with your local municipality for building codes. 

Start your project with a good pressure cleaning of your deck.  By removing the dirt and grime, you are better able to assess necessary repairs.  Mix one quart household bleach, 1/3 cup powdered laundry detergent and three quarts warm water to remove dirt, mildew and weathered wood.  Use a stiff bristle brush to clean the deck, rinsing with the power washer.  Adjust the power washer to fan out so that it doesn’t penetrate the wood.  Go along the grain and into the grooves.  To remove tree sap, you can use white wall tire cleaner and a scraper.  Apply the cleaner to the area, letting it set for a few minutes before scraping the sap away.  Wood needs twenty-four hours to dry.  Once dry, you can identify decking boards that are spongy or completely rotted out.

Extract the screws or nails from the boards that need replacing.  Use a crow bar or flat bar to pry stubborn boards loose.  In some cases, boards can be re-used by flipping them over. If you are replacing all the decking boards, start at the outside board and work your way toward the house.  Otherwise, you’ll run out of places to stand!

With the rotted boards removed, you may notice rot on the joist below.  Chisel away the rot and spray sealer on the support joist.  Allow this to dry before applying a second coat.  For further structural support, run sister joists alongside the old ones.

When you are ready to place the new boards, consider vinyl decking for its easy installation and low maintenance.  But if you are using wood, make sure you buy decking boards of matching lumber long enough to span the width of your deck. You can give your new decking boards a weathered look by scrubbing them with a mixture of one gallon water and one cup baking soda.  When you have achieved the look you want, rinse with water and dry before sealing and staining to match the others.  Cut the new decking boards to size and pre-drill the ends of the boards to prevent the wood from splitting.  Install boards 1/8 inch apart to provide enough space for drainage.  The last thing you want is water aging your deck prematurely.  Because boards naturally “cup” as they age, it is best to place boards bark side down, preventing the cupped surface from holding standing water.  Re-install your old boards with galvanized screws in the old nail holes.

Whether using wood, composite or vinyl decking, you’ll appreciate your deck much more knowing you’ve maintained it properly.  Let the hammering begin.

Structural Integrity

Tighten any loose fasteners, and pound in any nails that have popped up.  Replace corroded or rusted fasteners.  Decking and stairs should appear even without sagging, neither swaying nor moving when tested.  Railings, banisters and handrails should be firmly held in place.  You can test these by pushing on them, ensuring there is no give.  To prevent small children and pets from squeezing through, keep rails no more than four inches apart (measured from the inside of the rails).  Building codes recommend railings that are 36 to 42 inches in height.  Make sure that risers and stringers on stairs are securely attached and not decayed.

Maximize Lighting

Be sure all lighting works.  Clean light covers to maximize lighting and trim any plants or tree limbs that block your lights.

Remove any planters, patio furniture and grills

Move these into your garage, shed or beneath your deck if possible.  Moisture can pool under planters that are left on your deck through the winter.  This not only leads to mold and mildew growth, but unsightly stains on the decking material.

Clean your deck

A clean deck allows more air circulation between boards, making your deck more resilient against rain and snow.  Start by sweeping away leaves, dirt and debris since their decomposition damages decking material.  Wash your deck with a hose and scrub-broom, freeing decay matter from deck fibers.  Avoid power washing which may damage your deck and void the warranty.  Remove food stains and other spills with warm, soapy water and a stiff-bristle brush.  Use oxalic acid for tannin stains left by leaves and organic debris but be sure to check with your deck manufacturer first.

Eliminate Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew attack the wood and plastic in composite decks, making it the biggest threat to composite decking’s appearance.  While many homeowners’ successfully combat mold and mildew with sodium hypochlorite, you should check your deck manufacturer’s recommendations first.

Improve Drainage

Standing water encourages mold and attracts mosquitoes, flies and gnats.  A good drainage system underneath your deck includes splash guards and downspouts that direct water to another area of your yard. If you notice areas on or around your deck where water is allowed to collect, add or replace flashing.

To cover or not to cover, that is the question

A durable plastic tarp or insulation will protect your deck from winter’s harsh elements.  But with a cold roof, you’ll need to ensure plenty of ventilation beneath the tarp.  Airflow is needed to evaporate the rising damp air condensing on the underside of the plastic.  Plastic tarps are not only ugly; they’re prohibited in many subdivisions and not watertight anyway.  Water can still pool on it, leading to mold and mildew.  For this reason, we recommend not covering your deck and removing snow from it instead.

Be careful when removing snow

While composite decking is tough, hard rakes, shovels and hoes can damage composite material, leaving dents and scratches on your new deck.  It’s best to clear snow with a broom or plastic shovel, running the shovel across decking boards lengthwise.

Guard your deck from the grill

A guard mat underneath your grill will protect your deck from scrapes and scratches and prevent burns and stains from hot coals and grease.

With a little bit of effort, you can keep your deck safe this winter, prevent permanent damage and avoid many maintenance issues next spring.

Deck Drops by kevinmarsh, on Flickr

For decades, construction litigation experts have testified both against and in defense of architects who have designed decks without slope, arguing whether or not a deck is a “roof.”  California Building Standards Code states that “Balconies, landings, exterior stairways, occupied roofs and similar surfaces exposed to the weather and sealed underneath shall be waterproofed and sloped a minimum of 1/4 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (2% slope) for drainage.”  In other words, a one inch drop in slope per four feet of travel is standard (1/4” per foot fall).  Water sheets, flows from a horizontal surface, at no less than a 1% slope or 1/8 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal.  Therefore, slopes between 1% and 2% are acceptable.  Wood products will warp and cup, so the closer you can come to the 2% slope, the better.  This is one reason why vinyl, composite and plastic lumber is a popular choice among regular deck users as these materials are resistant to cracking and warping.  Whether you use these materials or traditional wood, building code compliance is imperative.

Immediate repair of loose concrete foots, splintered and cracked support posts and sagging boards is critical.  Sagging or splitting deck boards can trip visitors or collapse under their weight.  We’ve listed some methods that provide a permanent fix and others that will suffice temporarily until you can make more thorough repairs.

• Use Strong Fasteners.  If your deck is leaning or pulling away from your home, the safest and fastest way to shore it up is with appropriately sized bolts.  Decks attached to home exteriors with nails, despite length, ultimately pull away, increasing the risk of collapse.  Hammer in any pulled away nails and add new bolts around the original fasteners.  Reinforce joists and support posts that have begun to detach with bolts as well.
• Concrete Footings.  When concrete footings are cracked and damaged, a deck’s support posts can shift and lead to leaning or sagging.  Damaged concrete footers should be removed and replaced.  Pouring more concrete on top of a bad footer is not the answer as the cracks will quickly spread to the new material.  In this case, jacking up the deck is necessary so that you can break up the old concrete with a sledge hammer before pouring fresh concrete.
• Combat Shifting and Sagging.  Your deck may be shifting and sagging because its foundation is supported with blocks that sit on the ground rather than posts and poured concrete.  You can repair stable and intact decks with shims.  Use a house jack to lift the shifting and sagging deck areas before installing weight bearing plastic lumber or pressure-treated wood boards between the deck and foundation blocks.  In some cases, jacking the posts off the piers and cutting one and one-half inches off the bottom of the posts will solve the problem immediately.
• Joists.  Rotted and splintered deck joists can cause persons serious injury and in some cases death if a section drops out beneath them.  Only shore up a damaged joist if rot is limited and surrounding joists are in good condition.  Use 2x4s to support the joist, installing lumber splints on both sides of the joist’s rotted or cracked section to secure it, using the same lumber for the splint used for the original joist.

By following these guidelines and local building codes, you’ll safely enjoy your plastic deck this season and for years to come.

• Have a dumpster delivered ahead of time to dispose of nails, screws and rotted boards.
• Extract the screws or nails from decking boards.  Use a crow bar or flat bar to pry difficult boards loose, removing the outside decking board first and working your way toward the house. No sense running out of places to stand!  Loosen any posts that need replacing with a sledgehammer.
• To insure your deck’s structural integrity, inspect your deck’s frame and joists for any weakness, damage or missing connectors, especially at the ledger board.  Make sure the ledger joist is securely connected to the rim joist of the house.  If you are unsure, contact your local professional.
• If your deck is secure, you’re ready to tackle the deck posts.  While some building codes specify attaching posts five feet apart, you should attach posts no more than 6 fix apart on center.  To determine where to place your posts, first place your corner posts.  Then measure the distance between the corner posts and divide by the distance allowed between posts, rounding up to the nearest whole number and then subtract one.  For example, if the distance between your corner posts is fifteen feet and building codes require five feet spacing, divide fifteen by five.  Then subtract one from three and you determine that you need two posts between your corner posts.
• Whether you are using recycled plastic lumber, vinyl or composite materials, you can use standard carpenter tools for installation. Replacing your deck floor with vinyl, composite or plastic lumber will give your deck a uniform appearance.  Resistant to fading, cracking, and warping, recycled plastic lumber, vinyl and composite materials look very similar to traditional, regular wood products and don’t attract wood bees, wood roaches or termites.  Another reason why vinyl and composite decking is fast becoming a popular choice among those who regularly use their decks.  Plasti-Tek’s Gorilla, Vinyl and Genvovations decking are installed like traditional wood, have non-skid wood grain finishes and are watertight with several color selections.  These products are competitively priced with pine and redwood and maintenance costs are less since painting and sealing aren’t required.  Most warranties are for 10-20 years, varying among manufacturers.
• Lay the first decking boards outside along the rim joist and cut with a jig saw to fit around the posts.  Attach with galvanized screws one inch from the edges and half an inch from the ends.  Drive two screws at each joist.  Lay the next decking board against the first, leaving a quarter inch gap for drainage.
• With uniform decking now in place, make your ordinary deck dazzling with deck railings and balusters.   Required for safety, deck railings can be both functional and architecturally pleasing.  Molded vinyl covers conceal aluminum brackets so you never have to worry about rust and corrosion.  Railing styles are manufactured in a variety of traditional and modern styles.
• Balusters make mundane deck railings spectacular and the possibilities are endless.  An often overlooked design element, aluminum and glass balusters come in classic, colonial, architectural, estate, traditional and scenic styles.

When wooden lumber is exposed to water over a long period of time, the wood starts to rot and decompose.  This causes structural weakening within the board.  When wooden boat rails become damaged, they can cause a boat hull to be damaged when being loaded or unloaded on the boat trailer.  This can run up some costly repair bills for the boat owner.  Unlike wooden lumber, plastic lumber does not rot when exposed water over a period of time or splinter.  Plastic lumber also does not need to be pretreated with sealants to protect it from moisture.

Generally before one installs new boat railings on a trailer, the boards are wrapped in carpet.  The reason for this is because traditional wooden lumber can splinter causing damage to a boat.  Plastic lumber does not splinter since it is not made out of wood.  For this reason many view wrapping the plastic lumber railing in carpet optional before installing it on a boat trailer.

Proper tools are an important part of the instillation process when replacing boat railings.  Many are under the misconception that they will need special tools to cut and install plastic lumber on a boat trailer.  The truth is that the same tools that are used on wooden lumber can also be used on plastic lumber.  This in turn, requires no hidden extra costs.

Since wooden lumber has a short lifespan, many that want to save money in the long run are choosing plastic lumber instead.  The strength and durability also outlasts traditional wooden lumber.  These traits not only save money, they also save time by not having to replace the railings as often.  This means more time on the water and less time doing trailer maintenance.

Generally, recycled plastic lumber is cost competitive with other high end decking material such as pine and redwood, but it is more expensive than traditional treated wood products. Because there is no need to treat, paint or seal recycle plastic lumber, the costs are less to maintain than wood decks, fencing and railing. When using recycled plastic lumber materials, installation is easy and can be done using standard carpenter tools and once installed, the lumber can be left its natural color or painted or stained to match existing colors.

The warranty for recycled plastic lumber will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and most will last for 10-20 years. Some manufacturers will also offer a lifetime warranty on the product, but because the product is so durable, rarely will someone have to use the warranty. Composite or recycled lumber products used for railing and fencing are more likely to have a longer warranty, but are much more durable than traditional wooden lumber.

Though plastic lumber is more expensive than wood, it exhibits low moisture and is highly resistant to insect, decay and UV sun damage. Plastic lumber requires less maintenance than wood and has greater stability and does not expand and retract from moisture like wooden lumber. While recycled plastic lumber may be more expensive than some other types of products, the money and time saved on painting, stripping and staining the materials every few years saves considerable time and expense on the homeowner.

Recycled plastic lumber is available in a wide variety of colors and is resistant to fading, cracking, warping, and looks very similar to traditional, regular wood products. Recycled plastic lumber does not require staining or sealing, has an indefinite life span and does not rot, splinter or crack due to the elements. When thinking of the expense of using plastic lumber, it pays to weigh the pros and cons of recycled versus traditional wood lumber and while it may be more expensive in the short term, using recycled products will pay for itself in saved time, effort and expense for the homeowner.

Composite decking is easy to care for. Homeowners that do not have a lot of time to devote to maintenance love the ease of care. Traditional wood decking has to be repainted, stained or resealed every few years to help keep it looking good. Composite decking comes in a variety of colors and since the material is already impregnated with the color there is never a need to paint this decking material. Composite decking is also easy to clean. All one has to do is simple wash it off with water to keep it looking good all year long.

Since composite decking is easy to take care of and comes in a variety of colors, many are now choosing this newer material over traditional wood decking. By installing a deck made out of composite decking, homeowners know that their outdoor investment will look beautiful for years to come.

Picnic tables that are made out of wood or metal have many drawbacks when compared to recycled plastic picnic tables. Metal will start to rust over a period of time when exposed to rain and snow. When wooden tables are also exposed to moisture they will start to warp and rot, this is not so with recycled plastic picnic tables. Tables that are made out of plastics will not rot, rust and never need to be painted.

Many of us that love to have a BBQ with friends and families also enjoy using their plastic picnic tables for prepping food. The reason for this is because bacteria’s such as salmonella for instance can contaminate surfaces that are porous. Since wood is a porous material the bacteria can seep into the surface and grow long after the tabletop has been wiped down. With plastics, the bacterium has a hard time seeping into the hard surface and wipe clean easily with a food safe disinfectant cleaner. The problem that many outdoor cooks have with metal table tops is that the tables often start to rust and paint can chip off into the food they are preparing.

When a recycled plastic picnic table becomes dirty due to dirt and grass, the clean up is an cinch. All one has to do is wash it down with a mild soap and water to remove the debris. This will help the table looking new for years to come. Many people find that the ease of care is a plus when it comes to owning plastic outdoor furniture. Wood and metal picnic tables require more care such as sanding, painting, sealing and staining once a year to keep them looking good during the summer months.

Owning a recycled plastic picnic table gives family and friends a place to gather during a backyard party. Not only do these types of picnic tables add extra seating during a BBQ, they also add function to any outdoor space when one just wants to relax after a long day at work and enjoy their outdoor space.

Vinyl gazebos never have to be painted. These durable structures resemble wood in appearance, but since they are made out of vinyl the color will never chip, fade or need treated with harsh chemicals. With wooden gazebos that are painted, the paint will start to peel or chip when exposed to the elements over a period of time. Even when a wooden gazebo is only stained and not painted, the wood still has to be treated with sealants to keep the wood from rotting due to being exposed to wet weather. This is never an issue with a vinyl gazebo. The only maintenance that these stylish structures need is to be washed off with a garden hose to keep it looking new, year after year.

The problem with wooden gazebos is that they have a tendency to attract bugs. Insects that feed on wood, such as termites can destroy a wooden gazebo in a short period of time. By installing a vinyl gazebo this is never an issue. Insects are not attracted to the vinyl and have no desire to feed off of it like wood. Homeowners that have vinyl gazebos installed near wood find this to be a great feature.

Many are worried that a vinyl gazebo might only come in one or two styles. The fact is that there are many styles and sizes that are available. With this being said many are surprised to find with the various sizes that are available, it is easy to find one to fit into many different sizes of yards.

Vinyl gazebos can be bought in kits that one can build them. For those that want to avoid the cost of having someone erect the structure, kits offer that option of doing it themselves. There are generally no special tools that are needed. Many of the same tools that can be used on a wooden structure, can also be use when erecting a vinyl gazebo.

Since vinyl gazebos are so low on maintenance they are becoming the top choice for those wanting to add beauty to their outdoor space. Those that have switched from wooden gazebos to a vinyl one, enjoy the ease of care. Owning a vinyl gazebo gives the homeowner more time to enjoy their outdoor space instead of doing maintenance.

Recycled plastic signature yard signs are a wonderful way to display your house number or name. There are many advantages to displaying your name or house number this way. The numbers or name is large enough to be read from the street. We have all experienced trying to read tiny house numbers that are located on a small plaque next to the front door when trying to find a specific address, or even worse trying to read the name or numbers on a mailbox while driving down the street trying to find someone’s house. This can become aggravating for not only friends and or family trying to find your home, but also for delivery people as well.

Plastic signature yard signs are not only great for those properties in the city or suburbs; they are also a good idea for those that live in rural or wooded areas also. Those that have homes that are not visible from the road due to trees, hills or a long driveway find that visitors or delivery people have a very hard time finding their home. Many people that live in rural or wooded areas like having a signature yard sign at the beginning of the driveway making their house easier to locate.

Recycled plastic signature yard signs are not only a unique way to display a name or house number, they are also better for the environment. Unlike wood signs that attract insects or rot due to weather exposure and metal signs that can rust, recycled plastic yard signs are not affected by the elements. Plastic signature yard signs will also never rust and never need paint. These yard signs stay beautiful looking year after year with very little upkeep.

Adding a unique piece to a landscaped yard such as a signature sign can help to beautify a yard and help to displaying a name or house number so people are sure to find your home easily.