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Ezine ready page
Ezine ready page
Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle.. | Posted under Landscaping Gardening
Tips For Wood Deck Care
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1. Before using any toxic products such as wood cleaner cover all surrounding landscaping. You can also hose everything down when you are done. 2. Never use chlorine bleach to clean outdoor wood as it will not remove the dirt that has become ground in nor will it improve the gray color of the wood that makes it look old and ruined. You need to use products designed to take care of these issues. 3. If you see dark stains on your cedar it is because of bleeding tannins an organic material that is sometimes brought to the surface by some solvents. Tannins are actually water soluble so detergent and water will generally remove them. 4. Do a splash test to see if water beads or is absorbed with a 20 minute period. If the wood is still properly coated the water should bead. If it does not bead its time to reapply the sealant. 5. Clear coatings do not provide any protection from UV ray. In order for a product to block the UV rays it must contain a pigment. 6. Oil based products produce a shiny finish while water based products provide a matte finish. 7. If your deck is constantly shaded it will tend to grow mold and mildew so you will want to apply a water based product that will stop the growth of fungus, mold, and mildew. 8. Before applying the new sealant make sure you clean up grease from the BBQ. Automotive degreasers work well for this task. 9. If your deck is exposed to direct sun and heat you will want to use an acrylic stain to help retain the color and reduce the speed the wood will turn gray. 10. before applying any sealant or stain try it in a back corner where its not seen to make sure you are getting the result you anticipated. 11. You must wait at least 48 hours after it has rained to apply any products otherwise they will not absorb properly. 12. Do not over apply the product. Wood can only absorb so faster so dont make the common mistake of over applying and then not having it take properly so it wont last. 13. You cannot mix water and oil based products on the same surface otherwise you could land up with a real mess. 14. Before applying any product make sure that the wood is clean. Steel wool works well. 15. You do not have to coat the underside of the deck if you dont want to. Of course its a great way to save a bundle. These 15 tips should keep you on the straight and narrow and youll be taking the best possible care of your wood deck. About The Author: Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on deck ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com |
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