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| By Maureen Costello Staff Writer |
April 22, 1999 |
Decks are a welcome amenity to any home. Extending the living space outdoors affords a relaxing venue for cookouts, entertaining, or simply lounging under the sun or stars.
Once considered a luxury, the blue prints of nearly every new home designed today includes a deck, and in some cases, decks. Owners of older homes are adding them on, when possible, making decks an almost necessary real estate commodity.
And, just like every other part of the house, decks need maintenance. Sometimes a hosing down does the trick, but after a few years, a deck may need a complete overhaul.
"The big problem with decks is mildew," says John Princiotta, a Boxborough resident who makes a good portion of his living maintaining decks for homeowners. "Mildew is as slippery as ice."
Unfortunately, Princiotta says, most people don’t realize the dangers of mildew until someone slips on it. But the slimy stuff grows "in any area of the deck that gets wet," says Princiotta. "Pine trees are one of the biggest problems, as are bushes, and the overhang on the deck. It is constantly dropping water."
Seeing as most decks are outside, most deck owners have or will have this problem. Fortunately, there is a solution.
Mildew is not very fond of bleach. A simple solution of bleach and water regularly hosed over the deck should kill mildew growth. If your deck’s mildew is beyond the strength of your garden hose, you’ll need to rely on stronger forces.
"A severe powerwashing with chemicals will clean and remove mildew that’s been around a long time." he says. "I usually use straight bleach. You really need to use straight bleach to kill mildew, but the fumes from the bleach are strong enough to knock you out, so you might want to have someone else do it."
After power cleaning the deck thoroughly, Princiotta recommends it be coated with a high-quality stain, such as Benjamin Moore.
"If it’s not stained, and you want to preserve it with something, use a sealer," he says. Do not use paint because it peels. Make sure the product is designed for deck and floor use. This will be stated on the label. Princiotta uses an oil-based stain which penetrates the wood, protecting and sealing it.
Deck maintenance is very important, says Princiotta. "A combination of snow, rain, just plain walking on it, and the sun wears out a deck quickly," he says. "And some decks are made of pressure-treated wood or cheap pine over pressed wood, so it cracks."
"Fir or mahogany are harder woods that do not split as much," he says. "They cost a little more, but should wear longer."
Still decks do not last forever. "Usually decks don’t last more than 10 years," Princiotta says. "A good deck should last 15 or 20 years if it is maintained properly." Clean it one day, and stain or seal it the next, he recommends. "It’s a two-day process."
Princiotta charges between $300 to $400 for standard deck cleaning services. He has been cleaning and re-staining area decks for several years now. A painter by trade, he purchased a powerwashing unit to help with preparation needed for exterior paint jobs. He and his clients also noticed powerwashing cleaned decks up beautifully.
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