Get matched with top deck maintenance specialists in Johnstonville, CA

A wood deck needs an annual cleaning, plus refinishing every two to three years, which involves sanding the deck and applying stain or sealer. If you have a painted deck, you’ll need to repaint it every 10 years. You should also fix and repair loose or broken deck boards, nails, and screws. Cleaning your deck regularly and applying sealant protects the wood from the elements, water damage, rot, mildew, and fading from the sun.

Installing an ornamental or decorative porch column takes around three to five hours. Structural columns take longer because your pro has to install a jack to hold up the roof while switching the column out. If there's any structural damage, it can add several days to the timeline to repair the damage.

Painting a damaged pool deck is not recommended if the substrate is crumbling, cracking, spalling, or otherwise actively deteriorating. Continuing deterioration will result in the paint also delaminating or flaking off the damaged surface. Minor damage such as chips or hairline cracks that are not actively deteriorating can often be repaired enough to paint over. A damaged pool deck with a lot of cracking and deterioration should be replaced for best results.

The best way to sand a deck is by cleaning it, sanding the boards and stairs with 60- or 80-grit sandpaper, and sanding the railings and posts with 80-grit sandpaper. You should sand in the direction of the wood grain to avoid damaging the timber. When sanding your deck, use medium pressure and aim for an even sand. Pressing too hard with a sander can damage decks, as most are softwoods.