Let's Get Our Outdoor Deck Ready for the Summer

Many homes have decks. Some are bigger than the house itself. A deck can do many things for your home. First, it adds value. Second, it is an outdoor room. Decks can be placed anywhere. Many are added to the back of the house. Some wrap around the home. Some even adjoin to a master bedroom. Decks can be open to the sun and sky. They can have a retractable roof or a permanent roof.

This article will give you some simple ideas for sprucing up your deck area. Early in the Spring, it is a good idea to clean your deck. There are all kinds of deck washes at Lowe's and Home Depot.. You can even get deck sealers if you need them. Most decks though can easily be cleaned with a low grade detergent and a garden hose. Some people like to use power sprayers. You have to be careful with them. Many decks have treated lumber and the natural oil can be sprayed right out of the lumber. Direct sunlight will do more dammage than water. This is because the sun dries out the oil in the deck lumber. If you use a power spray, keep it on low Psi's for cleaning.

Once it is cleaned and dry, wipe off your furniture and clean all items that are already on your deck. This includes your grill.

There are many decks that have electric coolers and refrigerators on them. Make sure that no moisture can get to them. These should be cleaned inside and out. There are many decks that have bar coolers for kegs. All of these hoses must be cleaned with hot water before being used again.

Let's talk about deck decorations and other ideas. You can use items like old milk cans as stools or small end tables . You can paint them or put logos on them. An old wagon wheel placed in the corner of your deck can add to the decks atmosphere and give it that western rustic look. Old street signs placed on deck rails or posts can add to your decks look. Many city and town maintenance departments might have some old rust street signs that they would give you. You can even get street signs of your favorite sports teams to put up. Be as creative as you want. Potted flowers that are placed around your deck can add to it as well. Flower boxes attached to deck rails also are nice. If you use potted plants be sure to place something under them. They tend to leave off colored rings. However, placed just right, they can really add to your decks atmosphere.

If you have a grill, place a grease pad underneath it. Falling black/burnt grease can leave ugly stains once you decide to move your grill to a new location. When using a grill, keep it far enough away from the house or garage so that the heat doesn't melt or warp your vinyl siding . Grills also cause blackening on siding or ceilings. Smoke will do that over time.

Lighting is important on your deck. You want to be able to see but, you don't want the insects. If possible, try to locate your lighting away from your deck area. Even if you use very low lighting, you will attract bugs. Some people like to use little Japanese lanterns. The same thing that people use for their RV's when they camp.

Casablanca fans can move smoke around and circulate air on hot days. They should be an outdoor type of fan with outdoor wiring. If you install one, make sure that they are up high enough so that they are out of the way.

I once had rolled AstroTurf on my deck. Too my surprise, it did not discolor the deck. However, I always rolled it up at he end of the summer. I bought AstroTurf that was cheap from companies that replaced it on football and baseball fields. It does make a great floor surface. However, it can trap moisture between it and your wood surface. Most decks are designed to handle outdoor moisture.

What most people don't understand is that moisture doesn't do as much damage as sunlight. The rays from the sun will dry out the oil preservatives that is in your deck wood.

There are many individuals that love their decks. When the weather is nice, I am on my deck all the time. If you are going to be there, too. Why not make it a livable piece of your home?