Archive for the ‘Deck’ Category
Fixing your deck stain?
The overall stain of your deck is part of what gives it its charm. The more you use your deck, the happier you are with your deck, but the more you can expect to wear away at the original stain of the wood. If your deck has been in need of a new deck stain for a while now, it's time to actually get around to it and update it with a fresh new look. You don't have to be a deck expert to get this done; you just need the right instructions.
First, you'll want to apply a deck stripper to the deck. This won't solve everything for you, but it will prepare the deck for what will happen in the next steps. Make sure that you choose the appropriate stripper for the kind of wood you have; if you have any questions about this, try asking someone at the local hardware store for some advice, or at least do an internet search on the type of wood you're using.
After this part of the job is finished, you'll want to rent a pressure washer. When you bring it home, be sure that your deck is clear of the big stuff (tables, chairs) and the small stuff (stones, debris). Why? You're going to be spraying down your deck with a high-intensity spray, and you don't want to send anything flying!
In conjunction with the deck stripper you've already applied, your pressure washer should be able to peel off the old stain to your deck, or at least give your deck a new, uniform color. You might also be able to incorporate deck cleaners that remove old stains; once again, questions should be directed to your local hardware or home improvement store. Once you've stripped the stain, wash it out and let the deck dry over the period of a few days.
Now that you've removed the old stain, it's time to select a new stain. You might have had something in mind already, but if you simply wanted to fix the old stain, you've got some thinking to do. Choose a stain that works well for your wood, and if you can, make sure to test the stain on an idle piece of wood to see that it has the color you like.
Once this is ready, you should be good to apply the new stain to your wood. You'll want to let it dry and set in before using your deck; after a period of a few to several days, your deck should be looking brand-new and properly stained. Congratulations! You've fixed a deck stain. Now if you could just get that wine stain out of your shirt...
Photo Credits: Jeff_Werner
Originally posted 2009-09-03 03:20:33.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 30, 2010 in
Backyard, Deck, Handyman, How to Fix
Poorly-Finished Wood Deck
Re-finishing your wood deck isn't the most difficult operation around the house, but you'll find that it can be a very rewarding project, especially when summer rolls around. But exactly how easy is it? In this article, you'll find some basic steps and strategies for re-finishing your wood deck to restore its original luster.
- "Check your deck" and make sure the structure is ready for finishing. It may sound a little simple, but if you want to make sure you'll have a great restored deck, you'll want to make sure there aren't any major repairs needed first. Check the structure of the deck, because if you are finishing a deck that's flawed, you're simply dressing up something that's fundamentally poor. Make the necessary repairs before you re-finish your deck.
- Clean your deck with a power washer. It's possible to rent a power washer from a local hardware store or retail outlet, so be sure that you make full use of it and give your deck a thorough cleaning. Before you power wash your deck, make sure it's clear of any major items that you don't want to get wet, and be sure that nearby objects won't be harmed if they're touched by the water. Then it's a matter of blasting away the dirt - enjoy it!
- Start sanding. Once your deck is freshly clean, it's time to make the final preparations for the sealing itself, and that means smoothing out the wood itself. The best way to do this is by sanding, usually with a power sander. Keep the power sander in mind when you head to the hardware store looking for a power washer to rent. Don't go overboard with sanding; simply smoothen out the deck's surface so that the sealant will stick properly to the wood underneath.
- Seal the deck. Once the deck is clean and smoothed out by the power sander, you're ready to seal it. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to seal the deck after using the power sander, as you don't want to leave your deck to the elements overnight. Once you've sealed it, give your deck the proper amount of time to dry off and settle properly. You can then move furniture back onto it and enjoy!
Re-finishing your deck is not the most complicated way to get started with your own home improvement endeavors, but it is rewarding!
Photo Credits: Creativity103
Originally posted 2009-10-01 03:42:32.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on June 30, 2010 in
Deck, Handyman, How to Fix, Patio
Sinking deck to fix deck.
Your backyard deck might be the pride and joy of all the landscaping and additions you've made to your house; you get to bring guests to it, raise a family on it, and enjoy quiet summer evenings in comfort. That's why it can be so disconcerting to see a problem like a sinking deck post - all of that work and money sometimes still can't prevent the Earth from throwing a wrench in the engine. That's why you'll want to fix your sinking deck post as soon as possible.
First, you'll need the right equipment: a jack, pea gravel, and a pipe. Of course, without the instructions, these might sound like odd equipment for a job like this, but bear with me.
Make a diagnosis. Using a balance to measure the actual problem with your deck, you want to make sure that your sinking deck post is the only one sinking. After all, if you have two posts sinking, you should use this opportunity to treat the problem as a whole - while you have the equipment out.
Once you know which deck post - or posts - to fix, try to take a look at the kind of access you can get. Some people have decks with plenty of room underneath, and if this is the case with your deck, you shouldn't have ot move too many object around in order to get at the sinking deck post. But if you have a smaller deck without a whole lot of room, you'll probably need to remove some floor boards in order to get at the right post. This might also require that you set aside some time to remove furniture, hopefully at a time when no one will be needing the deck at all.
With the access to this sinking deck post secured, raise the deck (and the post) up with the jack to the point at which the deck is level again. Then, using the pipe you have ready, slide it into the hole where the sinking deck post had just been. Pour the pea gravel into this hole through the pipe and try to make sure that you pack as much gravel into the hole as you can, keeping an eye on how balanced your deck is overall.
This should add some stability to your deck and hopefully prevent further sinking. Remember to be careful with each step so as to do the best overall job possible. If you removed floor boards, you can replace them now, and move the furniture back onto the deck.
Photo Credits: MrPhilDog
Originally posted 2009-09-02 03:42:10.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on June 5, 2010 in
Backyard, Deck, Floors, Handyman, How to Fix
Needs staining.
The wood deck is one of the hallmarks of the do-it-yourself home improvement buff, but what happens if you come across a home that has a wood deck that needs to be repaired? You may know a lot about building decks, but in order to fix one up and bring it up to your standards of quality, you'll have to think about things in a different way. Here are just a few tips for fixing and sealing a wood deck.
Test out the old deck. If the old deck is rotted and unfit, you'll simply want to replace it. Only leave a deck mostly in tact if you know that it's strong enough to function fully after being repaired.
It gets worse before it gets better: If you've ever cleaned out your garage before, you know that sometimes, home improvement means that things will get worse before they get better. If you really want to do a number on your wood deck and bring it up to snuff, then start out with a "it gets worse before it gets better" mindset. Take out anything resembling a loose nail. Destroy wood that has rotted and throw it out. If there's a part of the deck that doesn't look like it will mesh with a repaired one, get rid of it.
Sure, it might feel like you're building a new deck from scratch after this. But the end result will look more uniform and new if you really do a number on the old deck.
Replace what you've taken out. If you did a number on your deck, then you have more than a few holes to plug. If this is the case, you'll want to simply replace the old parts that came out with new ones. Make sure that every piece of wood in the structure is strong so that the entire deck will function like a new deck. When in doubt, take out an entire board and simply replace it with a new one.
Seal the deck. Seal the deck at the same point in which you would seal a new one.
Make the deck look uniform. After you've sealed the deck, it's time to make the deck look as uniform as possible. You can do this by staining all of the wood a similar color. Be sure to ask someone in the know about wood staining before you try it out - you don't want to end up with a mismatched deck. You can think about painting a deck if the staining won't work.
Photo Credits: tuchodi
Originally posted 2009-12-29 03:45:45.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on May 22, 2010 in
Deck, Handyman, How to Fix
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