Repairing and Refinishing A Deck in Anderson
The repairing and refinishing of a large wood deck can be a daunting project for a homeowner. In the upstate area, our experience suggests that approximately 10-15 years after a deck is built it will be in need of attention such as a good pressure cleaning followed by select repairs and a complete re-staining or waterproofing. If a homeowner lets a deck go much longer than this, the deck is likely getting to the point where large portions of the deck boards and railing will need to be replaced before the new finish can be applied.
We had the recent opportunity to rejuvenate a wood deck on the back of a lake house in the Anderson area. It was a multi-level deck with built-in gas service for a generator and for the grill, built-in countertops in the food-service area, and a long staircase extending down toward the shore. It was a beautiful deck, though showing age with wood rot in select areas and requiring a rebuild of steps and railings between the upper deck levels.
This particular deck was originally color-stained so we performed a mild pressure washing to remove all mold, loose wood material, dirt and loose layers of old stain. Once we completed the cleaning and removed the old stairs mentioned above (before the new ones were built), we consulted with the homeowner to create a plan for the repairs. The rot that existed was the worst underneath the old stairs and since those deck boards were going to be protected by the new stairs we decided not to replace them. The rest of the deck, though older and with discernible weathering, was completely sound so we agreed to re-coat the deck using a product called Behr Premium Advanced Deckover. The advantage of using this product for older wood is that it is formulated to seal weathered wood to both re-level the surface and to prevent further splintering and water collection. Though the product costs slightly more than regular stain and requires more product to provide adequate coverage and maximum performance, the advantage is that can extend the life of an old deck surface by a respectable number of years.
The finished deck turned out wonderfully and with the Behr Premium Advanced Deckover it's likely the life of the deck boards have been extended another 7-10 years, which is an economical decision as well as an environmentally friendly one!
