A job we recently finished was to restore an ipe, pronounced (eepay), deck that the homeowners were not happy with. Ipe is a beautiful Brazilian exotic wood but unfortunately the landscape company that they had restore it previously were inexperienced and had put a solid deck sealer on the deck. The homeowners were not happy with the job but have lived with it for a couple of years. Not to mention the sealer was not holding up and was starting to peel and flake probably due to a lack of prepping the wood correctly before it was applied.

The plan was to strip all of the old solid sealer off the deck to get it back down to bare wood again. This then would be followed up with a neutralizing process to brighten the wood and to make it more acidic so the new deck stain would penetrate well.

The homeowners still wanted a red look but wanted something semi-transparent so the wood grain would  show through. We chose a sealer that is specially formulated for dense hardwoods like ipe and other exotic woods.

The trick with this ipe deck was to get all the old sealer off first so the new sealer could fully penetrate the wood. This stripping process also had to be done using fairly low pressure so the ipe would not fur up from too much water pressure. A stripping agent was applied and low pressure was used to strip/wash the ipe deck. The old product was very stubborn to come off in areas due to being over applied by the previous contractor. It was rough going and took a couple of attempts all the while we had to be careful not to harm the painted cedar screen room directly below the ipe deck.

Once the deck was stripped, it was allowed to dry out for a couple of days before we returned to apply the new deck sealer. This ipe deck was in horrible shape due to an inexperienced contractor getting in over their heads and the homeowners were only hopeful we could help. It all worked out in the end and everyone was happy.

Deck refinishing can help to increase the longevity of South Bend resident’s wooden decks. Decks are just extra outdoor living space and are great for barbeques and family time. The extra space is great during the warm months, most people do not want to loose that.

Refinishing your wooden deck correctly will allow you many years of use, increased home value, and a much more pleasant area to enjoy family time. Deck refinishing South Bend services are provided by wood care professionals if the homeowner decides to hire out the project.

Deck refinishing South Bend, IN companies can give homeowners a free evaluation and will sit down with them to discuss the deck project. It should be determined what condition the wood is in, what is currently on the deck that needs to be cleaned off, and what deck sealer should be put back on the deck.

Indiana deck cleaning and sealing can be a very tedious task for any homeowner. Hire a professional can be the best choice but with all the false advertising and misinformation it is tough to know which deck cleaning company is best for you.

In this deck cleaning video we discuss and answer some of the most  frequently asked questions from homeowners. We shed some light on some of the most common questions that we are often asked. This information will enable you to make a more informed and intelligent decision when it comes to cleaning and sealing wooden decks. I hope you find the information useful, enjoy.

 

Waterproofing is a term that is sometimes used when referring to staining or sealing a wooden deck. After decks are cleaned, prepped, and allowed to dry for a couple of days, a wood deck sealer or wood deck waterproofing agent needs to be applied.

Deck waterproofing South Bend, IN decks is obviously done to protect the wood from water damage. Water and moisture can warp, split, and splinter wood over time so it needs to be protected. When a clear deck sealer is used, it will only waterproof the wood, but if a deck stain with a toner in it is used the pigment will also protect against harmful UV rays.

It is the sun that turns a deck grey over time and protecting against that is highly recommended. Why protect the wood with a clear deck waterproofing sealer just to have it turn grey in a year’s time? Most deck waterproofing products are offered in semi-transparent tones to give the deck just a little bit of color while still letting the wood grain show through.

All types of wood used in deck building in South Bend, IN need to be protected with a wood waterproofing sealer. Even pressure treated wood needs this extra step. The treatment in pressure treated lumber deters bugs from eating the wood but does not protect against Mother Nature. A waterproof deck will last many years longer than one that is not protected. Deck waterproofing South Bend companies provide this service from April through October.

Many folks that have had wooden decks here in Indiana in the past are now going with a new composite deck because they are tired of the maintenance involved with wood decks. These composite deck materials are sold as “maintenance free” so buyers think they have rid themselves have having to mess with the deck every few years.

I can tell you as an experienced deck cleaning contractor, anything that is exposed to Mother Nature is going to get dirty and will need to be cleaned. These composite deck materials are no exception, we have had to clean greying, mold, and mildew from many of these types of decks. We have even had composite decking companies call us wanting an estimate to clean thousands of their decks across the Midwest for upset customers. This is usually the end result of some type of law suit that they have to make good on.

Many times our customers have expressed to us that they are upset with the composite material NOT being maintenance free like they thought. They still need cleaned every few years and yes it is just as expensive to clean them as a wooden deck.

Deck cleaning in Indiana is something that we enjoy, it’s always nice to have a solution to our customer’s problems. It doesn’t matter if it’s a wooden deck or a composite one we can help. We just do not like seeing people tear down their wooden deck that could have been restored to put up a new composite deck thinking they won’t have to sink anymore money into it down the road. Maintenance free does not exist so please consider this before making any haste decisions.

Wood deck restoration is one of the most misunderstood services in the cleaning industry. Most people don’t understand that there is more to deck cleaning than just blasting away at the wood with water and then sealing it. An important factor to remember is that the most common reason a deck sealer fails is because the wood wasn’t prepared correctly. When the wood is not prepared properly the wood deck sealer will not adhere correctly and will fail prematurely.

Wood is soft and may damage easily with too much water pressure, therefore it is necessary to adjust the pressure to achieve the results with the correct chemicals. Various factors will determine which chemicals to use to restore a deck. If the wood is gray from UV damage, a decent deck cleaner should work well. On the other hand, if traces of an old deck sealer are present, then a stripping agent will need to be used to remove all the remnants of the old failing wood sealer.
Once the proper deck cleaning chemicals are determined, they are applied to the wood deck and allowed to dwell. The deck can then be washed with the right amount of pressure using a pressure washer. No more than 1000 psi of water pressure should be used or the wood can be damaged.

After the deck has been correctly cleaned or stripped a pH balancing step is performed. This step is a must to neutralize the caustic cleaning chemicals, preparing the wood for sealer. This neutralizing process is achieved by applying a special mild acid solution to the wooden deck. The deck should is then allowed to dry for a couple of days before being sealed with a quality oil based deck sealer.

You may want to consider hiring a competent pressure washing company to restore a deck properly so it will last. Be sure to ask the contractor the right questions to determine their amount of knowledge of wood deck cleaning and refinishing so you can be sure the you get the quality of service you expect.

Wood is the most popular choice material for decks. Not only is wood gorgeous, it is also strong, durable, and easy to work with. Wood is vulnerable, however, to moisture damage and should be checked frequently. Deck boards that are split, splintered, cracked, or have raised nails may point to a potential problem with moisture saturation. Moreover, wood is an absorbent substance, not unlike skin; wood pores can develop clogged and deteriorated conditions. The best way to prevent troubles with your wooden deck is to have it sealed and maintained. Now, let’s discuss some different types of woods that are commonly used for decks.
 Cedar: The wood from this hefty, coniferous evergreen tree is a trendy favorite for decks. It not only looks beautiful and has a wonderful aroma, it is also enormously durable. The feel of cedar is soft, and the grain of cedar is elaborate and stunning. Cedar produces natural tannins that are said to be naturally defiant to insects. However, these tannins can spot, especially after it rains, and this carries on until the wood becomes fully acclimatized (three years or so). After a wood deck cleaning the cedar should be sealed. Sealer colors that work predominantly well with cedar are the likely redwood or cedar tinted. These deck sealers allow the natural grain of the cedar to show through, while still protecting the wood through a shielding pigment.
Redwood: Used commonly in timber construction, redwood is (as the name advocates) a reddish colored wood. Besides the color, redwood is very similar to cedar, and is a stylish choice for wooden deck construction. 
Pressure Treated Pine: This long-needled tree also has wood that is very common in the building of decks. Pine varies from extremely soft wood, as with the white pine, to very rigid wood, as in the long leaf pine. The term “pressure treated” refers to wood that has been chemically treated to repeal insects and rot. Cedar and redwood are never treated due to their nature, it isn’t necessary. The downsides to using pressure treated wood are rapid staining, splitting problems, and inconsistent look due to the many chemicals that are in the wood. As with all woods, it is always a good idea to have your pressure treated deck cleaned and sealed so that these natural problems can be evaded. It’s best to hire a company that specializes in pressure washing decks and wood deck restoration. Depending on personal liking, pine works well with any color deck sealer. As with cedar or redwood, there are natural colors that can heighten the natural grain and color of the wood. Advantages of using pine are its versatility, affordability (compared to cedar or redwood) and its dependability.
Wooden decks can be subjected to very severe exposure, plus abrasion and extreme friction from foot traffic. The horizontal surfaces, such as the floor and top hand rails, receive abundant amounts of sunlight and moisture. Continuous swelling and shrinking of the wood severely breaks down any continuous film coating, resulting in cracking, flaking, and peeling. These deck coatings or sealers are not recommended for these surfaces. Deep penetrating oil based deck sealers are recommended coatings. They require frequent refinishing, but it is an easier task than the scraping and sanding needed to prepare paints, solid stains, and waterborne sealer for refinishing. Latex sealers or paints are to be avoided where water can collect on flat surfaces. Silicone enhanced sealer products should also be avoided.
Coatings fall into one of two categories. Film forming coatings are primers, paints, heavy bodied and solid color sealers which form coat or film over the surface. Penetrating stains, the second category, dive deep into the wood past the surface resulting in very little surface film. This type of penetrating sealer is not prone to cracking, peeling, or flaking like the film forming type. Oil based penetrating deck sealers to an excellent job of locking out moisture and protecting against harmful UV rays. These types of sealers are normally semi-transparent but can still have a tone or tint added to them in a variety of colors. Therefore, your deck can have a particular color or tone to it, but yet the beauty of the wood grain will still show through. A rule of thumb is the darker the tone of deck sealer, the more sun protection it provides.