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5 Ways To Make Your Deck Last 30 Years

A properly-installed deck can last 15 to 30 years, but its lifespan depends on how well it is taken care of. 
Although decks made of composites require less maintenance than wooden decks, there’s no such thing as a self-cleaning deck or a deck that lasts forever, at least not yet…. Just like any other part of a home a deck needs regular cleaning and maintenance to last long and safe.
1 – Move Potted Plants and Trim Branches

Large potted plants left on deck can cause spots or stains to the wood surfaces due to soil and water runoff and debris getting stuck around it.  Check the surrounding and keep trees and landscape trimmed back. Shrubs, trees, and other plants can become problematic if allowed to grow too close to the sides of your deck.  

2 – Leaf Blow and Rinse

The surfaces of your deck collects dirt, debris, pollen, and other grime on a daily basis. Don’t let leaves pile up or anything stay damp for a long period of time.  Left unchecked, this debris can degrade the paint, stain, or wood decking.  Sweep your deck and rinse it off often with water to clean surfaces.

4 – Deeper Clean – Pressure Washing

To remove stains, discoloration , mildew, and grime a deeper clean is needed. 

Pressure washing is not as easy as it looks and with an untrained user it can easily cause damages and injuries when people are not sure what they are doing. Instead, hire an insured professional to pressure wash your property. 

4 – Choose High Quality Stain

Sun, wind, rain, hail – all of these weather elements contribute to fading of the wood.  Regular use and high-traffic patterns across the surface of your deck will also create areas of greater wear. Restore and maintain your deck by power washing the deck staining the exposed wood.  

Investing in a high quality coating for your deck helps it last longer. Stick with a coating that repels water. This will stop the water from seeping into the surface of the wood. 

 5 – Keep the Gutters Clean

If you have a roof line that runs along the deck, gutters can prevent all that additional splashing. If you already have gutters, make sure they are cleaned out – you don’t want it pouring over and making your deck unnecessarily wet with dirty water.