In the summertime, your deck or pool house becomes like a second kitchen. It's where you cook, where you eat, and where you entertain. And like your kitchen, these important entertaining spaces require regular maintenance. 

​

For this area of the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic region, because of the hot summers, intense sunlight, and wintertime elements, the areas most impacted by regular sunlight and rain--like floors and railings--on your deck, gazebo, or pool house requires a maintenance coat of stain or sealer once every two years. In some instances if the wear is minimal and the product previously used was a high-quality product applied professionally to a properly prepared surface, you may be able to recoat once every three years. For areas like gazebo or pool house ceilings, you may be able to wait as many as five years between coats. On the other hand, certain decks and gazebos, due to their exposure to constant summertime sun, require an annual maintenance coating to keep the wood from rotting, splitting, or otherwise deteriorating. 

​

If it has been some time since the last time your deck was stained, or if the deck is new and has never been coated, it will require some preparation prior to coating.  Specifically, the wood will likely require a wood cleaner to remove algae, mildew, and other stain, possibly a wood brightener if your wood has turned gray, and even some sanding if the wood brightener is insufficient to remove all wear and graying from the wood. 

​

Once your wood is clean, porous, and ready to receive a coating, the choice of coating is as important to the longevity of your deck as the preparation of the wood. For exotic hardwoods--like Mahogany decking or Ipe decking--a specific penetrating stain is an absolute must.

 

For general lumber decks, any staining sealer will work, but the higher the quality the product, the longer lasting the finish. That is why at CB3 Painting, we use only premium quality products like Superdeck, Arborcoat, Cabot, and Armstrong Clarke.  

​

To discuss the maintenance your deck needs and to schedule as estimate, contact us here. 

​

​

​

Learn More....

​

​

Schedule....

​

​