Here’s what you can do to make your deck more water-resistant.
For any homeowner with a deck around their property, you likely know the dangers that water can pose to it. Water can cause many decks to deteriorate as a result of mold, rot, and mildew that all lead to the premature failing of the decking itself. Keeping your decking water-resistant is essential for its longevity, but how does one accomplish this? Here’s what you can do to make your deck more water-resistant.
Start By Creating a Low-Maintenance Deck
If you haven’t already built a deck, but you’re about to start, it’s good to create your deck to be as low-maintenance as possible. This is a proactive approach to making your decking as water-resistant as it can be. PVC boards and composite materials make for great low-maintenance decking options, and these decking materials grant extra protection against any potential water damage.
Make Sure Water Drains Away From Your Deck
To minimize the chances of water damage to your decking, you want to minimize how much water is affecting it. As such, it’s important to look at the slope of your landscape. The slope should be such that water will drain away from your deck. Otherwise, water could start pooling around your decking and cause serious damage to the structure.
Inspect the Space Underneath the Deck
This is something to keep in mind for any people who have elevated decks. You could consider adding decking flanges, which are rubber-like gaskets that tighten between your decking boards so that water can’t pass through them. These flanges make for great sealants. Just keep in mind that you won’t be able to use any hidden fasteners if you go with this approach. The boards will instead have to get face-screwed.
Keep the Substructure Protected
The lumber that deck boards use is designed to be water-resistant, but not waterproof. As such, you’ll need to reinforce these boards with a little bit of extra sealant to truly protect your decking against water damage. You can do this by putting flashing tape on those boards. This way, your decking will have more protection against problems such as rotting, and your deck’s structural integrity will be maintained.
Purchase Your New Decking from Fisher Lumber
Be sure to visit Fisher Lumber’s Designer Showroom featuring displays of Andersen Windows, Therma-Tru entry doors, Simpson and Masonite exterior doors, and a wide selection of interior doors featuring Simpson, Masonite, Lemieux, and JELD-WEN. Our knowledgeable experts are ready to assist you! Contact us at 301-424-6500 and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.