winter illustration
Winter Is Over!
At last, the snow has receded and you can actually see grass and blue skies. Say goodbye to the winter blues! Nothing quite does it best then having the season’s first barbecue. However, before you run out to the deck to fire up the grill, you should probably make sure that the deck isn’t going to collapse underneath you or your family and guests whilst they enjoy their meal. After all, if you haven’t been properly maintaining your deck over the year, the chances of a deck collapse or falling into disrepair can increase year by year. If you’ve seen a particularly rough winter or stormy season, then your deck may be worse off than it might even appear. As such, it’s important to follow these suggestions to ensure your deck is barbecue safe.
Check For Cracks
The first thing you should do is perform a thorough deck cleaning. Hiring a professional crew to do the cleaning for you can ensure that it’s done properly without harming your deck. They also can usually tell you if they notice any cracks in the wood that could be a cause for concern. Structural damage is your main concern. Check the beams to make sure everything looks healthy and connected. You’ll want to check the part of the deck that connects to your home as well since this is an area that sees a lot of tension through the weather and shifting of the house.
Repaint And Seal
Another bit of maintenance you’ll want to perform before you use your deck is to repaint or reseal it. If the paint seems to be holding fine, or if you don’t intend to paint your deck, then adding in a nice coat of sealant will protect your deck throughout the season against bad weather and sun exposure. The key here is to help your deck last as long as it can. You also don’t want paint chips coming off of your deck and then walking on them. This might potentially end up scratching your foot if you’re walking barefoot.
Check For Popped Nails
This tends to go without saying, but you should also check the nails of your deck to make sure that they’re all properly embedded into the wood. This can be part of your initial inspection after the deck is washed. Not only can popped up nails mean you might have some loose boards, but they can also be an injury just waiting to happen.
With these tips in mind, you can be sure your deck is ready to host plenty of barbeques. Break out the meat and drinks and have fun!