Welcome to springtime in the Rockies.  It won’t be long before we’ll be enjoying longer days and outdoor temperatures that entice us out back door to enjoy our yards and decks to the fullest. Crocuses will jump out of the soil with cheerful sparkles of purple and white and soon after, our neighborhoods will be a riot of color.

But springtime is also the time for maintenance of our homes and yards.  And one of the best first maintenance projects of the season is to take a walk.

A walk? Really?  Walking is a chore on the to-do list?

Absolutely. Walking and looking around your home and yard is one of the best first tasks of spring.  As Vince Stover of DeckTec put it, “Would you really neglect a room of your home for four months, then suddenly hold a party in it without checking the area for safety and beauty?”

Vince said it is not uncommon for people to plan their first barbeques of the year without a thorough once over of their deck.  But if you think of your deck and patio areas as rooms for your home, you can be prepared to find and fix any small problems, and provide a safer alternative if your deck is in need of major repair.

Vince had some other tips to share with homeowners regarding the maintenance of your outdoor rooms:

• Ask yourself how old your deck is.  A deck is generally made to last several years, even if it was “tacked on” as part of a multi-home construction project, or was made of composite materials, but if your deck is older than 15 years and is showing signs of needing significant maintenance, it may be time to consider a replacement. Nothing lasts forever.
• Walk the perimeter of your deck or patio.  Look for loose boards, or pavers not setting the way they did in September. If DeckTec installed your paver-patio, there is a lifetime warranty that you can use to make sure it is always in good working order.  Give us a call if you’re having problems.
• Also on the perimeter look for loose pavers. While most adhesives used to keep bricks and pavers in place are weather resistant, the adhesive can crack under severe weather conditions. “The last thing you want is a loved one tripping and falling because your paver slipped,” said Vince.
• As for the surface of your deck, always check for screws pushing up and away from your wood.  And if you see nails popping up, chances are good your deck was constructed under out-of-date safety regulations.
• The next “test” you can perform is the walking-feel test.  Starting from the outermost edge of your deck and walking inward, try to be sensitive to any unusual “give” in the surface.  Listen for any squeaking of timbers.  Both are signs to call a professional maintenance person in for a look. While several companies exist to build decks, DeckTec has invested in having a great maintenance team at the ready each spring and fall to help make sure your deck remains in the best possible condition for whenever you want to be outdoors.
• A gentle push or shove on things like rail posts, fence posts and cap rails will let you know if you have other safety areas to address. “DeckTec is not in the fence business,” said Vince, “but we can help you determine if a fence post needs replacing.  For the most part, people don’t want to address loose fence posts, but with the high winds in our area it’s best to check these once a year too. I’ve heard of entire fence sections being blown into people’s houses.”
• Once the surfaces have been looked to, check the underside of your deck, even if you have a construction close to the ground.  Look for a white, mossy, mold look to any wood parts of your outdoor rooms. Even composite decks generally have wood beams and girders.  Mold on them can be an early indicator of decay.

While this blog post hasn’t the space to go into great detail on maintenance and repair, you’ll be happy to know that DeckTec has still got you covered.  In the next few months we are expecting to update the website, and that update will come with a complete section devoted to the care and maintenance of your deck.

You’ll find advice on when not to repair your deck, how to budget for maintenance and repairs, and details on vocabulary used to help you tell your professional deck repairperson what exactly you’re concerned about.

But if you want to get going on maintenance immediately, why not call DeckTec? 303.277.1550.  We keep records on all of the decks we build and can help you figure out when you last had a professional inspection and service of your outdoor rooms.

“If you’re concerned at all about the condition of your deck or patio, never hesitate to call a pro,” said Vince. “Trust your eyes. If your deck looks out of whack to you, chances are you have an issue that should be addressed.”

At DeckTec we’re here to help.

(Photo by Gabriel Bucataru)