August 30, 2002, Newsletter Issue #33: More Autumn Projects

Tip of the Week

Autumn is a good time to clean and protect your deck since it has been drying out all summer, and is about to be attacked by cold and wet.

Your DIY store carries several deck cleaning products. Be sure to read and follow the instructions. Most products wil be diluted in water and used like soap to scrub your deck. A stiff bristled brush will let you scrub it clean. You can also use a pressure washer, but be careful. The high pressure water jet can damage wood and siding.

My deck is unfinished CCA lumber. I just prefer the look of unfinished wood. If your deck is stained, you need to reapply a stain, although not necessarily the same color. However, if you decide to change the color of stain, you will probably need to go with a darker color. For an untreated deck, I prefer an oil-based water seal such as Thompson`s.

Application of either stain or clear water seal is made much simpler by using a garden sprayer - the kind that you pump up by hand. A two gallon sprayer can be purchased for less than $20. Start at the top of the rail and spray on as much sealer as the wood will soak up. If you spray an area which dries up quickly, just re-spray. Don`t paint yourself into a corner; leave an escape route.

Be sure to cover any shrubs or plants with plastic to prevent overspray. If you get a little overspray on the grass, don`t worry. It will grow back.

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