Extend The Life Of Your Exterior Woods With Proper Care And Maintenance
You've just spent thousands of dollars installing exterior woods on your property. You've built a beautiful deck and installed a privacy fence so you can entertain your guests away from the prying eyes of your neighbors. You might think that because these structures are made from wood they're going to last forever. Look at that tree out there – it's a hundred years old. Nothing can harm your new wood deck and fence.
Well, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if you look at the brochures you were looking at when you chose that new wood deck and fence you'll notice they always say - “Your new deck will provide years of entertainment” or “Your new fence will stand up to weather and sun damage for years to come.” But when you look at the actual contracts you signed when you hired them built, the small print will always say - “With Proper Care and Maintenance”.
The reason that tree has been standing there for 50 or 100 years is because it has bark and leaves which filter out contaminants and prevent them from reaching the actual wood. You'll notice, there is no bark on your deck or your fence to protect them from the elements. The ultra violet rays from the sun can have a brutal effect on your exterior woods – beating down on them day after day after day. And wood is porous so your new deck is absorbing moisture from dew and rain and melting snow, moisture that cause the wood to expand and crack and even warp.
Your beautiful new exterior woods aren't in any danger of falling apart tomorrow and they will stand up to the elements for years to come. However, in less that two years the weather and sunlight can do enough damage that, if left unprotected and unared for, you could walk out onto your deck and fall right through while your neighbors laugh at you through the whole in your fence.
As with anything else, if your perform the proper preventative maintenance your exterior woods really can maintain their beauty and functionality for years to come. And an ounce of preventative maintenance is worth thousands of dollars in costly repair bills after the fact. If you're concerned about the expense involved with caring for your wood deck and fencing, contact a reputable deck restoration service and ask them for suggestions on how you can affordably maintain your outdoor structures. Often it's only a matter of making sure your take care of things like cleaning and sealing on a regular basis as opposed to putting them off until the very last minute.
By adding on that beautiful new deck and privacy fence you've already increased the market value of your home. Now you need to perform regular care and maintenance to protect that investment.