With summer just around the corner, now is the time for those last-minute outdoor home improvement projects. One area that can have a big impact on the look of your outdoor spaces is exterior wood structures, including fences and decks. Not only can they provide privacy, style, security, convenience, and comfort, but they can also provide a stunning backdrop for your landscaping. Because of this, and the cost of repairing or replacing these wood structures, it’s important to keep them in good repair while protecting them from water and damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. One of the best ways to do this is to have your outdoor wood surfaces professionally cleaned, stained and sealed.

Cleaning

One of the first steps in restoring any outdoor wood surface is to clean the surface with specialty cleaners and a pressure washer. The purpose of this cleaning is to remove mold, mildew, and fungus, as well as any aging that may have resulted from water and UV rays. The pressure washer, along with cleaners, can prepare wood surfaces for staining and sealing. While this may seem like a DIY project, it is highly recommended that homeowners hire professionals due to the dangers of working with pressure washers and cleaners. Also, without the proper knowledge and experience, anyone who decides to clean their outdoor wood surfaces may damage the wood or worse.

staining

For most exterior surfaces, experts recommend stain instead of paint. This is due to the fact that stains not only penetrate the wood more than paint, but they also won’t peel like paint, saving you time and money down the line. an application of a transparent tint, a full body tint can be used instead. While a full-bodied stain looks a lot like paint, it still penetrates the wood like a stain and won’t crack or peel like paint does over time.

sealing

By far the most important step in finishing outdoor wood surfaces is sealing them. This not only protects the wood from harmless UV rays and water damage, but also keeps your deck looking new. There are a number of wood sealing products on the market and while each is designed to do the same thing, some are much better than others. When sealing your outdoor wood surfaces, it is highly recommended that you hire a professional. Not only will they be able to complete the job in a fraction of the time you could do it yourself, but they will also guarantee their work. This helps ensure that your outdoor wood surfaces are beautiful for years to come.