3 Easy Deck Maintenance Tips

Decks and porches are becoming increasingly popular nowadays. They are a low-cost way of adding an extra space to your home. They open up your home and are a great place to entertain guests for outdoor dining. But because a deck is installed outside your home, it’s prone to the damaging effects of the weather. It’s for this reason that deck maintenance is very important. Proper maintenance can help you protect your porch or deck against discoloration due to moss, dirt, algae, and other elements.

Here are 3 easy steps you should follow to maintain your deck:

Clean the Deck

Before you start applying the sealant, you must first thoroughly clean your Phoenix fences. The dirt and debris that have accumulated could clog the spaces between the deck boards. Therefore, the boards must first be blasted out with a powerful nozzle using a power washer or a garden hose.

Before you decide to use any cleaning solution, make sure you read the warnings and directions carefully. The solutions can simply be applied directly to the deck using a broom or with a power washer at low pressure. Then scrub the deck using a push broom or a basic scrub brush.

Paint or Stain the Deck

Although most homeowners would choose to paint their decks with deck paint, others choose to take advantage of the natural beauty of their expensive looking deck wood by applying a clear finish to the deck. If you want to paint the deck, you must first apply a stain blocking primer to it. Avoid a heavily pigmented stain for your decking since it will easily show the wear and tear and it has the tendency to peel.

Here are some important characteristics to watch out for your deck finish:

– The finish must be water-repellent or waterproof.

– It should provide UV protection.

– If mildew is a problem, choose a mildewcide finish.

Seal the Deck

As soon as the area is dry, you can immediately seal the deck. Consider putting down tarps in order to protect the plants near the Phoenix fence. Sealants are usually rough on plants, and although most plants don’t get affected when hit with wafting overspray, a direct hit could cause real damage to them.

Once you are certain that your plants are protected, you can start applying the sealant. You can apply the sealant with a brush, a painting roller, or with a spray. Spraying is the fastest way to apply sealant into your deck. However, it’s a bit difficult to control. Furthermore, some sealants have a color that could possibly stain the surface where they are being applied.

It’s a good idea to invest in professional sealants when sealing your Phoenix fencing. They are typically superior and oil-based. Others also contain stain that can provide color to the deck. However, sealants that contain stain don’t usually deliver a uniform color so it may be a good idea to give it a try before applying. A good quality sealant has UV protection which helps to keep your deck protected from the damaging effects of sunlight.

Photo of the Week: An Office

With school back in session, we’ve got offices within our mind at Houzz. If the mere thought of workplace work often creates anxiety, the key is to make a space that does nothing but promote pure comfort.

This Los Angeles office is instantly calming. Designed by New York design company Incorporated, this office is at an apartment designed with a creative 20-something in your mind. Plenty of sunshine, easy organization and natural accents combine to create this joyful and soothing workspace.

Read 3,000+ home office photos

Incorporated

Don’t you find yourself feeling somewhat happier when you see this picture? How frequently does a workplace make you do so? A timeless Parsons Desk with drawers and Eames Molded Plastic Chair sits on one side of the room for a clean and inviting workspace.

A dressmaker’s dummy (which can double as a bulletin board) sits alongside a sleek chrome and glass shelf (attempt this shelf for a similar appearance ). The open shelving encourages organization, and keeps in line with the minimum, clutter-free topic of the space.

Try filling your workplace with sunlight, clean surfaces, and vivid textiles for a refreshing look — and create a workspace you truly want to spend some time in.

What are you doing in your workplace to get ready for the school year? Have you set up your kids’ homework spaces nonetheless? Publish a photo below!

More: Browse home office designs
28 Real-Life Home Offices

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Go for an Unexpected Color for Your Trim

Every room says something, and also the details often put an exclamation point at the end of that statement. This is especially true when it concerns the trim and molding in a distance. These architectural details can make the largest impact, depending on their scale and also how they are handled. Applying a color or stain to your own molding will immediately provide your distance distinction. If you’ve been thinking outside the typical glossy white approach, here are some tips for picking the right colour for your trimming.

Peggy Braswell

I am seriously enjoying the lavender trim in this bedroom. This is a great example of how you can use an unexpected, lighthearted colour for the molding even in a traditional space. Look how the linens on the bed tie in with all the doors and windows. Brilliant.

Elizabeth Gordon

Occasionally a dramatic space calls for striking specifics. In a bathroom with elaborate background, an elaborate mirror and dazzling red tile, the high-gloss black trimming definitely adds to the exclamation point on a space that states'”va va voom!”

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Natural stained molding is not just for rustic, casual houses. It may add a very elegant touch to lavish spaces, too. A red stain will match very nicely with traditional cherry furniture.

Valerie pasquiou interiors + design, inc

Charcoal grey molding is a great way to bring a modern flair to a home. But don’t stop with the door and window frames. Painting the stairs and doorways with the same color will produce a unified appearance.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

In the kitchen, lots of homeowners wonder if all the cabinets and trimming should be the exact same colour. The solution is no, especially in the event that you would like to accentuate a certain attribute. In this photo, dark stained trimming allows these windows to pop. White trim would have only forced them to the background.

Glenn Gissler Design

Wainscoting painted with a warm, creamy hue is a sure way to create a room more cozy. In a space with an abundance of earth tones, honey beige trim creates a wonderful flow and ties each the furnishings collectively.

Tim Cuppett Architects

In this space, slate grey wainscoting creates a sense of movement as your eye travels down and round the stairs. This effect would not look as impressive had the colour been more subtle.

Cynthia Prizant – Prizant Design, LLC

In children’s rooms, I believe that anything goes (within reason). In this room, the red baseboard and faux crown molding bring an excitement to the space that any boy or girl could love. Using complementary colours such as green and red enables both colours to look much more remarkable.

Have you experimented with trim colour? Show us!

Next: More guides to choosing colour for your Property

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