We have spoken in the past why you pressure wash certain areas of the home in order to increase its overall resale value. This can be crucial, especially in the seller’s market. As a result, you may feel inclined to look at other areas that may require a nice pick-me-up. One of those exterior surfaces happens to be your deck!

The Importance of Power Washing a Deck

First things first – let’s discuss why exactly this is a smart move, to begin with. Say you are looking to paint or stain your deck for the first time in years. While we wouldn’t exactly call this prerequisite, it can help to remove away any old finish or stains in a quick and efficient manner.

Not only that, but it also removes any shreds of debris that could be laying around between the deck boards, preventing the growth of rot, grime, rust, or other hazards that could remain visible even after applying a new finish.

Plus, since a pressure washer is simply using water to spray away any contaminants, you won’t have to worry about it warming any surrounding vegetation with noxious fumes. Obviously, if you’re installing a brand new deck, this isn’t required unless you’re using reclaimed wood that could use a thorough washing.

What to Do Beforehand

Now we get to the most important part – how to get everything primed and ready to go to have this service performed. Chances are, you may not have a lot of experience in this area. This is why hiring a professional is the best way to go. After all, the last thing you want to do is run the risk of damaging your precious new deck by being overly aggressive with this piece of equipment.

With that in mind, what they’ll do first is typically remove any type of finish that has already been applied to the wood deck. If this doesn’t happen, the new finish may start to prematurely fade in quality. It’s the same scenario when someone applies new wallpaper or a coat of paint over an already existing layer – at best, the results may start to look uneven in areas.

For older decks, this also means removing the gray surface layer of oxidation in order to ensure you get the final look you desire. It goes without saying that if you’re going to invest in this clean-up project, you may as well do it right the first time.

With this helpful information in mind, we recommend pressure washing your deck at least once a year (depending on the weather patterns) to keep it in prime condition, ideally sometime in the early spring. That way, you’ll love the look of your home every time you gaze upon on it for the remainder of the year!