If you recently added a new deck to your home, you want to waterproof the deck as soon as you possibly can. Even if you used the best lumber on the market, rain, ice, and snow can still damage your deck over time. Some types of wood can soften, decompose, and attract pests if it's exposed to moisture for long periods of time. Waterproof your new deck with the tips below.
Fix Your Gutters and Overhangs
Broken gutters and overhangs can collect rainwater during the year. Some of the water inside the damaged structures can drip onto the surface of your deck. As time goes on, the wood in your deck could become saturated with water. If there are loose or broken gutters and other structures overhanging your new deck, fix the structures soon.
You can also place drainage ports or lines on your gutters and overhangs. The ports or lines will direct water away from the deck and home whenever it rains or snows.
Once you take care of the gutters and overhangs around your home, contact a contractor and have them coat and seal the surface of your deck.
Coat and Seal Your Deck
Decks may potentially last many years if they're properly coated and sealed. A contractor may apply acrylic, resin, or another type of waterproofing coating to the surface of your deck. The material used for your deck may depend on several things, including the type of wood in the deck and the location of the deck.
If the deck contains untreated wood, it may require a stronger or thicker coating to keep it safe from water. Water can soak into untreated wood very easily. Pests and fungi can also invade untreated wood. If the coating isn't thick enough to keep moisture, pests, or fungi out of the deck's wood, it may fail.
If the deck sits near or under trees, you may need to use a coating that prevents sap and other plant substances from sticking to the wood. Tree sap can harden over time. If sap does harden on your deck, you may have a difficult time removing the substance later.
A contractor may consider the factors above as well as many others before they coat and seal your deck. If you have any questions about coating and sealing your deck, speak to a waterproofing contractor immediately.
Learn more about deck waterproofing by calling or emailing a contractor today.