Su mmer

pleasures

Hands On Deck!

NV

hen Michael
and Paula
Shapiro built
their house in
Bloomfield
Hills 10 years
ago, the plans included an ex-
tensive deck running the length
of the kitchen, dining room and
great room. From their experi-
ence with a deck on a previous
home, they knew the toll Michi-
gan winters take on exposed
wood. This time they were pre-
pared to protect their investment
by having the deck power
washed and sealed every two to
three years.
Having cared for decks in the
northern and western suburbs
for the past seven years, Steve
Murray, of Steve's Power Wash-
ing in West Bloomfield, notes the
consistent trend in decks. "Most
new homes have a deck put on
within a year after construction,"
he observes. "And they often are
elaborately designed with rail-
ings, stairs, benches, flower box-
es and floorboard patterns.
"In this area, there's about a
50-50 split between cedar decks
and ones with pressured treat-
ed or Wolmanized lumber," says
Mr. Murray. Decks are tradi-
tionally made out of cedar, red-
wood and pressure-treated
lumber. While all three have dif-
ferent characteristics as build-
ing materials, they are subject
to deterioration sooner or later.

CLEANING

Just like a kitchen floor, a
deck gets dirty. It needs to be
hosed down and brushed with a
stiff broom. Decks that are near
or under trees need special at-
tention because of bird drop-
pings, seed pods and leaves. All
this, and other debris, including
wax from candles and grease
from grills, should be removed
immediately to prevent stains.
Wood experts recommend
cleaning a deck three or four
times a year. Several cleaning
agents, including Cabot's Wood
Cleaner, a concentrated liquid

that is diluted with water, and ra-cotta pots, due to their porous be done every year, others every
Wolman's Deck Brighter, a pow- nature, are notorious spot-mak- three or four years. Because the
der that is mixed with water, are ers. Sanding is sometimes the process actually removes some
on the market. With any deck- only way to repair the damage. of the soft wood, too much pow-
cleaning product, it's important Placing a thin block of wood or er washing can result in rough-
to read the directions carefully plastic underneath will help catch ness and splintering or cause
for precautions and to make sure the run-off and prevent stains.
wood grain to pop up.
it's right for the kind of wood you
Power washers can be rented,
have.
POWER WASHING
but they require very careful use.
The cleaning process usually
Power washing hit the deck "If you don't use them correct-
begins with a hosing-down of the industry about 10 years ago and ly, you can hurt yourself and the
deck and surrounding plants. has been providing the solution machine," cautions Adam
Some manufacturers recom- to deck care ever since. The Shapiro of R&N Deck Doctors,
mend covering plants with

Despite their

tough guy image,

decks need some

tender loving care

to withstand the

elements.

BETH SMITH AND
MARCIA DANNER

SEALING

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

plastic because the alkaline-
based cleaning agents can
cause spotting on foliage.
When the deck is thorough-
ly wet, the cleaner is mopped
or sprayed on. After working
the cleaner for about 20 min-
utes with a stiff broom, hose
the deck with clear water.
Mildew, which often ap-
pears on decks that are
shaded or close to the
ground, presents a particu-
lar cleaning problem. It pulls wa-
ter from damp wood, causing the
wood to turn green, gray or
black. The only way to remove it
is to use a cleaning agent that
has a mildicide in it. Mildicides
provide only a temporary rem-
edy and must be used about
every six weeks to keep the
mildew away.
Stains from water and soil
trapped beneath potted plants
also are difficult to remove. Ter-

the job and quote a price based
on an on-site estimate. The av-
erage-size deck runs about $275
to $300 for the maintenance pro-
gram, which includes power
washing and sealing.
Deck owners claim to see a
major change in the way a deck
looks after power washing. When
their deck at Maple Place Villas
in West Bloomfield showed tell-
tale signs of weathering, Julian
and Pearl Nusbaums called in
Steve Murray. "You
could really see the dif-
ference after the deck
was power washed," says
Mrs. Nusbaum. "All the
dirt and stains, and the
gray tinge were gone."
Since power washing
is so effective, the deck-
ing industry has been
flooded with people get-
ting into the business.
Before contracting the
work out, check the pro-
prietor's references.

process removes old sealers and
dirt and tears away microscopic
wood cells. A compressor forces
200-degree water out of a wand-
like device under pressure rang-
ing from 750 to 4,000 pounds per
square inch.
Power washing is a real boon
for homeowners who don't have
the time or energy to manually
clean their decks. Depending on
the harshness of the environ-
ment, some decks may need to

Sealers provide a wa-
terproof barrier to wood,
preventing the cracking
and splintering caused
by water exposure. Be-
cause ultraviolet rays
from the sun also cause
wood to gray or darken,
many sealers include
UV inhibitors, or sun-
screen.
There is some dis-
agreement as to when a
new deck should be
PHOTO BY DEBORAH MAllOLENI sealed. Some deck peo-
ple recommend waiting
who works out of Bloomfield from three weeks to six months
Hills. "Direct spray can damage before applying it. This gives the
the deck, break a window or ruin new wood, which has high mois-
the plants. Technique is impor- ture content, time to dry com-
tant," he stresses. "You have to pletely before a sealer is applied.
fan out and spray at the correct
Since most of the damage to
angle and distance, and with the decking occurs within the first
right amount of pressure."
year, getting a sealer on as soon
Left to professionals, power as the wood is dry greatly re-
washing costs about 40 to 60 duces the chance of problems.
cents per square foot. However, Some deck builders use lumber
both R&N Deck Doctors and with a built-in sealer. This pre-
Steve's Power Wash charge by ON DECK page 60

STYLE • SUMMER 1995

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