Walking out barefoot onto a backyard deck in Phoenix in the middle of a July afternoon causes immediate regret because the wood becomes extremely hot. In the Phoenix area, the summer sun is very harsh on outdoor wood. When a deck is looking dry, gray, or peeling, maintenance is required. Done Right Decks of Phoenix handles deck maintenance projects for homes in Phoenix, AZ without requiring homeowners to spend their entire weekend on trial and error.
Before You Start: Assessing the Damage
Painting over a damaged surface does not work, and Done Right Decks of Phoenix sees this mistake often in neighborhoods from Ahwatukee to North Scottsdale. Homeowners must inspect the boards closely for rotting wood, loose screws, and splitting material. If wood is spongy or splitting deep, stain will not save it, and those boards must be replaced first. Deck Builder projects in Phoenix require careful initial evaluation of the structural integrity.
Cleaning is the next required step to strip away old finishes and desert dust settled in the wood grain. A pressure washer helps, but the nozzle must not be held too close or the wood fibers will be gouged. The wood must dry completely, which typically takes 2 to 3 days when temperatures reach 100 degrees in Phoenix, AZ.
Choosing Your Weapon: Paint or Stain
Solid color stains and paints provide maximum UV protection because they block the sun completely from hitting the wood. Semi-transparent stains show off more of the grain, but in the Phoenix climate, they usually need reapplying sooner. When dealing with an older deck that has seen better days, a thick acrylic-based coating can hide surface imperfections.
During the Project: Application Realities
Timing is very important for Deck Builder work in Phoenix, AZ. Staining or painting must not be done when the wood is hot to the touch, or the product will blister and bubble before finishing the board. Done Right Decks of Phoenix starts early in the morning when the sun is still low, working in the shade of the house or patio cover as the sun moves.
- Scrape away any stubborn flaking bits by hand.
- Use a roller with a thick nap to get into the texture, then follow with a brush.
- Work two or three boards at a time to avoid lap marks.
Properties with a massive multi-level setup wrapping around a pool make DIY projects a difficult chore. Done Right Decks of Phoenix receives many calls from homeowners who started a DIY staining project on Saturday morning and regretted it by Saturday afternoon. For professional Deck Builder services in Phoenix, AZ, Done Right Decks of Phoenix is ready to help.
After the Project: Keeping It Protected
The finish needs 2 to 5 days to fully cure before heavy patio furniture is placed back onto the surface. To keep the deck looking sharp through the monsoon humidity and the dry heat in Phoenix, homeowners should sweep regularly and hose off accumulated dust. A maintenance coat every 2 to 3 years keeps the outdoor living space ready for use.