For maintenance, wooden decks usually require the most upkeep. You don’t have to spend so much when maintaining a wood deck. Schedule maintenance and use a standard deck cleaner each spring to take away dirt and debris. After this, the deck should then be sealed to protect it from the elements. This not only makes your wooden deck look good, but it also makes it more resistant to splintering, rot, and mold.
After years of use, your carefully maintained deck will have to be stained or repainted to stay in good shape. This process is a given for wooden decks, time-consuming but necessary to keep property values high. The procedure for repainting the deck is to remove old paint, sand the wood planks, then repaint. It is a wise decision to use high-quality paint designed for outdoor use. You cannot just stain a deck, as the wood needs to be prepped before you apply the new coat of stain. Both stained and painted wood should be coated with a sealant for maximum weather resistance.
Because wood decks require a lot of care, property owners often choose vinyl planks instead. Although vinyl decks are easier to manage, they still need to be cleaned. Because vinyl is already extremely durable and weather-resistant, most vinyl planks will need a good scrub with warm water and mild soap to stay looking like new.
If your Duluth property has a patio instead of a deck, you might assume that there is no maintenance. But this is not the case. Regular sweeping helps in keeping surface dirt away, but concrete and stone patios can still become dirty and stained. That’s why thoroughly cleaning the patio at least once or twice a year is mandatory. Concrete can be hosed off, and pressure washed or scrubbed with a bristle brush. For stubborn stains, a degreaser helps. To avoid damaging the surface of natural stone pavers, these must be cleaned carefully. Sealing both concrete and stone helps keep the worst of the dirt and stain away so cleaning them is easier.
Lastly, no deck or patio is ever complete without outdoor furniture. Outdoor décor or furniture also needs to have scheduled cleaning and maintenance. Use mild dishwashing liquid mixed with water and a soft-bristle brush to clean outdoor furniture. Items should be covered then stored indoors if not in use. Wooden furniture and wooden decks have similar maintenance procedures. Clean, seal, or repaint every year. Using mild soap solution, surface clean fabric cushions or pillows then air-dry them to prevent mildew.
Follow these simple maintenance tasks and you’ll make your rental property’s deck or patio the outdoor oasis every renter wants.
For more advice on the maintenance of your property, a Duluth property manager at Real Property Management Executives Greater Atlanta is always there to help you. You can contact us online or call us at 678-765-8383 for more information.