Wooden decks need maintenance, or they’ll deteriorate and turn into eyesores. Part of maintaining a wooden deck includes a brightening process that will inevitably increase the lifespan of the wood. But, what exactly is this process, and how can it help you?
If you’ve invested in a custom deck design, you’ll want to protect it to the best of your ability. Here’s how you need to brighten your deck, and whether or not you should be sealing it afterwards, along with other maintenance tips.
What is Deck Brightening?
The process of deck brightening is not only visually changing the wood. Over time, the pH balance of the wood changes.
Not only that, but when you want to stain or seal your deck, you need to wash it thoroughly before you do so. This process generally includes chemicals that will inevitably change the pH of your wood, as well as darken it.
Now, this color is probably not what you want to display–it’s also not the right pH for staining purposes. Stains prevent UV rays from penetrating your wood, so this could lead to some weird coloration.
Deck brightening is actually the process of “brightening” the pH of your wooden deck, though it can also change the wood’s appearance as well.
Why is Deck Brightening Important?
Sealing your deck and staining it needs to come after you brighten it. Why? Because stains and seals will not adhere to decks with a certain pH balance.
Decks with a high, basic pH will not take to seals and stains, which react when wood is more acidic. Therefore, it is important to brighten your deck before you venture towards sealing it.
A basic pH will also result in darker wood, which can drastically change the appearance–even after you’ve stained it.
Do You Need to Brighten Your Deck Before Sealing?
You should. Brightening your deck will bring the pH balance back to its normal state, and the color back to its original appearance. This is when you should seal or stain your deck. In this state, your deck will be able to absorb seals much easier.
You can also use seals to protect the wood from UV rays, which means the color will say the same and you won’t have to worry about wood damage.
When this whole process is complete, you should have a beautiful, shiny deck that you can enjoy!
Need Help? Call a Deck Contractor in Maryland!
Deck sealing and brightening is important, but you need the deck of your dreams before you can think about putting so much work into one. Look no further!
North American Deck & Patio is here to help you make the custom deck of your dreams! As the best deck contractor in Maryland, NA Deck & Patio is here to make sure you’ve got the deck you’ve always wanted. Call today!
