Wood Deck Waterproofing: Do I Need It?

Wood deck waterproofing can go a long way in protecting your deck while the seasons change.

That wood deck you have in your back yard looks amazing right now, but as Fall rolls around and you start seeing rainy and snowy weather around the corner, you can see that it starts to take its toll on the wood.

If you want to keep your decking looking perfect all year around, you’re going to need to have it waterproofed. Here’s why waterproofing your wooden decking is so important.

 

What Happens When You Don’t Waterproof Your Decking

So you’ve had the decking put down during the spring or summer, and it’s looked amazing the whole way through. Now the colder and wetter weather is on the way though, it’s going to have to stand up to a lot of elements.

– Water Stains

Without wood deck waterproofing, you’re going to see a lot of different problems with it. For example, you may start to see water stains on the deck. This looks unsightly, and the longer you leave it, the worse it will get.

You don’t want to let your deck be ruined by multiple water stains that don’t look good on your deck.

– Soft Spots

If you leave your deck out in the wet weather long enough without protection, you’ll also start to see soft spots in it. Many home owners ignore these as they don’t think they’re a problem, but in fact they can indicate more serious problems with the wood.

At first, they’ll just look bad, but if left over time they can indicate serious issues with the wood. When left long enough, a soft spot can actually lead to the collapse of the deck itself.

– Cracking and Peeling

You’ll also want to keep a look out for cracking and peeling on the deck. This is an aesthetic issue, but one that will undermine all the hard work you put in installing this decking. It will make it look unloved and even abandoned. If left long enough, it won’t be restorable and you may even need to replace the entire decking.

As you can see, there’s all kinds of problems that you need to avoid with your deck. It’s like any wood that has exposure to the elements.

You need to find a way of protecting your deck from the weather. Waterproofing your deck is the best way to go.

 

 

Wood Deck Waterproofing Options

There are several different ways you can waterproof your deck. Here’s just some of the methods you can consider for yours:

• Sealers: These sealants are used to coat the wood on your deck, and are the most common method used by DIYers. The sealant is applied by a long handled roller or brush. If you want to ensure there are no lap marks in the sealant, you can hire a professional to handle it for you.
• Membranes: Membranes are most commonly applied to roof decks or other elevated surfaces. These are commonly handled by experts, so you’ll need to get in touch with a sealing service to do this for you.
• Rubberized coating: This style of sealant is used most often for plywood, and again will need to be applied by an expert. This is due to plywood being more porous if water gets into it, so it needs to be sealed professionally.

 

How To DIY Your Waterproofing

If you want to waterproof your own deck, there are some steps you can take.

1. Clear the Area & Fix Broken Boards

Before any wood deck waterproofing project, you’ll need to clear the area. Remove any furniture or other items that you keep on your deck, and move it away so it won’t become damaged by sealant. Now, you’ll need to inspect your deck for existing damage.

Are there any boards that have come loose, or any existing water damage that you can see? These issues will need to be addressed before you can seal the deck.

2. Seal the Wood

Now, you’ll be able to seal the wood. Plan to do this when there’s a string of good, clear days forecast.

You’ll want to stir your wood sealant with a paint stirrer, and pour it out into a tray. Use a long handled roller to roll it onto your deck. To get better adhesion, you’ll want to apply several, thinner coats, rather than one or two thicker coats.

3. Let Sealant Dry

Once you’re done, you need to let the sealant dry totally before you start bringing things back onto your deck and using it. Drying time will very much depend on the sealant you’ve used, so read the instructions to see how long you’ll need to leave it for.

 

 

Calling In The Experts

In some cases, you’ll need an expert for your wood deck waterproofing project. There are multiple reasons why you might want to do this.

Perhaps you want a more permanent waterproofing for your wooden deck, or you’re worried about doing it yourself. You may never have done it before, and so you’d rather someone with experience do it for you.

Whatever the reason, take the time to call in an expert to handle it for you. They’ll take a look at your deck, and see what needs to be done.

They’ll be able to point out any trouble spots that need to be handled before the deck itself can be waterproofed, and sometimes they can do that for you too. Make sure to ask when they’re looking at the job for you.

There’s a lot of benefits to hiring a waterproofing expert. They’ll be able to apply the sealant so carefully that you won’t even be able to see that it’s there.

They’ll also help with any questions you have about the process, so you know your deck will be in great shape for years to come.

 

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s all sorts of reasons why you’d want to waterproof your deck now.

With wetter weather on the way, you need to ensure that your deck is protected.

Buy your sealant now, or call in an expert to handle it for you. Protect your investment and keep it looking like new for years to come with wood deck waterproofing.