Deck Staining

Choosing the Right Deck Board-Orland Hills

When it comes to constructing a deck on the back of your house, generally, there are numerous kinds of decking products that are being used within the Midwest. Right now, let’s look at the expenses, regular maintenance, as well as rewards and also the negative aspects of choosing the right deck board-Orland Hills.

Choosing the Right Deck Board-Orland Hills

When it comes to your house, there is an abundance of ideas that can be discovered with much of the information. And also, it is safe to venture a guess that few people worldwide wouldn’t want a stunning deck on their home. Yet bear in mind that building and preserving a deck is a huge undertaking. When you are likely to include a deck on your home, one of the first things you are required to do is to find out and select a product to build your deck with. Additionally, you will need to take into consideration the appearances, quality, resilience, as well as the price of the timber that you select. When it comes to the different sorts of deck structure material. There are four different kinds that people use for their decks. They are:

Wolmanized (Pressure Treated) lumber
Cedar or Redwood
IPE Decking
Compound Material

Different Deck Building Materials

Wolmanized or pressure-treated lumber is taken into consideration since it is entry-level lumber. It is also very popular with many individuals. Because this type of lumber is made by having chemically treated water pushed into it with stress to make it resistant against rot, degeneration, as well as insects. Large home improvement chain stores stock this wood in various sizes. And it is also one of the most budget-friendly woods, which makes it excellent to use on any deck. The maintenance for it depends on where the deck is located. If you decide to construct it in an area with a great deal of sunlight. After that, you will need to utilize a preservative or stain every couple of years to maintain the deck from rotting due to the elements.

However, if it is in an area that has a lot of tree cover, then a stain is suggested as well. Though you will not have to apply it as often, it’s continuously the right choice to maintain it since extremes in weather conditions can include wear and tear to your deck. Included in the benefit is the fact that the wood is low maintenance, so it does not quickly rot. But the only downside to using pressurized timber is that gradually, the wood often tends to warp and also create knots in it. It’s not the kind of deck you want to walk on without footwear as it grows older.

Cedar or Redwood Decking Material

Cedar or Redwood is an outstanding choice to use for a deck. While it is a step up from pressure-treated wood, you ought to expect a bump up in prices. Maintenance for cedar or redwood is more straightforward if you decide not to treat them. However, both cedar and redwood include oils and also tannins, and they take a lot longer to rot or degeneration. So it’s suggested that you treat them every 2 to 3 years. When you are most likely to deal with the wood, it is best to make sure that you use an oil-based transparent stain. This is because it safeguards the timber against the elements much better.

A great deal of maintenance will be required to maintain the all-natural beauty as the shade and also the general look of the wood will fade gradually. If you construct your deck closer to the ground, you need to protect the underside too. Especially if you have water problems where it settles in a location that collects water, or if you live in an area that gets lots of rain or snow as those can get underneath the boards and cause them to rot. While the benefits include a much more attractive look, the cost of the timber is generally more considerable, and also the maintenance can be higher to maintain the all-natural charm, which is what attracts many people to the cedar or redwood.

IPE and Composite Decking

Up next is the IPE decking product. This product is a South American hardwood and is an exceptional piece of timber. Just like with the Cedar, this wood is additionally the next step up in pricing. So again, you must anticipate paying even more if you wish to utilize it for a deck. When it concerns upkeep, there is an IPE oil that you can make use of that will give the timber a vivid mahogany color and help safeguard it against the elements and other things. With this timber, it is advised that you either treat it every two years or not at all.

That is because this wood is so thick the stain doesn’t permeate exceptionally far. So it is more topical. The other choices you have are not to treat it, and doing that will give the wood a gray shade that some people like. A great benefit with this timber is that it is a trusted, long-lasting wood and is incredibly easy to keep. Though a drawback is that if you want to keep the wood a dark brownish look, you will need to do even more work to it. Of course, doing this will certainly boil down to what you want and also how much work you intend to add to your plate.

Pros and Cons of Different Deck Boards

Out of all the timbers to make use of, composite decking is probably the priciest of the decking products and also is almost maintenance-free. This is because it is very minimal when it comes to maintaining it, which is as needed. Utilizing a pressure washer on a low-setting with soap and water will do the job when it comes to cleaning. Composite outdoor decking is made using a mix of recycled timber and also recycled plastic.

The outcome is weather conditions and a stain-resistant board that won’t splinter or split as it starts to wear out. Most of the locations and also individuals who offer this decking have a few incentives such as a line of handrails, balusters, fascias, and various other trim to finish the look of your deck. The disadvantage of making use of composite decking is that it can sometimes be deformed. Also, the reality that the decking will be a considerable investment in your home. And if your objective is to enhance your house’s worth, then this is a great selection.

Lotz of Logic

But regardless of what remodeling job you choose to take on. Your deck is an integral part of the house. So you need to set goals, do your research, and then make an informed selection of what you will need to build the deck. Likewise, it is important to make sure that you stay in your budget as well as select what is right for you while remaining inside that spending plan as well as making your house beautiful. That is what is involved in choosing the right deck board-Orland Hills.

Don’t forget, if you need an estimate on choosing the right decking, give me a call. My team and I have been serving Orland Park, Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, Tinley Park, New Lenox, Lemont, Orland Hills, Palos Park, St John IN, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.

When to Strip Your Deck – Orland Park Deck Contractors

So you are among the lucky homeowners that own a cedar deck in Orland Park. They are undoubtedly beautiful and also feel amazing on your feet after a challenging day’s work. I do not know the actual reason why, but walking barefoot on a wood, cedar deck feels so calming. So let’s go over the reasons of when to strip your deck in this podcast below:

When To Strip Your Deck

However, the condition of your deck and the color if it can undoubtedly sway your mood from positive to negative in a manner of minutes. And so just why is that? If your deck is peeling, bare feet definitely will pick up a few splinters in no time. And definitely will hurt to walk over those peeling pieces. And if you don’t like the color of your deck, you’ll dislike being outdoors on it.

What is, without a doubt, the principal reasons for when to strip your deck?

Can’t stand the color
Deck is peeling
Would like to get it back to natural wood-grain look

I Hate the Color of My Deck

Perhaps you’ve just purchased a new house, and you love the deck in the yard, but hate the color. Or you changed the color of your deck 1-3 years back, and you can’t stand the color you picked out. You can quickly resolve this by stripping your deck. And so recognize you do not have to live with the hideous color.

My Deck is Peeling, Bad

You could have hired the wrong professional, and perhaps they used paint on your deck, rather than stain. This will make your deck peel over time, severely. Or you could very well have many different, and I mean many coats of paint or stain on the deck. If you have either one of these circumstances, you will be undoubtedly experiencing peeling on your deck. Sadly, the only way to fix this is to get your deck stripped down.

Get Your Deck Back to the Natural State

Your deck is undoubtedly made of wood, and so it’s quite common to want to get the deck back to its natural state. I find a lot of my customers ask to bring their deck back to the natural color. So if you wish to get rid of the color of your deck and see the wood grain, you’ll have to strip your deck down.

Lotz of Logic

So let’s recap. Stripping your deck will take care of the dilemma if you don’t like the existing color or if you experience bad peeling. This will get your deck to it’s beginning state, and afterward, it is a clean slate to start all over. I strongly advise having your deck stripped down in the spring or fall. The chemicals used to accomplish this process are aggressive, and they can take a toll on the surrounding plants. It is undoubtedly a very long and challenging process, but it will undoubtedly be worth it in the long run. I truthfully would hire an experienced contractor who knows what he is doing. Mostly because of the chemicals needed to be used, it is worth it to have another person who knows the correct way to deal with them accomplish this for you. Why not enjoy your deck once again. Enjoy a beautiful deck following a very long work week. Your bare feet will thank you if you get your deck stripped down. I hope this blog and podcast have helped you understand when to strip your deck.

Don’t forget, if you need an estimate on deck staining, give me a call. My team and I have been serving Orland Park, Homer Glen, Mokena, Frankfort, Tinley Park, New Lenox, Lemont, Orland Hills, Palos Park, St John IN, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.

Cleaning and Staining Your Wood Fence

How often should you take care of your cedar fence? It would help if you cleaned as well as stain your wood fence every two-three years. Cleaning and staining your wood fence is essential to remember; otherwise, your fence will look run down and terrible.

Cleaning and Staining Your Wood Fence

When it comes to the wood fence and adequately cleaning it. Make sure you have an excellent cleaning schedule for your fence. You should clean and restain your cedar fence every 2-3 years. You must start the process by selecting a good pressure washer. Because you will certainly need to either lease a pressure washer or hire a professional contractor that owns one.

Make sure you see to it you make use of a good chemical cleaner to use with the pressure washer. But you don’t need to worry, because the majority of cleaners nowadays are biodegradable. So that way, it will not be hurting any bordering plants and vegetation. Before you start using the pressure washer on the fence, make sure that you find an excellent psi to use on it. Once you do that, then you, or a professional, will need to wash the fence with the cleaner carefully.

Caring for a Wood Fence

When the fence is cleaned, the next step in maintenance is that you’ll be able to look at the fence and can quickly tell if you have any of the boards that are decomposing. Once you have done that and replaced any decomposing boards with new ones, the next step is to apply a coat of oil-based varnish. The reason I’m so ‘married’’ to making use of an oil-based varnish is that I feel the oil varnish penetrates the wood far better than an acrylic varnish does.

After you have applied a single coat of the oil-based varnish, you then have the choice to select between a transparent, semi-transparent, or semi-solid stain. If you desire a more natural look, I would recommend that you go with a transparent stain. But if you want much more body or more color, then you should use a semi-transparent or semi-solid stain for that.

Lotz of Logic

When it comes to taking care of your cedar fence, make sure you clean it thoroughly and then make sure that you reapply the varnish and stain to your fencing every 2-3 years. Whether it’s fencing for your pet, a garden area, or your yard, a proper maintenance schedule is necessary.

Don’t forget, if you need an estimate on cleaning and staining your wood fence, give me a call. My team and I have been serving Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, River West, Near West Side, Printers Row, Dearborn Park, Gold Coast, Lake Shore East, New East Side, Streeterville, Near North, Loop, Old Town, River North, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.

Reasons for Stripping Your Deck

Undoubtedly, there are several reasons you might want to mull over deck stripping. This is because deck stripping is genuinely a significant process. And while it should be handled only by a skilled deck contractor, let’s take a look at the reasons for stripping your deck.

Reasons for Stripping Your Deck

Do you own a cedar deck or a deck in general? If you do, then you know how eye-catching they are as well as how they feel great on your feet after a tough day’s work. No one knows why, but there is something rather calming about strolling barefoot on a wood deck. Primarily if cedar wood is used for it. But the condition and color of your deck can easily change your mood from positive to negative in a manner of minutes. And why is that?

Well there are three main reasons for that and why you should consider stripping your deck

Hate the color
The Deck is peeling
Want to get it back to the natural wood-grain state

Hating the Color

Often the first, and leading reason that people want to strip their decks is that they don’t like the color of it. This is usually because the color was there when they bought the house, or they decided that they don’t like the color anymore after having the deck installed several years prior. But it is an easy fix to change out the color of the deck. This is done quickly by stripping your deck. So you don’t have to live with the ugly color of your deck forever.

All it takes is a phone call, and a professional will come and strip your deck and restain it for you.

The Deck is Peeling

People often have their decks stripped because they are starting to peel, and people are getting splinters in their feet. A reason why the deck can start peeling is that a contractor used paint instead of stain on the deck. Or there could be numerous coats of paint or stain on the deck. If you have either of these situations with your deck, then you’ll be experiencing peeling on it. And unfortunately, the only way to solve this problem is to get your deck stripped down to the original wood.

Natural Wood-Grain State

Since your deck is composed of wood, it is relatively common and typical to want to get the deck back to its natural state. A lot of people will ask the contractor to keep their deck a natural color from the start. And if you want to get rid of the color on your deck and see the wood grain better, all you need to do is strip your deck down. When you go to strip your deck down to the natural grain. Make sure that you are also keeping an eye out for rotting as well.

Lotz of Logic

If you want to change the look of your deck, then stripping it down will solve the problem. Especially if you can’t stand the present color or if you have bad peeling. Stripping it will get your deck down to its original state. And afterward, it is a fresh start to begin all over. It is strongly suggested that you get your deck stripped down in the springtime or fall. The chemical substance applied during this process is aggressive, and they will undoubtedly take a toll on your surrounding plants. While stripping the deck is very long as well as a complicated process, it will undoubtedly be worth it in the end. It is also strongly recommended that you get a qualified contractor who understands what he is doing.

This is mainly because of the chemicals that are required. It is worth it to have another person who knows the correct way to work with them, to do this for you. Why not enjoy your deck once again.

Don’t forget, if you need an estimate on stripping your deck, give me a call. My team and I would love to be of service to the Northwest Indiana communities such as Long Beach, Beverly Shores, Lake of the Four Seasons, Schererville, Kreitzburg, Michigan City, Grand Beach, and New Buffalo, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.

Deck Board Options | Different Kinds of Decking Material

When it comes to building a deck on the back of your house, there are several kinds of decking materials that are getting put up within the midwest. Today let’s go over the costs, routine maintenance, and perks, along with the disadvantages of deck board options | different kinds of decking material.

Deck Board Options | Different Kinds of Decking Material

When it comes to your home, there is a beauty found in many of the details. And it doesn’t hurt to venture a guess that few people in the world wouldn’t want a beautiful big deck on their house. But keep in mind that building and maintaining a deck is a big undertaking. When you go to add a deck onto your home, one of the first things you need to do is to figure out and choose a material to build your deck with. And you will also need to take into consideration the looks, quality, durability, and affordability of the wood that you select.

When it comes to the different types of deck building material, there are four different types that people use. They are:

Wolmanized (Pressure Treated) lumber
Cedar or Redwood
IPE Decking
Composite Material

Understanding the Different Types of Decking Material

Wolmanized or pressure-treated lumber is considered to be entry-level lumber and is very popular with many people. Because this type of lumber is made by having chemically treated water forced into it with pressure to make it rot, decay, and insect resistant. It is carried and sold at any big chain home improvement store in different sizes. And it is the most affordable and budget-friendly, which makes it great to use on any deck. The maintenance for it depends on where the deck is located. If you decide to build it in an area with a lot of sun and the elements. Then it’ll be necessary to use a preservative or stain every two to three years to keep the deck from succumbing to the elements. But if it in an area that gets a lot of tree cover, then a stain is recommended as well.

Though you won’t have to apply it as often, it’s always a good decision to keep it maintained. Because weather can add extra wear and tear to your deck. And the upside here is that the wood is low maintenance, so it does not quickly rot. But the only downside to using pressurized wood is that over time, the wood tends to warp and develop knots in it. It’s not the type of deck you want to walk on barefooted as it ages.

Cedar or Redwood is another excellent option to use for a deck. While it is a step up from pressure-treated wood, you should expect a bump up in pricing. Maintenance for Cedar or Redwood is easier if you decide not to treat them. But both Cedar and Redwood contain oils and tannins, and they take much longer to rot or decay because of that. So it’s recommended that you treat them every two to three years. And when you go to treat the wood, it is best to use an oil-based transparent stain. This is because it protects the wood against the elements much better.

Maintenance is needed for this wood in order to keep the natural beauty as the color, and overall look of the wood will fade over time.

If you build your deck close to the ground, preserve the underside as well, especially if you have water issues or live in a humid area. Areas that get lots of rain or snow can get underneath the boards and cause them to rot. And while the benefits are a much more beautiful look, the cost of the wood is generally higher. And the wood maintenance can prove to be higher to preserve the natural beauty that attracts many people to the Cedar or Redwood.

Deck Board Options

Up next is IPE decking material. This material is a South American hardwood and is a very thick piece of wood. Just like with the Cedar, this wood is also the next step up in price. So again, you should expect to pay more here if you want to use it for a deck. When it comes to maintenance, there is an IPE oil that you can use that will give the wood a vibrant mahogany color and help protect it against the elements and other things. With this wood, it is recommended that you either treat it every two years or not at all. That is because this wood is so dense the treatment doesn’t penetrate very far. So it is more of a topical treatment.

The other option you have is not to treat it, and doing that will turn the wood a gray color which some people like. A great benefit with this wood is that it is a robust, long-lasting wood and is super easy to maintain. Though a downside is that if you want to keep the woods luxurious dark brown look, you will need to do more work to it. Of course, doing this will come down to what you want and how much work you want to add to your plate.

Out of all the woods to use, composite decking is the most expensive of the decking materials and is almost maintenance-free. This is because it is the most minimal when it comes to maintaining it, which is as needed. Using a pressure washer on a low-setting with soap and water will be it when it comes to cleaning. Composite decking is made using a mixture of recycled wood and recycled plastic. The final result is weather and stain-resistant board that won’t splinter or split as it starts to wear out. Many of the places and people who manufacturers this type of decking offer a few bonuses such as a line of handrails, balusters, fascias, and other trim to complete the look of your deck.

The downside using composite decking is that there can be warping at times, and the fact that the decking will require a substantial investment in your home. And if your goal is to invest and increase your home’s value, then this is a good choice.

Lotz of Logic

But no matter what home renovation project you decide to take on. Your deck is no different, and we hope that this has been helpful to you in that process. It is essential to set your goals, do your research, and then make an educated choice on what you will need. It is also necessary to make sure that you stay in your budget and select what is right for you while staying inside that budget and making your home beautiful. Keeping up on all of these Deck Board Options | Different Kinds of Decking Material will greatly benefit you in the long run.

Don’t forget, if you need an estimate on Deck Board Options | Different Kinds of Decking Material, give me a call. My team and I have been serving Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Glenview, Northbrook, and all of the Chicago area for 30+ years.

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