Deck Restoration Services Northern IL

A deck is a vital part of your home and therefore, it requires proper maintenance to keep it in good condition and improve your home’s appearance. One thing is for sure, whether you are hosting a party, firing up the grill, or just reading a book, you will enjoy doing it on a beautiful, clean, and tidy deck. A well-maintained deck looks great and will last longer. Deck restoration and refinishing should be done every two to three years. Hiring a professional for your deck restoration services Northern IL regularly will help to keep your deck in good shape and safe for use.

Deck Inspections and Repairs

Most people often focus so much attention on decorating essentials to maintain the appearance of their deck. Every homeowner wants to have a beautiful deck for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. However, you must prioritize having regular and proper deck maintenance to ensure a great outdoor environment and safety for you and your family.

For that reason, ensure that you inspect your deck regularly to identify problems before they lead to significant damage that requires costly repairs. Common deck maintenance and repairs include retightening screws, replacing broken floorboards or loose rails, removing rusted nails, and more.

Signs of Deck Deterioration

Rot of Wood Support Beams and Posts

Whenever you see any wood rot in any part of your home, it’s never a good sign and you should fix it as soon as possible to avoid further damage. Failure to check and fix the wood rot can cause significant damage that puts the structural integrity of your house at high risk.

Under the current building codes and regulations, all new decks must be built on concrete footings, but previously, older decks were built with the support posts directly resting on the ground.

In tropical areas, raw wood, including even those pressure-treated varieties – can absorb moisture in the ground and start to rot because the soil is almost always moist. Over time, the wood will rot gradually due to soil moisture. So, ensure you inspect your deck regularly to identify and fix this problem early enough.

Otherwise, you will incur the cost of deck restoration services Northern IL sooner than you expected.

Heaving or Dropping Footings

Concrete footings strengthen the long-term structural integrity of your deck, but they may not be perfect in some circumstances. If the deck footings were initially poured on soil that was unstable or has shifted significantly over time, then the concrete may drop or crack.

Years of freeze/thaw cycles and cold weather can take a toll on your concrete deck footings. This is the case in colder climates, where thawing and freezing can cause concrete to drop and heave if the footings were not poured deep enough.

Erosion Around the Posts

Deck footings, whether wooden or concrete, are susceptible to erosion. Soil erosion occurs when the soil supporting the deck footings and posts is washed away by rainwater and snowmelt. The deck may be destabilized when the lower level of the posts is exposed.

Drainage issues can pop up around your property seemingly out of nowhere. However, the reality is that over the years the slope of your yard changes naturally, and small changes to landscaping, such as removing or adding planting beds, can speed up those changes.

If you notice a ‘small river’ running underneath your deck or water pooling in your yard after a storm, call a deck contractor for deck restoration services Northern IL to help repair the damage (and prevent future problems).

Deck Boards Splinter or Crack

Normal cracking or splintering of deck board here and there usually is not an immediate cause for concern – you can just hire a deck repair contractor to replace a board or two. But if you notice significant deterioration on every board, then it is probably time to fit a brand-new deck.

Wood can’t last forever. Sealing, staining, and painting your wood deck regularly will go a long way to increasing its lifespan, but eventually, the elements take a toll.

Loose or Deteriorating Rails

While loose deck railing is unlikely to cause your deck to collapse altogether, it is a serious safety hazard. A loose railing is a clear sign that your deck needs attention as soon as possible.

Keep a close eye on your deck railings so that you can catch any railing problems early on, especially in the spots below roof overhangs or where your friends and family often hang out. A deck contractor from RPW ProWash will repair them before the deterioration spreads and impacts the structural integrity of your deck. You don’t want to incur the cost of complete replacement.

Unmaintained Deck

Home maintenance never ends, and decks that are not maintained consistently will not last long. Remember, it does not take long for tasks to multiply and get out of hand.

If you have purchased a home with a questionable deck, call our reputable deck contractor to inspect the structure to find out whether the deck is safe. Do not take a wait-and-see approach.

Your deck might be quite old and not built to the current safety codes and regulations, or it may need only a few straightforward repairs. Either way, it is best to know for sure whether you will need a new deck or what you are dealing with overall.

Finding Reputable Deck Restoration Company

It is never a good idea to cut corners when it comes to ascertaining the safety and structural integrity of your deck. The wood can deteriorate more quickly than you might think, and the collapse of a deck can be dangerous.

Talk to several contractors and request estimates to ensure that you are choosing the right company to offer you deck restoration services Northern IL. Be wary of companies that give you a bid that’s wildly different from the rest or reluctant to provide proof of insurance coverage or a reference list.

Furthermore, deck restoration and repair work can create a lot of debris, so ensure you ask about cleanup. Every company you talk to should include cleanup costs on their estimate. Remember, most of the debris cannot be repurposed or reused. Now, make an apples-to-apples comparison of bids.

Once the contractor finishes your deck restoration, work with him or her to plan for regular maintenance so that your deck always remains safe to use.

The Bottom Line

A deck can a great outdoor space and extension of your home, especially if it is in good shape. It can be a perfect place for relaxing, getting together, and having a good time with friends and family.

It is important to inspect your deck regularly for signs of deterioration because time, weather, and lack of routine maintenance can take a toll on the structure.