Clean wood deck regularly

Dear Martha: What is the best procedure for getting a deck ready for the summer?

A: Preparing a wood deck for the summer is an easy task as long as you inspect and maintain it throughout the year. The condition of any outdoor surface depends largely on the kind of weather it has to endure. Heavy rain and snow, an accumulation of wet leaves, and strong sunlight all take their toll.

But there are ways to protect your deck. First, take a good look at it. If you haven't cleaned it since the beginning of last summer, odds are it needs some attention. To wash your deck, first use a sturdy broom to sweep off leaves, twigs or other debris. Using an old saw blade or putty knife, clean out anything caught between the boards.

Next, hose down the deck using a medium spray (not a concentrated stream), and scrub the surface with a moderately soft brush (stiff bristles may scratch the surface) on a long handle, so you can work standing up. Use strokes that run parallel with the boards.

For tough stains, use water mixed with a detergent or a household cleaner. If the wood is mildewed, scrub it with a mixture of one part bleach and three parts water or a wood cleaner that contains a mildewcide.

Once the deck is clean, look for nails that may have come loose over the winter. Replace them with galvanized, all-purpose deck screws, which are not as likely to pop out of wood as nails; drive these in close to the old nail holes. Use a wood filler in the holes, and sand smooth if necessary. If more serious repairs are needed, such as replacing a splintered or warped board, make them before the damage worsens.

Finally, coat the deck with a water-based waterproofing sealer using a paint roller with an extension handle; applied once a year, this will help preserve the natural beauty of the wood and prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Choose a sealer that contains an ultraviolet protector to help block the sun's damaging UV rays, which can attack wood fibers and turn the wood gray. Begin applying the sealer on the part of the deck nearest the house and work your way out.

But before you seal your deck, check the weather forecast; it's important that it not rain two days before and after, so the wood is completely dry when you seal it, and so the sealer can dry thoroughly after it's applied. Throughout the summer and fall, sweep your deck frequently to remove leaves and other debris; in the winter, shovel off the snow after a storm.

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