Home Exterior > Decks Cape Town

Installing a deck

Sundecks have become the preferred addition to many homes in South Africa. It is easy to see why an attractive wooden deck creates a unique space. A well-planned deck, is not quite an indoor, nor an outdoor entertainment area, it links your entertainment area and garden, enhancing the quality of both all year round.

A sundeck costs less to build than any other indoor room. Few home improvements can match a deck for the enjoyment it will add to your lifestyle, the utilization you will get from your deck and the value you will add to your home!

Here are a few tips on maintaining a wooden deck Annual maintenance is vital to keep a wooden deck looking good.

1. Use a screwdriver to remove debris. Reset or replace screws that protrude.
2. Apply specially formulated deck cleaners to remove gray wood fibers or sand with sanding paper
3. While deck is still wet, scrub with a stiff-bristled brush. Always work with the grain of the wood.
4. Wash deck using a garden hose with a spray nozzle or a pressure washer with a wide spray head.
5. If nails leave rust marks, countersink them below deck surface and remove rust with a dilute mixture of oxalic acid.
6. Let deck dry for two days before applying a clear wood preservative with ultraviolet-light inhibitors. Use a sprayer and roller to apply the product, then brush it in.

Newer decking material - Composite decks

Traditionally, pressure treated wood often has been used in the supporting framework for decking. For years this wood has been treated with a chemical containing chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which is now being phased out. New compounds make treated timber more user-friendly.

Composite decking materials truly have improved over the last decade. Most old problems like mold and rot have improved. It is important to find a product that has a good warranty in case of a problem.