Tips For Deck Remodeling Charles County Experts Say Will Definitely Enhance Your Outdoor Enjoyment

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By Rebecca Perry


Decks are selling points Realtors point out to prospective buyers when they are showing houses for sale. Too often those decks become repositories for toys, sports equipment, and items that don't belong in the house. It is possible to have decks that are places where the family enjoys spending time, eating alfresco, and relaxing after a hard day at work or school. You can do a deck remodeling Charles County experts say will have the whole family enjoying the outdoors, and you won't have to break the bank to do it.

It does not matter what material your balcony is made of. It's still on the outside and subject to all kinds of weather conditions. The best investment you can make is refinishing the surface before doing anything else.

You don't have to be a professional to handle this project. You will need a pressure washer to completely clean the surface before you do anything else. It will take a few days to dry completely. Once it's dry, the next step is to apply the stain.

You have several types of stain to choose from, solid, penetrating, or clear. Penetrating stains must be recoated every few years to keep them looking good. That fact makes this choice more labor intensive. On the other hand, if you choose a penetrating stain, you will not have to strip it before reapplying it like you would with a solid stain. You will need several days of dry weather in order to do this job.

If your outdoor area has posts and railing, it's not unusual for them to start to feel unstable and wobbly after a few years. They are usually attached to a single rim joist that will flex when weight is applied to it. If this is what you've got, you need to reinforce the joists by screwing a block to them to keep them from moving. You'll be surprised at how much more solid the railing feels.

If your outdoor space is uncovered, you probably won't be using it much during the hottest times of the year. Adding an awning or canopy is pretty affordable and will make the deck much more usable. You might consider lattice work instead of a solid covering. You can plant climbing greenery over the lattice to create a cozy and natural arbor. You will enjoy grilling and eating outside much more with the addition of a cover.

If the idea of an awning does not appeal to you for some reason, you might install a moveable umbrella. This can be a good idea if you live alone and don't need to completely shade your outdoor space. All you need is some galvanized plumbing pipe straps. You mount several around the railing.

After the straps are mounted, you just insert the umbrella pole into one of them until the bottom touches the deck. You can move your umbrella around the space as needed. Built-in lighting on steps and stairs is a fairly easy project that doesn't require an electrician. Mounting planters to your railing will add a nice touch of green to your outdoor space.




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