Deck owners face a number of environmental threats, such as long hours of sunlight exposure, harsh rains, high winds, wear and tear from repeated use, and much more. However, many people forget about the ever-present threat of mold and mildew. These fungus organisms tend to form in places that are dark and constantly damp: conditions which are frequently found in the structure of your deck. On this blog, we’ll explore why mold and mildew can be so damaging and what you can do to prevent them from harming your deck.

The Effects of Mold & Mildew

Mold and mildew in your deck should be treated with the same level of seriousness and urgency that you would show when you find these fungi in your own home: they can have the same damaging effects. For starters, both of these organisms require organic material to act as a food source in order to take root and spread, which includes wood. This makes mold and mildew extremely difficult to remove once it has taken root and also means it’s a contributor to wood rot, an issue which could result in your deck structure weakening significantly.

Mold and mildew both have other effects as well. For starts, they have a distinct, musty smell that’s difficult to mask or get rid of without getting rid of the substances completely. Likewise, while most of these fungi are harmless, black mold is toxic, and too much exposure could lead to serious health problems. You definitely wouldn’t want that around your home, family, children, patrons, or anyone who comes in contact with your deck.

Defending Against Mold & Mildew

So what can you do to get rid of these problems or prevent them from forming in the first place? Prevention is the most effective way of getting rid of mold, so the best thing you can do is thoroughly waterproof your deck . Sealing your deck and protecting it from water intrusion means you’ll deny mold spores one of the key components they need to take root and thrive: a water source. Thus, your deck will stay protected.

The next most important thing you should do is carefully inspect your deck for any cracks or areas where water may be able to penetrate down into your deck structure. Even a small crack can be enough for water to intrude and start causing mold to grow, so you should speak with a Los Angeles deck waterproofing and construction expert to inquire about resurfacing your deck and getting rid of a mold problem that may have emerged.

Finally, make sure your deck is properly sloped and that water flows in the direction you want it to. All decks should have some sort of a drainage system, so make sure no water can get stuck on your deck and accumulate into puddles (known as “ ponding ”), and be sure to get these spots repaired as soon as possible if you notice them.

Got a problem with your deck? Call Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing at (888) 508-2966 to request an estimate for your repair, waterproofing, and sealing services.

While most people think of rain as the biggest threat to decks, those in sunny Southern California know that perhaps nothing is harder on their deck every year than the long and brutal hours of exposure to the scorching sun. While the sun may provide our planet with life-sustaining warmth, it can be extremely harsh on anything that receives excessive amounts of exposure day after day. Combine that with our often triple-digit summer temperatures, and you have a recipe for deck damage that’s almost impossible to avoid.

If you’re sick of having to constantly resurface and re-treat your deck every year or two, then it’s important to learn why the sun is so harsh on your structure in order to understand what you can do to fight back against it. We’ll discuss these things on this blog.

How Sun Damage Occurs

There are many reasons why the sun is such a brutal force against your deck. For starters, the sun puts off more than just the visible light that illuminates our world: it also puts off extremely harsh radiation, including ultraviolet light, x-rays, and even gamma rays. These types of light are invisible to the human eye, but deal tremendous damage to whatever they pass through. Fortunately, our atmosphere filters most of this dangerous radiation out and reflects it back into space, but some of these rays still slip through and cause damage to nearly anything left in the sun, including your deck.

Second, the heat the sun provides is also a massive factor in terms of destroying your deck. When the temperature cranks up in the late spring, summer, and fall seasons here in Southern California, it dries out everything, causing all forms of moisture and oils to evaporate or crystalize. When things dry out, they become brittle, which causes them to become prone to cracking and breaking. This is important because the sun also causes materials to expand and contract each day. As objects and materials heat up, they expand and physically become bigger. When they cool off, they contract and shrink. When you combine a brittle, dry material with a constant grow-and-shrink pattern that occurs each day, it’s easy to see how cracks and other more severe damage can form over the warmest and driest part of the year.

Preventing Sun Damage to Your Deck

So, now that we know why the sun damages your deck so badly, what can we do about it in order to slow the process and prevent you from having to constantly re-treat and reseal your deck every year or two? While you’ll never be able to fully prevent sun damage to your deck, there are some things you can do to effectively combat the damage and slow the process to give you extra years of durability.

Choose Quality Materials
There are certain deck materials that are naturally more resistant to sun damage than others. Concrete decks, for example, tend to last much longer than a wooden deck, and that alone can make them a much better investment. Generally, you’ll only need to treat a concrete deck every five to ten years, versus every one to two for a wooden surface.

Paint Your Deck
Much like sunscreen protects your skin from sun damage, paint is a sort-of “sunscreen” for your deck. Specifically outdoor formulated paint is designed with ingredients and additives that are designed to reflect harmful radiation away from your deck, thus strengthening it and keeping it in good condition. However, never rely on paint alone to seal your deck: use it in tandem with a quality seal treatment in order to obtain the maximum protection.

Inspect Your Deck Regularly
One of the keys to preventing major sun damage is to regularly check your deck and look for weak spots that are starting to show signs of wear and tear and have these spots repaired quickly. Most major deck damage starts with just a small flaw that later grows and compromises your entire deck, so fixing these danger spots quickly can prevent you from having to completely re-seal or even rebuild your whole deck after just a few short years.

For information on high-quality deck sealing options, speak with the Los Angeles deck sealing experts from Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing! Call us today at (888) 508-2966 to request a service quote.

Rooftop decks have exploded in popularity over the last several years, particularly in urban centers like Los Angeles. When land is at a premium, most property owners don’t have the space to build a deck that’s easily accessible on a lower level, but the roof often sits completely unoccupied. As a result, building owners construct beautiful decks that are not only enjoyable to be on, but provide sweeping views of the area around them.

While these decks might seem like a great idea, there are challenges to building and maintaining these decks that most owners aren’t fully aware of. Here are just a few of those challenges that need to be taken into consideration when maintaining, upgrading, or building a new commercial rooftop deck.

Deck Usage

What do you want to do with your deck? Is it going to serve as a private lounge where you entertain only your highest clientele guests or those of your choosing? Or are you planning on using it as an open-air, elevated nightclub complete with a pool, open-air bar, tables, furniture, and more? If your deck is going to see a lot of use, you’re going to want to build it from more durable, long-lasting materials. This invariably means higher costs and more maintenance, especially if your rooftop deck also has a pool, spa, or other water fixture. Don’t forget, any leaks in your rooftop deck are also leaks into your building, which could do serious damage to the floors below.

Deck Height

How high off the ground is your rooftop? One story? Two stories? Or are you at the top of a sixty-plus story high-rise in the middle of downtown? This is something you need to strongly consider because it’s going to have an impact on what it takes to both construct and maintain your deck. If you’re looking to build a commercial deck on top of a high-rise building, you’ll need to make sure you have room to operate a crane in the vicinity that can lift the materials you need up to the rooftop. Odds are the building elevator isn’t going to have enough space to haul 20-foot joists up several hundred feet, or enough power to support several thousand pounds of concrete. Keep this in mind if you wish to build a new deck or even upgrade an old one to be better suited to commercial purposes.

Deck Drainage

Drainage is an important question if you’re going to be converting a commercial flat roof into useable decks pace. Decks cannot be perfectly flat; they must have at least a little bit of slope to them in order to allow water to reach drains and avoid puddling up in different spots, causing leaks. Not only that, but to even get your building cleared by inspectors, you’ll have to have this slope built in. Keep this in mind: if your roof slope isn’t right at the outset of your deck construction project, it’s going to cost you a considerable amount of extra time and money to ensure the proper slope and drainage is installed.

Deck Weight

If you’re building your deck on your roof, are you positive your roof can handle the extra weight? Concrete is heavy. Water is heavy. Furniture, decorations, glass, and other materials are all heavy. All of this adds up in terms of weight, and puts a lot of strain on your building’s structure. You may be tempted to use a lighter-weight material if structural limits are an issue, but lighter weight materials may not be able to handle the usage loads you’re throwing at them.

Commercial rooftop decks can all benefit from a thorough, regular waterproof service that ensures your deck remains leak-free and durable in all types of weather. Call Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing today at (888) 508-2966 to request a waterproofing service that’s tailored to your needs!

A deck can add tremendous value and use to your property, but only when they’re well-kept and in good working condition. Therefore, it’s important to make sure your deck is maintained and protected from factors that can influence its longevity. In fact, many of these factors are things your deck has to deal with every single day, which can make them hard to combat against. To help you better prepare for what can deal damage to your deck, here are some of the most common wear-and-tear factors that can influence your deck’s lifespan.

Rain/Moisture

Whether you have a wooden plank deck on your property or a solid commercial-quality cement deck, rain and moisture are always threats you’ll have to worry about. Rain can eat away and erode materials, causing them to wear out, become brittle, and eventually break down and collapse. While this is a much bigger problem with wooden decks, cement decks are not immune. Be sure to keep an eye out for one of the most common signs of rain and moisture damage: puddling or pooling, usually caused by uneven surfaces not allowing water to flow away properly.

Sunlight

Southern California is known for our long, harsh hours of sunlight, especially during the long summer days. The ultraviolet light that the sun emits can cause immense damage to just about anything you leave outside, including the surface of your deck. Even hard-surface decks will eventually succumb to the sun, including by fading and drying out, which can lead to cracking and serious structural issues with your deck.

Heat

Speaking of drying things out, the heat and generally dry air in Southern California can lead to all sorts of issues with your deck. Heat exacerbates the warping, wearing, and fading of wooden decks, causing the internal areas of wood to dry out along with the outside layers, eventually leading to rot, warping, and splintering. Heat changes are also an issue: your deck materials expanding and contracting throughout the day can eventually lead to their wearing out, cracking, and warping.

The best way to make sure your deck is ready to handle the stresses the environment can throw at it is to make sure it’s properly sealed and waterproofed by a Los Angeles deck waterproofing expert. Call Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing at (888)-508-2966  to request a quote and get your deck in top shape again as soon as possible!

Your deck is an extension of your home and living space, and like your home, it requires regular cleaning and upkeep to remain safe and comfortable. Composite and natural wood decks may have different requirements, but there are some basics for all decks. Here are some do’s and don’ts of deck care to keep in mind.

Deck Do’s

• Do give your deck a thorough annual cleaning. Your deck needs annual exfoliation to allow protective sealers to seep deeper into the wood of your deck. Choose a dry, moderately warm day to apply a material-appropriate deck-cleaning solution with a sprayer or roller. This will kill mold and bacteria that can speed the decay of your deck. A scrub brush can help the cleaner get into hard to reach spots and crevices to ensure that your whole deck is cleaned.
• Do cover surrounding plants before cleaning your deck. Cleaners and other chemicals can be hard on plants, so it is important to loosely cover them with plastic sheeting or tarps to prevent them from being sprayed. Avoid covering them too tightly, which might restrict air movement.
• Do sand your deck before applying sealer. After washing your deck, allow 48 hours for it to fully dry. Your next step will be to lightly sand your deck to remove splinters or damage due to pressure washing. A power sander may be too harsh, but 80-grit sandpaper should be enough. After your deck has been sanded, apply a sealer to prevent the wood from cracking, cupping, or warping. Tinted sealers and stains can wear down over time with traffic, but clear sealant will last longer.
• Do clean your deck regularly. In addition to your annual cleaning, you should keep your deck swept free of puddled water, leaves, branches, dirt, and other debris. In snowy areas, a plastic shovel can remove snow without damaging your deck.
• Do watch for damage. If your deck becomes damaged, it can become a significant safety hazard and lead to further damage. Inspect your deck regularly for soft or splintered spots, loose nails, boards, or railings, and split or rotten planks. Promptly repair damaged areas when discovered.

Deck Don’ts

• Don’t rely on a power-washer. While this can be an effective and quick way to clean our deck, it can also cause damage. If you do use a pressure washer, keep the stream moving whenever the trigger is moving. A garden hose with a hard stream setting should provide enough pressure to clean your deck without damaging it.
• Don’t use chlorine bleach on your deck. This can damage the cellular structure of your wooden deck and strip it of color. It also can harm the plants growing around your deck. Oxygen bleach is a safer alternative, but it still isn’t appropriate for redwood decks.
• Don’t use paint to seal your deck. New paint can look polished and clean, but it will distress very rapidly. If your deck was painted and you are looking to use a different sealant, you will need to sand off all the paint before you can refinish your deck. Synthetic sealants can prevent mold and mildew while protecting from sun damage and water damage.
• Don’t assume pressure-treated wood decks are maintenance-free decks. While pressure-treated wood can resist rot and insect damage, it still required sealant and cleaning. Be sure to use products intended for pressure-treated wood when protecting your deck from sun and water damage.
• Don’t use natural material rugs on your deck. It is important to prevent your deck furniture from scratching the surface of your deck, but natural fiber rugs such as jute and bamboo can absorb moisture and encourage mildew. Look for rugs made from recycled plastics for an eco- and deck-friendly solution.

Keep Your Deck In Shape with Los Angeles Deck Waterproofing Services – (888) 508-2966

With more than 30 years of experience, Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing can help you preserve the beauty and safety of your deck with a wide variety of waterproofing solutions. Let us help you refresh your deck, balcony, or outdoor stairs with our warrantied waterproofing services. Our Los Angeles deck waterproofing crews are available when you are, with weekend and after-hours scheduling available.

Request a quote today, and learn more about getting the most from your deck. Contact us by calling (888) 508-2966 .

Winter may be a favorite time of year for many Southern Californians, but it’s a particularly harsh time for your deck and other structures on your home. The high temperature fluctuations from the warmest parts of the day to the coldest times at night can cause a lot of expansion and contraction in deck materials, resulting in considerable wear and tear. This wear and tear is only accentuated by added moisture from dew, morning fog, and even rainy weather that we do occasionally receive during this season as well.

If your deck isn’t prepared for the winter months, it could sustain some serious damage that leads to major repairs and expensive maintenance costs. However, taking the time to give your deck a little bit of preventative care and maintenance can do wonders for preserving your deck and preventing this seasonal damage. Here are a couple of things you should consider doing before the weather starts getting too cold and the rains start to fall this winter.

Clean Your Deck

Whether your deck is made from wood, composite materials, concrete, or any other material, every deck could benefit from a good, thorough cleaning ever so often. Use a pressure washer to scrub down the surface of your deck and clear away any stains, mold, debris, or other imperfections that may have formed. Use a bleach-free cleaner to help with the tough spots, including stuck-on dirt, weathered wood stains, water rings, and more.

If the stain or finish surface on your deck has run its course and needs to be replaced, or mold and mildew have started to form on the surface, your pressure washer can help you remove the stain and prep the surface for re-finishing. This may take some time and effort, but making sure you get the job done right will help you achieve much better results.

Apply a Protective Finish

Once your deck has been washed down and any re-stain or re-surfacing has been completed (if necessary), it’s a good idea to apply a new protective finish. In a perfect world, a protective finish will last two to three years, but harsh summers and constantly-shifting temperatures mean you may need to re-apply this surface to your deck every year. You should also carefully consider how much use your deck sees on a regular basis: the more you use your deck, the more likely it is you’ll need to re-seal it to prepare it for the cold, wet winter months.

Call Capital Deck & Star Waterproofing today at (888)-508-2966 and let our Los Angeles deck waterproofing team prepare your deck surface for the cold, wet months ahead.

Whether it’s a brutal summer days with triple-digit temperatures or a rainy winter afternoon, Los Angeles is not a friendly city for decking. Replacing or rebuilding your deck can be extremely expensive, and yet our weather makes it particularly difficult for decks to last more than just a few years before they need a major service. However, there are several things you can do to increase your deck’s durability and longevity, helping it to last several additional years before it needs to be replaced, which saves you money in the long run. Here are four valuable deck maintenance tips to keep in mind with winter just around the corner.

Wash Your Deck

Regularly cleaning the dirt and debris off your deck using a pressure washer can prove extremely valuable. While water that sits stagnant can damage the wood, a good pressure washing can help remove any of the contaminants that are starting to sink in, keeping your deck clean and vibrant. Always make sure to keep the pressure stream moving to avoid accidentally damaging your deck.

Fix Popped Nails

Look around your deck for any signs of screws or nails that have come loose. Not only are these huge trip hazards but they’re a sign that your deck could be warping and starting to shift its shape. Carefully remove these nails with a hammer and then use a screw longer than that nail to re-attach the board back down to your deck.

Repair Split Boards

If you notice a board that has split or developed any major cracks, you should replace them. Not only do these cracks become a huge eyesore and make your deck look old and rickety, but they also could be a weak point in your deck. Carefully measure and cut a replacement board. Don’t worry if the new board appears to be taller than the rest: board shrink and even out as they lose their moisture.

Seal Your Deck

Any deck owner knows that you have to regularly seal and stain your deck in order to help it withstand the brutal wear and tear the elements place on it every day. Choose a quality water seal that not only resists things like mold and insects, but also offers UV protection to help keep your deck from being too heavily damaged by the sun. You can also choose a quality stain to help inject new life into your deck.

If you need your deck stained and sealed, trust the Los Angeles deck waterproofing professionals at Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing today! Call (888)-508-2966 to request an estimate.