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 .

Decks can be an extension of your living space, especially in sunny Southern California. A deck can serve as a gathering place for family and friends or place to relax, but that doesn’t mean that your deck shouldn’t be as stylish and well-designed as the rest of your home. Showcase your personal style and add interest to your deck with patterned designs.

Concrete decks can be painted, stained, or stamped with designs that can show off your creative side. Tinting agents can be used to color concrete surfaces to resemble stone, brick, marble, or other surfaces. If you are installing a new deck, consider pressing your concrete deck with a mold that can add an interesting or natural-looking surface. You can also inlay patterns, ceramic tile, or other small objects to draw attention to your home’s new addition. You can stain your deck with contrasting colors to create different areas or to direct attention to certain features of your yard. A well-planned deck can pull together the landscaping of your yard.

Wood decks can also be patterned. Paint colors and different shades of stain can be used to create patterns. The direction and shapes of boards can also be used to create geometric designs. Herringbone, chevron, basket weave, or diagonal patterns are popular designs for decks. If you are updating your deck or installing a new deck, you may want to explore your choices for a patterned deck. Paint or stain can be used to highlight the patterned inlay of your deck.

Patterns can be used to create visual interest, divide your deck into different spaces, such as a lounge or an activity area, or highlight features such as a pool, a planter, or a water feature. Decks can also be used to create illusions, such as making a small yard appear larger, or adding a natural element to a yard. Decks can also be used to replace lawns or water-intensive plantings to reduce your water usage. If you are looking for a unique way to upgrade your home, a patterned deck may be the solution.

Upgrade your home’s deck with our Los Angeles deck refinishing services . At Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing , we are backed by more than 30 years of experience creating and maintaining beautiful, long-lasting decks. We guarantee that all work performed by our fully licensed and certified contractors will meet your standards, and will last for many years to come. Our crews can even work after-hours and on weekends to ensure that we can meet your busy schedule.

Schedule a free, in-person estimate today! Contact our offices at (888) 508-2966 .

Protecting your deck from weathering and wear can help you protect your investment and can extend the life of your deck. Uncovered decks are particularly susceptible to weathering and will need to be treated more frequently than covered decks. High traffic areas will also wear more quickly, leaving you with an unevenly protected surface. When it comes time to refinish your deck, you will likely want to protect your deck with a long lasting solution. But is it better to paint or stain your deck? Learn more about your options for your deck’s protection.

Paint

Paint is a popular choice to protect your deck. It can offer more protection than stain and sealer, but it isn’t a good choice if you prefer a more natural look for your deck. Here are some pros and cons of painting your deck.

Pros:

• Paint comes in nearly any color you could desire. Paint is also solid, which means you can easily cover weathered wood.
• Paint can fill small gaps and cracks, and its thicker finish can help repair lightly damaged wood. There are even paints that are available for this very purpose.
• Paint can be easier to clean, depending on the color and finish of the paint. Good quality paint and proper application can create a lasting finish that allows dirt to wash off easily.
• Paint offers more protection for the wood of your deck. It can resist rot, mold, and sun damage.

Cons:

• Paint cannot easily be reversed. If you paint your deck, it can take an incredible amount of work to restore your deck to a state that can be stained.
• It can be difficult to find a color that is both complimentary to your home and looks good on a large, flat surface. Light colored paints can be easily stained with dirt, but dark colored paints can trap heat from the sun and be hot to walk on.
• Depending on the finish, paint can be slippery when wet. If your deck is uncovered, you may risk a slippery surface.
• Paint hides the natural grain of the wood, which can be a drawback if you have invested in a real wood deck.

Stain & Sealer

Stain and a quality sealer is another option to protect your deck. For real wood decks, this can be a popular choice because the natural grain of the wood remains visible. Find out more about the pros and cons of staining your deck.

Pros:

• Stain and sealer can showcase the natural beauty of your wood deck.
• Stain is less slippery than paint and protects the wood without laying on top to create a slick surface.
• Stain is easier to apply and can be more forgiving. If you are looking for a beginner-friendly way to protect your deck, stain can be a good option.
• Stain comes in a wide variety of colors, so you can find a tone that compliments your home’s exterior

Cons:

• Stain has a shorter lifetime than paint. The quality of stain and the number of coats applied can greatly impact how long the stain lasts.
• Stain is a thinner fluid, and won’t fill cracks or gaps the way paint will.
• Stain can provide a more natural finish, but this may be a negative trait if you are looking for a cleaner look.
• The color of the wood underneath the stain will affect the finished product, so you may have slight variations in your deck’s appearance.

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An unprotected deck can show wear and tear far more quickly, and the weathering your deck experiences may cause significant damage. Preserve your deck for years to come with our Los Angeles weatherproofing and resurfacing services . At Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing , we can help you protect the value of your home and increase the functionality of your deck. Our licensed and certified professionals can help you extend the life of your deck with high-quality and cost-effective options for your deck.

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As a homeowner, you’re probably well-aware of just how important it is that your property is water-tight in every necessary regard. Whether it’s your roof, your walls, the deck of your pool, or even your basement, water intrusion can lead to a lot of serious damage that can cost thousands to fix. However, did you know there’s an added value to a waterproofed property? It’s true, and it comes in your overall property value. A pool deck or outdoor staircase that has been appropriately waterproofed can actually increase the value of your home.

Make Your Home Look the Best

Any real-estate agent can tell you just how important it is that your home looks like it’s in great shape. The better it looks, the more reasonable your asking price will sound. Therefore, if a potential buyer comes to see your home and your yard looks unkempt, the roof looks old, and the area around your pool appears as though it has seen better days, odds are you’ll not only fetch a much lower bid, but you’ll probably reduce the number of bids you even see at all.

This is especially true with pool areas. When someone buys a house with a pool, they do so knowing that the pool in the backyard is going to be one of the highlights of the home: it’ll be what people want to see when they come over, where they host barbecues, and where they sit outside during the warm sunsets of summer. A pool that has been slammed with water damage and looks like it’s in no shape to host anything will likely scare off any buyers who are looking for a home that’s ready to go. And those who are willing to do the work are probably looking for a bargain.

The basement is also extremely important. While most homes in Southern California don’t have basements, houses in the hills tend to be built with their bottom floor into the hill itself, which could lead to potential water damage if the water is not directed away properly. Even a small crack could become a bigger problem overtime, so it’s important to do a thorough inspection every year (usually around the start of fall) to make sure any underground or in-ground areas are ready for any water they may see.

So if you’re looking into selling your home soon and you want to get top dollar for it, consider calling our Los Angeles deck waterproofing experts. Your buyers will love the great condition of the deck around your pool and you’ll be more likely to receive higher bids than a home with a shoddy, dull-looking pool area that’s in need of a face lift.

Call Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing today at (888) 508-2966 to request an estimate or schedule your deck waterproofing service!

If you ask someone from outside of Southern California what life is like here in the Los Angeles area, they’ll probably give you a pretty stereotypical answer: the weather is always nice, everyone lives next to a movie star, and there’s a swimming pool in every backyard. While none of these are true, two of them are actually fairly common, including the one about swimming pools. You’ll find pools in all shapes and sizes all over the Los Angeles area, and they all have just one thing in common: they have a deck that surrounds them.

The deck around your pool is actually one of the largest contributing factors to the dangers that pools present. Your homeowner’s insurance company will likely beat you over the head with warnings about drowning accidents, but the deck around your pool is likely the single biggest contributor to these accidents. This is because when your pool deck gets wet, it gets slippery, and when it gets slippery, the odds of you slipping, falling, becoming injured, and then falling into the water increase dramatically.

Believe it or not, something you have to do periodically can actually help combat this from becoming an issue, however. By waterproofing your pool deck properly, you can reduce the chances of someone slipping and getting hurt on the deck of your pool.

When you waterproof your deck, you will have the option to also include a slip or skid-resistant material to the sealant mix. Generally, these materials are very finely-ground polymers which have the consistency of fine sand, which when added to your sealant, creates a textured surface. This surface will last as long as the waterproofing seal over your deck, and provide you with a texture that is much easier to grip, whether on shoes or bare feet. This method is generally the longest-lasting option.

However, if you have recently sealed your deck but now want to add the slip-resistance of one of these materials, you have another option as well. Your water proofer can also add another thin layer of sealant to your deck and then coat it with a fresh layer of the polymer material. This will provide you with similar grip and slip resistance while preventing you from having to completely re-seal your deck. Some contractors actually combine both of these methods for maximum grip retention.

If you have a pool in your backyard, you need to make sure your deck is appropriately waterproofed. Call Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing today at (888) 508-2966 to request an estimate and find out what kind of non-skid material treatments we can add to your sealing today!

Swimming pools are a popular property addition here in California, and odds are you’ll probably be heading to one this summer in an effort to beat the heat. This means summertime is the peak season for swimming pool use, and these next few months will likely mean abuse from both repeated use and brutal exposure to the elements that a blistering Los Angeles summer can provide. One of the best ways to make sure your deck can survive this period is to prepare it. Here are a few things you can do to both improve your deck’s look and help it survive summer in better shape.

Resurfacing

It may not be the cheapest method of preparing your deck for summer, but removing the old, boring surface and replacing it with a new, sparkling surface is a great way to both add value to your property and make your deck more durable and prepared for summer. Outdoor and pool deck tiles are manufactured to withstand decades of heat and sun exposure as well as repeated water contact. There’s no better way to overhaul your backyard than a full or even a partial resurfacing job.

Staining

If your deck surface is still in usable condition but has started to fade or appear bland after years of sun exposure, staining the surface can help in two ways. On one hand, it makes the entire surface appear and feel new, and on the other it also re-seals your surface, giving it an added degree of durability that will last for years going forward when done properly. This option also isn’t terribly expensive either, and could be what you need to bring your deck back to life this summer.

Crack Repair

After a while, water damage, shifting earth, and repeated use can lead to cracks in cement or concrete deck surfaces. These cracks may not appear to be that big of a deal, but after a while they tend to grow and chip, becoming an eyesore. When this happens, a low-budget option for repairing your deck is to simply fill these cracks and re-seal them off. Doing this and combining it with a new stain can make an old, worn deck appear brand new again, and increase its ability to withstand the harshness of summer use and pummeling from sunlight.

Epoxy Coating

Is your cement or concrete deck painted? This practice is becoming highly common when homeowners want their pool deck to match the exact color of their house or theme of their backyard. After just a few short years, even the most durable of outdoor pants will begin to fade or chip away if left exposed. However, an epoxy sealer coat can help keep the color of your deck vibrant and protected for decades. This is also a particularly easy, low-budget option to revitalize your pool area and get it ready for the long months of heat and water exposure ahead.

If your pool area needs resurfaced, re-sealed, or repaired, trust the Los Angeles deck waterproofing experts at Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing ! With over 30 years of experience in the industry, we have performed countless numbers of jobs and obtained a reputation for an unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. We are family-owned and operated, and we are so confident you’ll be satisfied with the results of our work that we back up each job we perform with a warranty. We are even available for after-hours and weekend service appointments!

To receive a free estimate, call Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing now at (888) 508-2966 !

In Los Angeles alone, there are more than 43,000 swimming pools, which means there are more than 43,000 swimming-pool decks . Many pools have concrete decks, which inevitably crack. Other pools, such as rooftop pool decks, are built over wood. Water can be relentless and destructive. If it can get into the smallest space within your deck, eventually you will have a bigger space. One of the reasons it’s so important to waterproof your pool deck is that consistent pool use will always get water everywhere.

Concrete is very porous, which is why waterproofing a pool area is vital. Not only will pool use expose the concrete to water, but it will also protect the surface from chlorides and other harmful pool chemicals. If you have children, some waterproofing products can even improve traction, which can protect you and your kids from slips and falls.

Wood decks are also particularly vulnerable to water. Not only is wood porous, but it tends to be softer, allowing water to erode it more quickly. Wood is also a natural material, meaning that once it’s wet, it is more likely to attract mold and mildew, which will quickly rot the wood. Wood also warps more visibly, which could make walking on it more dangerous and aesthetically displeasing.

Whether you have a wood or a concrete deck, waterproofing will preserve your pool area longer and keep it looking new for years. It will also save you money on later deck repairs. Do the smart thing and waterproof your pool deck today. Contact our Los Angeles deck & stair waterproofing team today. We have more than 30 years of experience with improving pool decks across Southern California. Call us at (888)-508-2966  or fill out our online form to get a free quote.

No matter what type of deck you have, wood or concrete, it is important to have it waterproofed as soon as you have it installed. By doing this, you will avoid future headaches and costly repairs. Even though it may not rain as much in Los Angeles, the fact of the matter is that there are still external elements that are going to affect your decking. Taking the extra step to waterproof your outdoor space can save you time and money in the long run.

Waterproofing: It’s Not Just for Wooden Decks

Many people mistakenly believe that their concrete deck is immune to the weather. Just because it is not made of wood does not mean that it cannot still get damaged. While concrete may be more sustainable and less susceptible to water damage, it is still very much at risk.

How Does the Damage Occur?

If you have any cracks in your concrete deck, the water can seep down into the cracks and result in damage. When temperatures dip down low during the fall and winter, the moisture trapped down in the cracks can begin to freeze, causing the cracks to expand. The more cracks that begin to develop and the more water that gets settled into your deck, the greater the amount of structural damage that can occur.

Think of it this way. If the water has nowhere else to go, it will continue to settle below the deck and start softening the ground that the deck is built on. Eventually, when people walk on the deck, the pressure that is created on the softer spots of soil can cause the deck to crack. Once these cracks have built up, the cost to fix all of them can become high. In some cases, you may need a new deck entirely.

Take preventative measures now and waterproof your deck. At Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing, we offer free estimates so that we can accurately give you an idea of the work that is needed and help to create a plan that is right for you.

Call (888) 508-2966 today to speak with our Los Angeles deck waterproofing specialists . We have 30+ years of experience in the business.

Outdoor decks – particularly those around pools – can develop puddles of water and become a dangerous slip hazard. Since leisure decks , pool decks , and walking decks are constantly exposed to the elements and are frequently high-traffic areas, special attention must be given to ensure their safety and minimize the potential for unwanted falls, trips, and skids.

One of the most common and cost-effective ways that homeowners and business owners can improve the grip of these surfaces is through a slip-resistant deck coating. From concrete epoxy coatings to textured sealants, these coatings come in different varieties and can greatly improve the traction of your deck’s surface. Depending on your needs and aesthetic preferences, nonslip coatings can be mild, coarse, colored, or clear, allowing you to improve both the safety of your deck and its visual appeal.

Additionally, texture sealing your deck can help provide protection against possible mold growth or chlorine damage. When decks are first built, particularly wood decks, they often come uncoated and are left up to the property owner to have sealed. Having your deck properly coated with a slip-resistant sealant can help it to withstand the elements and increase its life.

Whether your property features a wood, concrete, or stone deck, a slip-resistant deck treatment can do wonders to minimize your potential liability and refresh your space. At Capital Deck & Stair Waterproofing, our knowledgeable and friendly Los Angeles flooring specialists can help you choose and install a coating that best fits your property’s needs. With more than 30 years of industry experience and a satisfaction guarantee on all of our work, you can choose us with confidence to provide the quality workmanship and dependable service you need.

Call (888) 508-2966 or request a free estimate online today to get started.