Telltale Signs It’s Time to Repair Your Walking Deck

Telltale Signs It’s Time to Repair Your Walking Deck

A walking deck offers comfortable outdoor space and encourages movement around your property. Over time, however, it will begin to show wear and tear from foot traffic, weather, and other factors. Here are a few signs that will tell you when it’s time to make repairs.

Cracks, Chips, and Crumbling

bandaid on concrete crack

Perhaps the most obvious sign that your deck needs repair is the appearance of cracks, lines, chips, and other visible damage. As the concrete, stone, tile, or other deck material begins to physically wear down, it becomes vulnerable to breakage—not just from accidental impacts, but also from normal, regular use. Professional repairs and resurfacing can easily correct most of such cases.

Discoloration and Stains

Even if the materials appear to be strong and fully intact, discoloration and staining from spills, water damage, mold, and other natural growth can harm your curb appeal. Fortunately, so long as the deck is still structurally sound, professional resurfacing can restore it to its original beauty.

Some stains may also be a red flag for worse damage in the future. Water spots could be a sign that water damage will eventually weaken your deck. Likewise, dark or colorful spots could indicate mold or lichen growth that can break down the materials and even pose health risks to people. Deck surface waterproofing can help you prevent these issues in the future.

concrete

Shifting and Erosion

If heavy rains, flooding, or other moisture soften the ground beneath your deck, things can go south quickly. Not only can your deck begin to crack and shift, it can also lose important support through soil erosion.

If water begins to weaken the ground beneath your deck, shift the materials, or even leak under the deck and into the foundation of your building, time is of the essence. Get it fixed before things get worse.

An Increase in Trips, Slips, and Falls

As a business owner, you take on liability for injuries that may occur on your property. If you’ve got a walking deck around a building and your customers or employees are starting to report injuries related to the deck’s condition, repairs should be done as soon as possible.

Uneven pavers, broken pieces of concrete, and other issues can be major trip hazards, even if they seem small to the naked eye. DIY workarounds may help for a short time, but you should ultimately have your walking deck repaired professionally to keep your guests and staff safe—and to avoid the risk of injury lawsuits.

Get Expert Walking Deck Repair Services from Capital Deck & Stair

At Capital Deck & Stair, we correct all sorts of deck issues, from hairline cracks to major damage. Our expert technicians will perform the necessary repairs to make your deck functional and beautiful again, and then help you protect it with a waterproof deck coating for years of future use.

For top-notch walking deck repairs and professional deck waterproofing in Los Angeles, call us today at (888) 508-2966.

Common Culprits of Deck Deterioration

The Common Culprits of Deck Deterioration
cracked concrete

When you invest funds in an outdoor deck, you want its beauty and structure to last as long as possible. To prevent cracking, staining, and other damage, make sure you protect it properly against these major contributors to deck deterioration.

Moisture and Water Damage

Rain, spills, pool water, and humidity can wreak havoc on your deck, especially if it’s made from a porous material. Sitting water can create unsightly stains, while water that leaks underneath your deck can lessen its stability and leave it vulnerable to cracking by eroding and shifting the soil. Regular exposure to water can eventually break down the material and wear down the deck’s structure.

Even if your deck appears to be dry, excessive moisture in the materials can lead to the growth of mold and/or mildew, creating gray-green splotches that may not be fully removed by surface cleanings. Over time, these molds actively help break down porous materials, further undermining your deck’s integrity.

Daily Sun Exposure

Unless your deck is fully shaded, it’s likely to be bombarded with a lot of sunlight. Certain stones, tiles, bricks, and other materials can eventually fade in the sun, leaving what was once a bold and lively deck looking pale and weathered. A pool deck that is constantly getting wet and drying out under the hot sun may also be at a greater risk of cracking due to the fast evaporation of water.

sunset through clouds

Los Angeles commercial waterproofing contractors like Capital Deck & Stair can apply a specialized UV coating to your deck that will slow the damaging effects of sunlight. As a bonus, the deck won’t absorb as much heat, making it easier to go barefoot!

Wear and Tear from Regular Use

Even if your deck is well protected upon installation, it will eventually wear down and need some sort of maintenance or repair simply due to normal use. Surface chips, scratches, stains, and other minor issues can add up over time, ultimately requiring professional restoration.

This kind of deterioration is just part of deck ownership. Obsessing over it will only hamper your enjoyment. If you focus on regular maintenance and accident prevention, you should have plenty of time before you ever need to have your deck repaired, resurfaced, or resealed.

Protect Your Deck with Professional Waterproofing and Sealing

The professional residential and commercial waterproofing contractors at Capital Deck & Stair are masters of deck resurfacing, waterproofing, and sealing. Whether you’ve got a brand new deck to protect or an old deck that you want to be restored to its former glory, we have the tools and expertise you need to get great-looking, long-lasting results.

Our services aren’t just for homeowners—businesses looking for Los Angeles commercial waterproofing services can trust our technicians to provide quality service and protect decks of all kinds from damage, even in areas of heavy foot traffic.

Call (888) 508-2966 to discuss how we can help you keep your deck in great shape for as long as possible.