Why You Need to Waterproof Your Walking Deck

No matter what kind of commercial property you have, a walking deck is a great way to create a beautiful outdoor space for clients, customers, and employees. Even with a protective roof or awning, however, exposure to the elements can wear your walking deck down all too soon. Here are just a few reasons why deck surface waterproofing is so important.

It Protects Structural Integrity, Extending the Life of Your Deck

When water penetrates down into porous deck materials (certain types of rock, tile, concrete, etc.), it begins to physically break down the material, undermining its strength and durability. Once the structure of the material is sufficiently weakened, problems like cracks, chips, and crumbling can start to appear.

While hairline cracks and other slight damage may be able to be filled or repaired, more severe damage could require total demolition and reinstallation of your walking deck. By applying a waterproof deck coating, you can keep the materials durable for much longer.

Walking Deck Damage Could Pose a Risk of Injury to Guests and Patrons

When you’ve got a walking deck, you can expect people to—you guessed it—walk on it! As such, water damage poses risks not just to your deck but also to the people who use it. Broken, uneven, or shifting portions of deck could lead to slips, trips, and falls on your property. A person could be seriously injured—and you’d be liable for it.

It Keeps Your Property Looking Beautiful and New

Water spots, stains, cracks, and other wear and tear on your deck aren’t great for your building’s aesthetic. Not only does damage negatively affect your property’s curb appeal, but it can also leave patrons with a negative image of your company’s standards and affect your public reputation. Keeping your walking deck free of water stains and mold growth also makes it a more pleasant place for your employees, clients, and business partners to walk and talk.

Water Damage on Your Deck Could Lead to Problems Elsewhere

In some cases, like when your deck is exposed to heavy rain or flooding, water can flow down into damaged areas and beneath the deck, leading to shifting and erosion of the land underneath. If that water manages to leak into your building or erode the area under the foundation, your problems can quickly become much worse (interior water damage, mold, etc.).

Protect Your Walking Deck with Waterproofing from Capital Deck & Stair

If you’ve got a walking deck, pool deck, or another type of deck somewhere on your commercial property, make sure you protect your investment and the people who use it by having it professionally waterproofed. At Capital Deck & Stair, we provide expert sealing, coating, and waterproofing services for concrete walking decks, pool decks, garage floors, stairs, and much more.

To learn more about the benefits of professional deck sealing or request a free estimate for walking deck waterproofing, call us at (888) 508-2966 today.

The Hazards of Having Mold and Mildew on Your Deck

The Hazards of Having Mold and Mildew on Your Deck

Mold and mildew are ugly little fungi that latch happily onto all kinds of porous and non-porous materials (stone, concrete, tile, etc.), thriving best where it’s especially damp. With an outdoor deck, rain, swimming pools, humidity, and other moisture can easily leave your deck susceptible to these frustrating microorganisms.

Don’t be tempted to write these intruders off as harmless. The following are just some of the hazards posed by a moldy, mildew-covered deck.

They Can Threaten Your Deck’s Integrity

Although mold and mildew appear to exist purely on the surface of your deck, they’re likely causing deeper damage than you realize. Unless your deck is made from a truly non-porous material or has been properly sealed and protected, the microscopic roots of the fungi will reach down beyond the surface.

In nature, mold and mildew play the important role of helping to break down decomposing organic matter. Unfortunately, because mold and mildew need very little to grow, most deck materials have sufficient nutrients to keep them plenty happy. As the fungi do what they naturally do on your deck, the integrity of the material will eventually begin to break down, making it vulnerable to chips, cracks, crumbling, and other damage.

Mold and Mildew Are Hazardous to Human Health

Even if you don’t care about the appearance of your deck, you should be aware of the risks that significant mold and mildew exposure can pose to human health. Almost any type of mold can cause some problems for individuals with allergies, asthma, and other sensitivities, but certain groups—like the genus Aspergillus—can produce dangerous toxins and cause serious illness and infection.

Mildew is technically a type of mold, but it prefers flat surfaces and tends to affect plants the most. It’s considered less harmful than other types of mold, but its spores can certainly create breathing problems if they are inhaled, especially in those with already poor respiratory health.

They’re Not Great for Your Property Value

Some of the hazards posed by these fungi are more financial than physical. In addition to the structural and surface damage that mold and mildew can cause your deck, their appearance alone can be a major hit to your property’s curb appeal. They can spread quickly across the surface of your deck, creating unsightly gray, green, and black splotches that can be tough to eliminate without fungicides that penetrate into the material to kill the roots. If you’re trying to sell your home or commercial property, this can be a big drawback.

We Strive to Be One of the Best Waterproofing Companies in Los Angeles, CA

As professional waterproofing contractors in Los Angeles, we at Capital Deck & Stair help home and business owners throughout the area protect their patios, pool decks, and other outdoor spaces from the damaging effects of moisture, mold, and mildew. Call us today at (888) 508-2966 to learn more about how our residential and commercial waterproofing, resurfacing, and sealing services can keep your deck beautiful and functional for years to come.

Source:

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aspergillosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369619