Everyone loves a beautiful wood hardscape; the natural material adds a sense of warmth to any landscape design. However, as beautiful as these structures are, they’re not maintenance-free! Here’s what you need to know about caring for your wood hardscapes.
Any built-in feature of your landscape is considered a hardscape. For example, a paved patio, raised deck, and pergola are all considered hardscapes. Each of these hardscapes require some degree of maintenance to keep them looking their best and lasting as long as possible. Wood is one of the most versatile materials for hardscaping, but it also requires a little more maintenance than others. If your landscape design boasts some gorgeous wood hardscaping, read these checklists for deck and pergola care to keep them looking new as long as possible.
Most wooden hardscapes, but particularly decks, benefit from a thorough annual cleaning. Cleaning your deck takes a little elbow grease, but it’s so worth it to start the year off with a deck that looks as good as it did the year it was built! Here are the steps for your annual deck care routine:
Re-sealing and re-staining are key to proper deck care and should be done every few years. Our weather in Guelph is pretty hard on wood finishes, and it doesn’t take long before that gorgeous stain starts to look a little weather-beaten. Don’t be intimidated by the re-staining process; it’s easier than it looks, and the results are always worth the effort. If your deck looks like it’s ready for a refresh, follow these steps.
Allow a brand new, unsealed deck to stand and weather for two the three months before staining for the first time. If you’re re-staining, you only need to wait for about 48 hours after cleaning to allow the boards to dry.
Check the seal on the deck by pouring some water on the boards. Water will bead on a sealed deck and will absorb into the fibers if the deck needs resealing.
Fill in cracks or dings with wood putty and smooth it down with a putty knife.
Sand the deck (if you’ll be applying new stain) using a handheld orbital sander—but don’t forget to wear gloves, a dust mask, and eye protection! If you don’t own a sander, you can rent one from a hardware store. Choose 80 grit sandpaper, which is suitable for all areas of your decking. Areas that are too delicate for the orbital sander can be hand-sanded with sanding sponges. After sanding, use a shop-vac to remove as much dust as possible.
Protect your home and surrounding landscape with plastic sheets (you can also use cut-up garbage bags) and painter’s tape.
Purchase the right brushes for the job; natural bristles for oil-based products, and synthetic brushes for water-based products.
Paint the stain or sealant on, starting with the handrails and railing and external areas (such as on the outside of the deck, where there might be lattice or support beams).
Wait to stain or seal the surface decking boards until the sun is behind clouds or not very intense, such as in the morning or early evening. This will allow the product to absorb into the wood before it dries.
Roll the product onto the surface boards with a paint roller on an extension pole or a flat-pad applicator. Work slowly and fill in any sparse areas as you go with your stain brush.
Allow the product to sink in according to the instructions on the packaging; some products need you to remove excess with a rag.
Repeat the stain application if necessary.
Let the entire deck dry at least 24 hours before removing protective materials and repositioning your deck furniture.
If you’re lucky enough to have a pergola, you know how impactful they are to your overall backyard landscape design. However, like decks, wood pergolas are subject to the elements each year. Caring for wood pergolas is fairly similar in many ways to caring for wooden decking, but there are differences in their dimensions and construction that call for some specialized maintenance. Here are the necessary steps in your wood pergola care routine:
For any other questions about your wood hardscapes, including inquiries about repairs, get in touch with us at 519.824.4998 or email us at landscapeservices@royalcitynursery.com
