Summer Outdoor Living: How to Maintain Your Patio or Deck

When the warm months arrive, we all want to get outside and enjoy our outdoor living spaces. Whether you have a patio, deck, or a combination of the two, we have some tips to help you clean, maintain, and get the most life out of your favorite summertime spot.

Wood Decks

• Seal or stain the wood. Repeat the process of sealing or staining your deck every three years, depending on the severity of your winters and summers. Additionally, choose a sealant or stain for your type of wood and what your deck endures. If it gets hit with full sun all summer long, and nothing but rain all winter, you’ll want something with UV as well as mildew protection. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper application.
• Pressure wash your deck early summer. Be careful. You only want to remove mold and dirt. Therefore, use low pressure. When you’re done and the deck is dry, sweep away the leftover dirt and mold spores.
• Sweep the deck every week. You can also use a leaf blower. The idea is to remove dirt and vegetation to prolong the life of your deck.
• Tighten loose screws and boards. Anytime you run across a loose screw or board, tighten it down. This will ensure wood is not rubbing and water cannot get into unwanted areas.

Patios, Bricks, and Pavers

• Sweep regularly. Or use a leaf blower to remove dirt, vegetation, and other debris. As these accumulate, they can create layers. Those layers then make your patio look dingy. Over time, it can break down bricks, cement, and pavers.
• Pressure wash. But be careful to only remove dirt and other debris. Using the highest PSI (pounds per square inch) setting on your pressure water can damage even the toughest concrete. That water can also remove your sealant.
• Use a sealer. Depending on the severity of your winter and summer, you may need to re-seal the concrete or bricks every three years. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for proper application.
• Replace broken or chipped bricks or pavers. This will keep water from seeping in and dirt building up. Plus, it just looks nicer.
• Use polymeric sand between pavers. This special, fine sand helps keep out weeds and is tough enough to keep ants, wind, and water from eroding it quickly.

Artificial Wood Decking

• Give it a good cleaning. Every summer, clean your plastic or composite decking with a combination of soap, water, and elbow grease. Use a soft bristle to remove dirt and other debris, then rinse everything away.
• Spot clean regularly. While most artificial or composite decking is stain resistant, they can develop discoloration over time. Simply clean your deck like you would a kitchen floor to help maintain the beauty and longevity.

Get Your Summer Cooking at Coastal

You’ll find everything your country, and your patio or deck, needs at Coastal. That includes grills, garden gnomes, pots and plants, as well as patio furniture, swings, and a lot more. Have a question about your patio or deck, including what you need to give it a certain bit of country charm? Just ask. Our employees live the country lifestyle just like you.