Here in the Pacific Northwest, or the Pacific Northwet as a friend of mine called it, we inspectors see many decks that have some decay present. If the structural lumber is pressure treated then often that will be okay. However the flat surface wood decking boards will frequently have a soft/decayed surface that can even be unsafe. I have known people to step on a deck and go right through -- one leg hanging lower than another. The flat surfaces are the most exposed and, when rain hits, the water will soak into the wood. And, over time, that causes rot. Carefully cleaning as required, and treating the deck surface, can help prolong the decking boards. When you see vertical cracks in the decking, rain will soak in and that will cause rot quite rapidly. When you see moss and algae, that is a sign that rot will not be far behind. Speaking of rot not being too far behind. Here are a couple photos that are typical. Wood will rot at moisture levels of twenty percent and above so, needless to say, keeping exterior wood from rotting in the northwest takes careful planning and maintenance. Thanks for stopping by, Steven L. Smith
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Steven, I see a lot of this myself as a lot of the old CCA lumber decks are now approaching the end of their service lives...
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I cannot begin to count the number of decks that I wouldn't walk on or permit buyers to walk on. What amazes me is the number of listings with deteriorating decks on the market. It's like I've said many times, "there are no property defects - - until a prospective buyer finds it".
I used TREC when I built the deck on my home in 2006. It gets dirty but gives long life.
A deck is more work than people think especially if its a larger one, moving to Manhattan and now living in a condominium building is a blessing sometimes because we don't have to deal with these types of maintenance issues anymore!
Then people make the mistake of pressure washing to "clean" the wood. That ruins it...
Steven,
Decks are wonderful, but they can also be a money pit, and a safety hazard.
Rich
The average life expectancy of a wood deck is approximately 15 years. Rarely are decks properly maintained.
Every year serious injuries and deaths occur due to deck failure by heavy occupant loads.
Very kindly,
Croakster
There are sooooo many issues with decks. I spend a lot of time looking over a deck when one is present.
Howdy and Morning Steven
In this area its not so much rain that affects decks, its the snow fall, and the ice and salt combination. And alot of folks don't take the time to clean their deck in the swpring.
Hello Steven - Thanks for the great information. we have lots of decks down here and I see rot like that all the time. Thanks again.
Steven...what would you suggest for folks trying to keep wood rot from happening...especially in a moist climate? Also...down here in Texas we see a lot of sun. I know keeping a sealant on the deck is helpful in keeping the wood from drying out...but would love some suggestions on what materials to use in the first place and what my clients can do for their current decks to keep them functional and beautiful....
Great post!
Claire,
What to put on the deck also involved knowing what the wood surface is. Some people used pressure treated lumber but around here 5/4 cedar is common. People think that cedar never rots but fact is that it does. Especially once it starts splitting and retaining moisture. As far as decking, I suggest putting a quality preservative on it as recommended by a decent paint store in your area. Then keep it clean of fungus and re-coat it as necessary. And, as some boards develop splits or turn green, check the wood and replace it when that is required. As far as specific products, Consumer Reports recommends these products: Cabot Decking Stain; Olympic Water Repellent Deck Stain; Benjamin Moore Moorwood Clear Wood Finish.
Hi Steven,
Thanks for the informative post. Decks are so common in my market, it certainly is important to give them a close look!
all the best...
Steven, we also find that a lot of people think Cedar never has problems. Thanks for the post.
I appreciate all your helpful topics on inspection. In Oklahoma when it rains it comes down for a short period in buckets. We also have a significant problem with termites. When you take rotted wood on a deck and these little buggers, it is equivalent to a pest smorgasbord.
Love the pictures along with the explanation! I've seen this a lot around here. A little preventative maintenance goes a long ways.
Steven,
Decks represent a significant cost and I'm surprised to see that many homeowners allow the wood to deteriorate, when appropriate precautions are available.
Brian
Modern "new growth" cedar products have only slightly better protective properties against decay/rot than other types of wood.
Those are good recommendations for deck stains Steve. Anything that has UV resistancy along with waterproofing properties is the most recommended. Cabot's is expensive, but considered by many to be the best.
Like anything I guess, it takes upkeep/maintenance. Worth it if you love your deck!
Patricia/Seacoast NH
Decks are loved by men, I think. The decks get larger and larger and I always wonder what people think they're going to do with that huge deck. I guess you guys visualize a party with lots of happy people standing around. I also see lots of poorly maintained decks.
Nice article, Steven.
If you don't mind, I'd like to add my two cents....
How to properly maintain your deck.
I used to build homes in the Northwest and decks were a constant headache for callbacks. And many installers don't do the installation of the coated boards correctly, so you still have problems.
Hello Steven,
Thanks for the informative post on decks. Decks are common in our area. Many people are installing trex decking, especially in the new homes.
Chris
I see constant problems in decks, from completely installed properly to rot and safety issues. Like the picture shown uses nail, where I would prefer to see deck screws. With little tips like this it will make you look further into the deck for more problems as small problems lead to bigger problems
That's a great article David! Trex is very popular around here. It is manufactured not far from where I live.
Steven,
Definintely decks are wonderful things...but you are right they need to be maintained....and if you are considering a new deck or replacement, consider a trex like product!