Although wood is a poor conductor of heat, it can be damaged by the rays of the sun especially during hot summer months. If you fail to protect the wood, you will either have to replace it regularly or buy other patio furniture. The degree of damage and how often you need to protect the wood is determined by your location. Some places receive hot sun for a long period of time and regularly than other areas. Therefore, when the furniture is left outside without shade or for a long period of time, it is damaged.
How To Protect Your Wood Deck From The Harsh Rays Of The Sun?
The first thing you need to do is maintaining the structure of the wood deck. You need to strengthen your wood deck because when the wood is too soft or warn, it becomes susceptible to sun damage. The ultraviolet rays of the sun make a wood deck turn gray and this is not only a cosmetic problem (because of the wood’s appearance) but also a structural problem. You need to look for ways that you can use to strengthen and maintain the structure of your wood deck. For instance, you should not pressure wash your patio furniture because it weakens the wood thus causing splintering and/or cracking. When your wood deck starts to crack, it becomes vulnerable to other weather elements like moisture and it loses its structural integrity. Therefore, instead of pressure washing, use a gentle and a slow method to clean your furniture. You need to be very considerate about the cleaning products you are using because some contain harsh chemicals which weakens the wood. Alternatively, you can look for a professional cleaning company to clean the furniture for you especially if you don’t know the method or cleaning products to use. Professional companies usually hire qualified workers who know what they are doing. They are qualified, experienced and they have the right cleaning equipment and products for the job. If you don’t want to hire a professional company, you can do it yourself after researching the cleaning materials to use. There are numerous articles and video tutorials online that can help you do it right if you prefer cleaning your patio furniture.
Applying a deck finish that has UV protection is another option. When your wood deck is exposed to sun rays for a long period of time, it can dry out, shrink and retain water. This will eventually lead to cracking, swelling, rotting, warping or splitting. If you don’t want that to happen to your deck wood, apply deck sealants and stains every 1 to 2 years to protect it from moisture and heat. There are several UV prohibitiors that you can use to repair your wood deck if it is already sun damaged. Here are the options:
- Transparent/clear stains – they offer excellent UV protection, repel water and they are mildew resistant. The stain also retains the color of the deck and they are affordable to most people.
- Semi-transparent stains – these stains are also very good in UV protection. In addition, they repel water and resist mildew. They are a great choice if you are looking for a richer color.
- Solid stains – They offer maximum protection against UV water, mold, and mildew. However, they are costly although they are durable and retain the color of your wood deck.
Conclusion
If you don’t want to replace your patio furniture soon, you need to take necessary precautions to protect it from weather elements. Sun and water damage are the most common threats although you will also have to protect your wood deck from other potential threats like termite and ants.
