The first hints of Autumn have arrived in western North Carolina. A powerful cold front brought the first snowflakes of the season to Mount Mitchell, ushering in the coldest air we have felt in Asheville since spring.
There are the slightest splashes of color on the ridges and even down in the valleys. We can expect the leaves to only become more vibrant as September fades into October.
As summer gives up its last grabs, the weather becomes perfect for people to enjoy the great outdoors. The nights are cool enough for bonfires and smores, while the days are warm enough for hiking, kayaking, and fly fishing. It is the driest season of the year, so your outdoor plans are less likely to be spoiled by rain.
Fall is the season for spending as much time on your back deck as possible. Here in the Asheville area, you can use your deck almost all year round.
Outdoor spaces are important here in western North Carolina. We are not people who like to be stuck inside. If you have a deck, you want to make sure it is around for the long haul.
The weather around here can accelerate the aging process for your outdoor surfaces. We can experience snow and ice any time from November through April. Spring and summer bring thunderstorms and hail, as well as the remnants of hurricanes from the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. It is vital to take steps to protect your deck.
Many are wondering which provides the best protection: seal, stain, or paint? We want to help answer that question in this article.
Is it Better to Seal, Stain, or Paint Your Deck?
Each method provides its own share of pros and cons. We will break them down and provide advice for what to do once you have chosen your method of protection.
Should I Seal My Deck?
There are many advantages to sealing your deck:
- Sealant is relatively easy to apply. You can have it done professionally, but it is a relatively simple DIY project.
- Sealant preserves the natural appearance of your deck.
- Sealing your deck helps protect it from moisture. Since Asheville receives about forty inches of rainfall every year, anything you can do to protect it from water is vital to its survival.
Some of the disadvantages to staining your deck include:
- The sealant will not last as long as paint. You will have to reapply as frequently as once per year.
- Sealants are not able to protect against ultraviolet light as effectively as paint.
- If you do not prepare the deck appropriately, you will likely have to reapply sealant even sooner.
Before you seal your deck, you must wait at least thirty days after it has been installed. You do not want to attempt to seal your deck after rain or during frost.
Should I Paint My Deck?
Painting your deck can be an effective solution to protecting it. Some of the advantages include:
- You have more choices in regard to color and style.
- You will not have to repaint as often as you would have to reapply sealant or stain. Paint lasts longer and is easier to maintain.
- You will have protection against moisture and UV light.
There are, of course, disadvantages to painting your deck:
- Painting your deck is significantly more expensive than applying stain or sealant.
- Painting your deck requires a significant amount of preparation. You will have to apply multiple coats.
- Painting your deck is the most difficult of the three applications.
Should I Stain My Deck?
Staining your deck may be something of a happy medium between sealing and painting. We know many folks definitely prefer this for caring for their fences, which weather similarly to decks.
Some of the advantages include:
- Stains have a more natural appearance than paint.
- Many stain products last longer than sealants.
- Stain is much easier to apply than paint.
The disadvantages to stain are similar to sealant:
- Some stains will have to be applied annually. However, there are stain products that can last five years or longer.
- Stains will likely have more UV protection than sealant but definitely less than paint.
- Stain is not as resilient as paint.
All three options will help protect your deck from the elements in western North Carolina. Once you have applied paint, stain, or sealant, you need to use the proper techniques to keep the deck clean.
How to Clean Your Deck: Pressure Washing or Soft Washing?
Pressure washing with high-pressure systems can strip your deck’s stain or sealant and chip its pain. We provide low-pressure house cleaning, sometimes known as soft washing, which is done using a biodegradable solution. This employs a 40-degree wide-angle nozzle and lower pressure per square inch (PSI).
This procedure and solution will remove mold, mildew, lichen, moss, and algae from your home’s surfaces, effectively cleaning and caring for them. Customers are frequently startled to see that the color of their homes and decks appears to be brighter.
If you want to bring back the shine to your deck, HydroClean is here to help. Contact us for deck cleaning solutions in the Asheville area.