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Editor's Note: Tom McNulty's articles and reviews poke fun at the stereotype of the housekeeping-challenged male, while offering useful tips for men — and women — everywhere.
We enjoy the great outdoors to the utmost on our decks and patios. Your deck will probably require a few annual Strategic MANeuvers to keep it clean, safe and suitable for both entertaining and relaxing.
Most decks are made of wood, a renewable resource. Unfortunately, wood decks also mean there’ll be some renewable chores you should handle in the spring or early summer.
Just as it did as a tree in the forest, wood soaks up water if you don’t clean and seal it regularly. Do this once a year, but only after an annual inspection. Ideally in the spring, before big-time deck season begins, take a cursory look-see as you walk over your deck’s entire surface.
- You’ll spot the most obvious problems visually, and you can feel others with your feet: loose nails, warping planks and boards that seem “bouncy” underfoot. All these need to be tightened down with screws or nails.
- If you notice a spot that looks overly worn, poke it with a screwdriver. If the tool goes right through the wood, it’s dry rot. Replace that board.
- Check the deck railings for sturdiness. Replace, renail or rescrew as required … especially if it’s a second-story deck.
- Moss or slippery spots on the boards? Apply a product such as Deck Wash (Thompson and Olympic brands) or Wolman Deck-Brite, and scrub with a stiff-bristled brush with (not against) the grain of the wood. Rinse off, allow the area to dry. After that, the stain or protective sealant you use should match the rest of the deck — it will depend on the deck board material (pressure-treated, raw or stained wood).
- For a more extensive cleaning, rent or buy a pressurized power-washer to remove slick spots and, if you want, clean the entire deck (power washers have different settings, from moderate to very strong, which if used may require that you restain or reseal the wood).
- Splinters or rough spots? Sand them down by hand, with an electrical orbital sander, or if the job is more extensive, with a belt sander. Don’t be falsely macho: wear protective goggles, a dust mask and earplugs when you’re using the power sanders.
- Finally: sweep it off, seal it up and enjoy!
For more detailed instructions, you should probably purchase a how-to book on decks, or interrogate the expert at your neighborhood hardware or home store.
Strategic MANeuver
Multitasking works anywhere … even outdoors.
One of The Men Commandments is to take care of as many cleaning chores as you can whenever you happen to have any housekeeping momentum going. Simply put: while waiting for one thing, do another … even outdoors. Got some "shrimp on the barbie?" If it doesn’t have to be tended every second, use that time to double-up on your accomplishments. Pull a few weeds in the garden, wash a window, sweep off the deck or patio … use your imagination! Believe me, there’s always plenty to do within a few feet of you.
© 2005 by Tom McNulty for Clean Like a Man.
