A deck can add a lot of value to your home – but only if it’s in good condition!

Having a beautiful deck to enjoy on bright sunny days is definitely one of the greatest features to any home. They even add a entirely new dimension to commercial or retail space. But let’s face it, value is what you’re looking for. While a beautiful well maintained deck adds value to your home, an old, neglected deck can do more harm to your home than good. It’s an eyesore, and will even bring down the value of your home if you’re selling. But just because your deck is old doesn’t mean it’s past saving. Deck restoration can make your deck look as good as new.

However, this might not be a job you should try to do on your own. Hiring a professional might be a better choice.

If you’re deciding to make refinishing your deck a DIY project we’ve put together a list of issues to consider first.

IS RESTORATION A GOOD OPTION FOR YOUR DECK?

Over time, your deck will show wear, splinter, and crack even if you do all the right maintenance. But, don’t demo and rebuild just yet.

You can save a lot of money by restoring your old deck instead.

Many homeowners have trouble determining if a deck still has years of life ahead, or if it’s too far gone to bother. I’ve personally gone out to job sites where the homeowner requests a quote to make it look “as good as new!” when it’s actually time to give up and tear it down. But, I’ve also seen decks where the homeowner doesn’t realize how much better their deck can look and how many years it will have left to enjoy.

What’s important to look for is structural damage – how much will it cost to make it safe for a few more years? Also, how many boards will need to be replaced due to rot, cracking, or other issues.

Sanding down a deck with an industrial sander definitely takes some skill, but will remove the discoloration and give a great new surface to finish. Or, if the deck needs more, you can use a solid stain cover. By applying a solid, or semi-solid, stain to the surface of the wood this product will fill in any cracks, knotholes, and other imperfections. This gives your deck a smooth and clean finish. It’s almost like a paint, and covers the wood grain, but gives your deck a great new look and will extend the life of your deck for years – saving a ton of money.

But, this begs the question: What option should you choose? Industrial sanding, or stain? Should the stain be water-based, or oil-based? Is the structure still safe? How many boards need replacement? These questions are tough to answer, and it’s rare for an expert to come and give you all the help you need only to leave without being paid. Generally, it’s best to hire a professional when you’re at a crossroads like this.

Value Add to Your Property

While many home renovation projects only recoup anywhere from 50% to 80% of their cost, multiple studies have estimated that the ROI for patios and decks can exceed 100% based on the size and materials used.

According to the 2018 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of Realtors patios can recover 102% of their building costs on average.  Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost Vs. Value Report found in 2007 that adding a wooden deck is the most cost-effective home improvement project for a mid-range home.

How a deck impacts your home resale value will be largely based on the region where you live. Home buyers are willing to spend more on a home with a deck in a geographical area that experiences warm, deck-friendly weather year-round.  I’ve worked on decks in areas of California where the deck is not just nice to have, but the focal point of the entire property. Imagine buying a home up in the hills with a view, near the beach, or a multi-story house in San Francisco with no deck. Or worse – a run-down neglected deck.

If your property is of substantial value, and the deck is a key component of that property, does it make sense to be frugal with finishing it? What if a first-rate deck brings up the value of your home 10-20%, or is the primary selling point? Is it still worth saving a few hundred to do as a DIY project?

When You Can and Can’t Restore

For some decks, sanding down and re-applying a good quality stain can do the trick. Or, other times going with a solid stain will do the trick.  For most older decks it can fill in any damages and give your deck new life.

However, there are times you shouldn’t try to restore your deck.

For example, deck paint restoration products can’t get rid of mold. If your deck has started to mold, even if the problem’s still small, you may need to install a new deck after all. Painting deck restoration product over mold or rot won’t change anything. The wood will continue to rot away underneath the layer of stain.

Other times the wood is old and brittle, or the supporting structure is losing its integrity. In these cases refinishing just won’t do the trick and it’s time to tear it down and rebuild.

DIY VS PROFESSIONAL: WHAT’S THE BETTER OPTION?

One of the biggest questions about deck restoration is whether you can pull off a quality DIY job or whether you should hire a professional to do it for you. The right option for you depends on a number of factors, including your budget and your willingness to get your hands dirty. However, in most cases, hiring a professional is a better choice.

Here’s why.

Cost

In theory, you can save some money by restoring your deck yourself. Since you don’t have to pay for labor expenses, you all you have to do is buy the product.

But this isn’t always true.

If you don’t have the right tools, you’ll also have to buy or rent them first, which can add a lot to the price. You may also make a mistake during the process (since the job is a complicated one, this is very easy to do). In this case, you’ll either have to buy more product to try to correct it on your own or hire a professional to fix the problem.

This means you’re spending double what you would have to pay if you just hired a professional in the first place. You’ll probably end up saving money if you just go ahead and hire a professional.

Time

Painting a restoration product over your deck might seem like a quick, simple job, but the process can take quite a while. In fact, you may have to sacrifice an entire weekend (or longer) to finish the project.

If you’re working by yourself or still figuring things out as you go alone, it may add even more time to the job.

A professional has a lot of experience restoring decks, and they have all the right tools. Because of this, they can finish the job a lot faster than you could on your own. Hiring a professional also gives you your weekend back so you can spend it doing other things.

The Work Itself

Restoring a deck is a difficult, messy job. Not only do you have to prepare the wood by sanding off any remaining finish, removing splinters, and power washing, you also have to cover the rails or stairs with a plastic covering to protect them from splatter. That all takes a lot of time and effort, and you haven’t even started the real restoration process yet.

DIY deck refinishing costs less than hiring a pro, but it involves a lot of effort and you need a good understanding of carpentry and wood staining. Although hiring a local deck refinisher is more expensive, it ensures the work is done quickly and properly.

Superficial flaws vs. underlying issues

If your deck is solidly built but the surfaces are dull, weathered, or dirty, then a pressure-washing and refinishing treatment could transform your deck’s look, making it feel like new without a pricey remodel. These procedures can be undertaken by a homeowner and can generally be completed over a weekend.

However, if your deck is showing signs of wear like wobbly stairs, soft wood or separating planks, there’s a possibility that it’s also become structurally unsound. Your existing deck structure may not have been legally constructed to begin with. To fully assess the structural integrity of the deck, hire a professional. A licensed deck building professional will be able to quickly identify problems such as rot, improper construction, or a sinking foundation, so that you can target your efforts and avoid wasting money on a deck remodel that fails to correct major structural problems.

Safety is a must with deck remodels

Hiring a pro to do your deck remodel can help you avoid or fix many common DIY deck-building problems that will make even a new deck unsafe, such as improperly spaced railings or insufficient drainage systems. Even a deck that was originally constructed by a pro should be professionally screened every year for safety and code requirements. Data collected from the Consumer Products Safety Commission shows that thousands of injuries occur every year which result from wooden deck failures.

DIY vs. Professional

If you like working with your hands and staying outdoors for hours, then DIY deck refinishing and restoration can be a rewarding project. It’s a nice outdoor project that can feel rewarding.

On the other hand, it’s very hard work to restore a deck, sweaty, and it takes a lot of expertise and time. You’re on your hands and knees a lot, doing a lot of repetitive motions. And, you’re never going to do quite as good a job as professional contractors would do, since you only do it once a year at most, while the professionals have done it every day for years.

In the end, if DIY deck refinishing sounds like something you’d enjoy, give it a try! It’s always gratifying to look at a home improvement project and say you did it yourself. By the same token, if you’d rather save time, hassle, and splinters, hire it out to a service like Deck Finishers.

Our team of pressure washing and deck maintenance experts can help you restore your deck quickly and effectively with no hassle to you or your family.

Contact Deck Finishers, and we’ll come out to your house or business for a free onsite consultation and estimate.

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