All decked out: Extend life of deck with premium stain, annual power wash

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

By: Megan Cole, The Canadian Press

Thursday, Jun. 19, 2014 at 7:01 AM | Comments: 0

VICTORIA - Decks have become an essential feature of a modern home and a hub of activity for life in the summer, so most homeowners would rather spend their time enjoying them, not maintaining surfaces.

The weather across Canada, from snow to rain and hot sun, can cause serious deck maintenance issues, such as a need for sanding and staining every few years for optimal appearance and durability.

"With the Vancouver weather we get lots of requests for low-maintenance decks," says Jobie Mallett, owner of Vancouver's Little Star Renovations. "People want low maintenance, but I always tell them it doesn't matter what you put on, there is always going to be some kind of maintenance."

Instead of talking low maintenance with his clients, Mallett says he tries to divert their thinking to long lasting because, if nothing else, homeowners will have to power wash their deck every year to extend its life.

"It often comes down to the kind of stain they use," he says. "That is a big deal. People pick cheaper stains and end up having huge maintenance issues down the road."

Mallett says when a homeowner is spending $10,000 on a deck, an extra $200 on well-trusted premium stain is pennies when you consider the amount of maintenance needed in future if you put on a bad product.

"I've seen so many people put on a cheap stain because it has a big box store label on it, and then they have huge issues down the road because they have to try and remove the old stain to put a new one on," he says. "You get what you pay for, but it is well worth the money to buy a premium stain."

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All decked out: Extend life of deck with premium stain, annual power wash