FAQ
We provide carpentry services that include floor repair, railing repair, staircase replacement, and a range of safety improvements.
Inexperienced operators of power washing equipment frequently use the wrong equipment held at the wrong angle too close to the surface. Professional pressure washing companies like DeckPro have skilled technicians who have been trained to minimize the negative impacts of pressure washing by using appropriate chemicals, equipment, and pressure
The amount of deck stain required depends on your maintenance plan. We recommend one thorough coat of stain that has time to cure before additional deck coating material is applied. A second coat applied too soon after the first can become tacky or create bubbles or blisters that result in peeling. More frequent applications of less deck stain will improve the longevity of the coating.
Yes. We use power sanders on wood handrails to minimize the risk of splintering for our customers and their guests. Throughout the deck floor and vertical spindles and posts, we spot sand rough surfaces and areas with peeling paint. On decks with extensive peeling, we use heavy duty floor sanders to prep the surface before painting
No. You should not expect a good result if you attempt to apply semi-transparent stain to a wood surface that already has a solid coat of stain or chipping paint. For a uniform finish, we recommend thorough preparation of the wood by pressure washing, scraping and sanding mechanically before applying solid stain.
This question depends on your primary motivation for doing the project. If it’s an aesthetic issue, you will have one set of options; if it’s a matter of being proactive about the protection and maintenance of your property, you will have another set of options. We recommend speaking to a DeckPro Representative so that we can discover what solution works best for your surface.
Typically, we maintain exotic hardwood surfaces by applying a deep penetrating oil that can absorb into dense hardwoods such as Ipe, Mahogany, and Teak. Solid stain is an option if seeing the wood grain color variation is not important.
First determine what your long term strategy is. If your deck is in disrepair to the point that it is unsafe, you should consider demolition. If your deck is structurally sound, then it probably just needs routine maintenance. The amount of sun, rain, snow exposure, the age of the deck, and the degree of care it has received over the year are variables that factor into the most appropriate maintenance plan for your deck.
Yes. We recommend washing prior to staining so that debris, surface dirt, organic growth, and other grime (both visible and invisible) are removed rather than sealed into the surface. Professional pressure washing opens the pores of the wood and enables the waterproofing material to penetrate deeper into the wood
Depending on the time of year and the amount of exposure to the elements, we recommend allowing new wood decks to weather for at least 3 months before applying a wood preservative treatment.
Each deck has different levels of exposure to foot traffic, freeze/thaw cycles, and other factors. As a general rule, we recommend ongoing (at least annual) removal of leaves, twigs, mildew and other organic debris that cause rot when they decompose on the wood deck flooring. As a general rule, horizontal surfaces like floorboards and handrails need more frequent maintenance than spindles, railing posts, fencing, and vertical surfaces.
Yes. We are grateful to those who have served in uniform as well as their families who also make huge sacrifices for our collective benefit. DeckPro aims to show our respect to military families through discounted services.
Yes. We honor our elders and respect that many of them are living on fixed incomes. The need for home repairs and maintenance continues even when the homeowner’s ability to do the work themselves diminishes. We are proud helpers and hope to make our service as cost efficient as possible for our customers, especially those who are senior citizens.
While our base of operations is in eastern Montgomery County, we service the Greater Philadelphia Region, including parts of New Jersey. Our service area is subject to change.
No. Unfortunately, the only way to know exactly how the stain color is going to look on a specific deck is to purchase it and apply it to a test area. Several factors impact how a color appears, including the underlying condition/color of the wood (before the new stain is applied), the time of day (height of the sun), the presence of shadows, moisture content of the wood, and the amount of stain applied.
If your deck is not safe, it should be either repaired or demolished. It is best to consult with a member of the DeckPro Team so that we can conduct an appropriate evaluation before making specific recommendations
In many cases, yes. Typically, there are some areas where repairs are needed to reinforce the joists, beams, stair stringers and sometimes the underlying structure of a deck. However, most well built structures, especially on decks that have been maintained appropriately, will support a new deck floor without much modification.
After the initial remediation of a neglected deck, we encourage homeowners and property managers to get on a maintenance plan that involves more frequent visits with a less extensive scope of work. Despite saving money in the short term by deferring maintenance, leaving a deck exposed for several years without maintenance will increase the long term cost of repair, demolition and rebuilding.
Applying polyurethane can make the surface frequently slippery and begins to peel after exposure to the freeze/thaw cycle. We have found that the ideal use of polyurethane is for indoor wood.
Composite decks are a low maintenance surface and typically require only power washing. However, there are some types of porous composite decking that can be stained.