Gazebo For a Deck

Gazebos are definitely good-looking structures that are usually outdoors or open to the outdoors to provide a wonderful view of the garden outside and other scenic things for you to enjoy and relax. It can also be a tent or a pavilion that you could always separately place outside on your garden or lawns. Utilizing a gazebo for a deck is a great idea as well. This would definitely provide you with an intimate space that comes with an entertainment area outdoors.

There are historical examples of this type of a gazebo for a deck that can be found on the internet. You can find it in artworks, photographs, drawings in magazines, especially the architectural one and those magazines for interior designing. Try and find one that would be perfect for your house's exterior and try to emulate its design, especially the details and turn it into a gazebo deck design. There were older gazebos back in the days that were so large, they used to be called dance halls or dance pavilions. That is why it is important that you determine the exact measure of the pavilion that is suitable for your area. There are also books that are offering information about landscaping; it might also have examples of gazebos.

Most of the time, gazebos are just considered as decorative structures, made to beautify your area. But did you know that is has other "important" functions as well? You should know that the gazebo can also act as an instrument to hide or improve a view. It could be used to hide ugly spots, or your neighbor's unpleasant car port or to enhance a view. To maximize this potential you should know how to determine that dimensions that you need to enhance or to hide a certain view. This could be done by drawing a scaled version of the gazebo for the deck before creating or installing it. If you want to do it yourself you could try using a home design software to create three dimensional models. This is very useful software that allows you to emulate a real time three dimensional representation of an object to make sure that it would fit your area or you are doing it right.

To create the gazebo for the deck, you should place the gazebo in the exact center of the deck or a few feet from the edges of the deck. You can use it for any purpose that you want. You could try and use it for meditation, yoga, a drawing studio or an intimate place where you and your family or friends can share tea or coffee, it's up to you.

Now that you know the wonderful benefits of having a gazebo for your deck in your lawn or your front / back yard, you should now know what to do if you wanted something beautiful in it. Try and contact the professionals just in case you are still confused about this subject matter or if not you could go out now and get the required materials and build yourself one.

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How to Make Your Deck Look New Again and Keep it That Way

Your wooden deck or fence is a big investment. Cleaning and sealing it properly will extend its life and make it a source of pride for you and your family. No matter the type of wood, sticking to a scheduled maintenance program will ensure that your deck stays beautiful.

In addition to having your deck professionally cleaned and sealed, you can help protect your investment with some simple tips:

Place flower planters on small cement blocks rather than directly on your deck, where they trap moisture and dirt.

If you have a grill, use a grease catcher. Grease stains can be difficult to remove.

Don't let leaves collect on your deck, because they can leave stains.

Promptly shovel snow from your deck.

If you have a new deck, have it cleaned to kill mildew spores in the wood, remove surface impurities that keep sealers from penetrating, and then protect it with a waterproof sealer.

Don't apply paint or a solid stain to your deck, because they peel and require a lot of maintenance.

Professional cleaning and sealing with the proper products and tools can reduce the need for cleaning and refinishing to every two or three years instead of every year.

Weather and other environmental factors can be devastating to wood. Rain and dew are quickly absorbed by unprotected wood, causing it to soften and swell. When the sun dries the wood, it shrinks. These expansion and contraction cycles cause wood to warp, cup, crack, and gray, leading to premature aging and the need for replacement.

After 1 to 3 years of continuous sun exposure, unprotected wood will begin to gray, which indicates wood fiber degradation and the beginning of structural damage. Like sunburned skin, the grayed surface layer is permanently damaged. In cedar and redwood, this graying can occur within 30 days.

Weather is even harder on decks than on other types of wooden structures. This is because decks are horizontal and allow water to pool on their surface; the moisture attracts pollen and fungal spores, which cause discoloration. Decks are also subject to 50 percent more sunlight than structures with vertical surfaces and have to handle foot traffic.

Some people believe that wood has to "age" before it can be sealed, but this isn't true. The day that you finish installing your deck or other wood structure is the day you need to protect it from premature aging and expensive repairs. Proper cleaning of the wood before staining will ensure that it is able to absorb the wood sealer.

Others believe that pressure-treated wood is weatherproofed, but it isn't. Pressure-treated wood has been injected with a chemical that protects it against rot and wood-eating insects such as termites. But this process does nothing to protect the surface of the wood against weather. In fact, pressure treatment actually makes the wood even more porous and vulnerable.

Look to professionals to protect your investment against the ravages of the weather.

Tips On How To Stain Your Deck

Timely and proper maintenance of your deck is essential to its protection and longevity. Your deck faces all the harsh elements of the weather and over time the stain that is on it will be begin to break down and offer very little protection. If left untreated the deck boards will begin to split and rot and you will end up having to replace the deck. That is why proper upkeep is so important. But before you begin to stain there are some important steps that you should take first.

Before you begin to stain you will need to remove any dirt or mold from the pores of the wood. This is very important first step because if you fail to do this the stain that you apply will not adhere properly to the wood. To do this you will need to buy a good cleaning agent which is designed for this. Most paint or hardware stores sell deck wash which you can apply with a garden sprayer. Following the directions on the deck wash that you purchased, apply the deck wash to your deck. In some cases, if your deck is heavily stained you may need want to consider using a pressure washer to clean your deck.

If you decide to use a pressure washer to clean your deck you need to be very careful because if used improperly it can end up ruining your deck. Start out by using a wide fan tip, and keep the nozzle away from the decks surface about 18 to 20 inches. You may have to get closer to the surface in order to remove all of the stains but it is better to start out from a longer distance and move closer if necessary. When using a pressure washer make sure to use long, smooth passes with the wand and always clean in the same direction of the wood grain. Allow the deck to dry 24 hours before applying stain.

Next, you will need to decide what type of stain that you are going to apply. There are generally three types of stains or sealers that are most often used today, clear, semi-transparent and solid stain. Clear finishes go on clear and leave little or no coloration to the deck. The clear finish stains are usually water repellents and some offer U.V protection as well. Semi-transparent wood stains usually are a little longer lasting than clear sealers and will add some color to your deck. Solid wood stains penetrate the wood and allow some of the texture and grain to show through. The biggest disadvantage of solid wood stains is that they are inclined to show wear on high traffic areas, and when the stain begins breaking down, it can peel.

After you have decided on what type of stain that you want to use, it is now time to apply the stain. The best method to apply stain is by using a paint roller or an airless sprayer to apply the stain and then back brush to achieve a smooth, even finish. Start out by staining the vertical sections of your deck first, such as the post and handrails. Next, apply the stain to remainder of the deck.When you apply your stain, be careful not to allow the stain to puddle on the surface of the deck. Also, do not apply the stain in direct sunlight in order for the stain to penetrate and dry properly.

Staining your deck is the best way to keep your deck looking great for a long time while also providing a great layer of protection.