Your deck and porches spend every day of the year outside. They get wet when it 
rains and they get sun when it is sunny. There are bugs that may stop by to take a bite out of it. They face a lot of issues and it is a major problem for homeowners to have to deal with. That is why we feel that it is important for you to learn the best way to protect your porches and decks. A little effort now could save your deck later on.
One thing to keep in mind is that it is never too soon to start protecting your wooden decks and porches. Even a brand new deck can see extreme damage over just a year’s time. That is why it is recommended that you use treated wood and paint it with deck waterproofing stuff to ensure it looks great for a longer period of time. However, once you have used waterproofing, don’t think you can skip out on regular maintenance.
Even a treated porch or deck will suffer if you allow water, leaves, and dirt to sit on it for an extended period of time. This also includes snow piling up over it. Another consideration is whether the cracks between your boards are tight together, you may need to use a tool that can scrape dirt out so that it does not block airflow from getting between the cracks. This is less of a concern with porches and decks that have a larger gap.
If your porch or deck is older and perhaps already dirty, you should pressure wash it to ensure that the wood is clean and free of dirt before waterproofing or sealing it. The thing is, if you are using a soft wood, you cannot allow the pressure washer to spray too firmly, close to the surface of the wood. If you put it too close to the wood, you could damage it to the point that it will need to be sanded down. In either case, you should try to test it in an area that is small to see how your wood reacts to the pressure washer. If it is not something your wood can handle, soap and a garden hose will work well enough. The important part is that you find a way to get it clean so you can re-protect it.
