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A well-built deck increases your living and entertainment space and adds value to your home. If you choose to sell, the cost will be amortized by 70 percent. However, with heavy use and constant exposure to the elements, the wooden surfaces of a deck require a high level of attention and maintenance in order to preserve their appearance and to remain stable and safe season after season.

Over time, a deck is subject to a number of cosmetic and structural problems. Has your deck seen better days? Are you wondering if it can be another season or do you think it’s time to scrap it completely and start over? Review this list of six common deck problems to determine what repairs your deck might need and to decide whether to make the corrections yourself or to call a professional to repair the damage.

Discoloration: Correct with a new stain.

Discoloration isn’t a safety issue for your deck, but it’s sure to be unsightly. To fix discoloration, you need to remove the existing paint from the boards, wash the wood and apply a top stain with good UV protection. This is a simple deck repair that even an inexperienced handyman can do. Since bad weather can thwart a patching project, it’s best to undertake this in late summer or early fall, when temperatures are mild (below 80 degrees Fahrenheit), humidity is lower, and the forecast doesn’t require rain.

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Slippery surfaces: save with a high-pressure cleaner.

If you’re sliding around on your deck like it was a smooth block of ice, the problem is likely due to a large build-up of algae or moisture. This can easily be fixed with a good pressure wash to remove slippery areas that are unsafe to walk on. Wash your deck once a year in the spring after the snow has melted and before you unplug any BBQ and patio equipment.

Cracks: fill and seal.

While cracking isn’t attractive on a deck, it’s usually just a normal sign of aging. If the cracks are less than 6 inches long, all you need to do is fill them with latex wood filler and then seal the deck with sealant. However, if the cracks are longer, you will need to pry off the affected boards and inspect the underside for damage. When the underside of the board looks clean, flip it over and secure it back to the joists with deck screws. If the bottom is cracked, replace the board completely.

The wood on your deck is constantly expanding and contracting as the humidity and the seasons change. For best results, perform maintenance on cracks each fall before the dry winter air sets in. This can cause existing cracks to deepen and new ones to appear.

Rotten boards: replace immediately.

When boards rot, water damage or insects are the typical culprits. If ignored, rot can spread and cause serious structural damage. Therefore, you should treat wood rot individually. (This is a great advanced home improvement deck repair project.) First, use a hammer and lever bar to remove nails and screws, and then remove the rotted board. If necessary, use a circular saw to cut out the board. However, be careful not to slice the surrounding boards. Finally, measure and cut your new board and screw it into the beam. If wood rot is widespread, then this job is better left to the professionals as several boards – and even joists – may need to be replaced.

Large gaps between the boards: close them.

When your deck is relocated, to ¼ inch gaps are intentionally built for drainage. Over time, the wood inevitably shrinks, creating larger and more annoying gaps between the deck boards. These can lead to tripping hazards. So it’s best to fill in large gaps right away by replacing all of the boards with new ones that have been cut – a challenging deck repair, but one that can be done in a weekend.

To minimize future gaps between your deck boards, it is important to understand that wooden boards have different moisture levels (MC) depending on how they are treated and dried. The best wood moisture content for outdoor projects depends on the climate in your area. So when buying, ask the experts at your local lumber yard and check that all deck boards have the same MC so they dry evenly. When you’re ready to install, distribute the boards evenly on the deck, either tightly as they shrink or with about 1 cm space between the pairs.

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Wobbles: Call a professional.

The last thing you want when you get on your deck is to feel the structure tumble. Feeling wobbly can be due to termite damage, persistent wood rot, or poor installation. Whenever you have structural damage in your home, the best thing to do is to contact a skilled professional right away who can fix the problem or help you install a brand new and, most importantly, safe deck.

Make sure you are properly reviewing your contractor by researching reviews online and getting recommendations from trusted friends or neighbors. Make sure the person working on your home is experienced with the type of deck repair you need so you can avoid the hassle and added cost of mistakes. If you’re not ready to do minor deck repairs yourself, find a good handyman you can trust to get the job done right without billing you for an arm and a leg.

The content is paid advertising created in collaboration with Puls. His facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

The post 5 Deck Restore Initiatives You Can DIY and 1 for the Professionals first appeared on DECKSAND FENCES DAILY.