Have the long months of winter taken a toll on your deck? Is it dirty, mildew-stained and wearing a coat of gray?

Don’t worry. It’s easy to restore your deck to its natural beauty so you can enjoy it during the warm months ahead. And, it’s just as easy to protect your deck so it stays beautiful for years to come. Here’s some advice from the experts at Wolman Wood Care Products:

Step 1:

Clean away dirt and gray weathered wood with an acid-free, biodegradable deck cleaner, like Wolman Deck Brite (formerly Deck & Fence Brightener). Deck Brite is tough on ground-in dirt, mildew and algae stains, yet it’s gentle to handle and safe to use near grass, plants or shrubs. Its fast-acting foaming action loosens and lifts dirt, stains and weathered-gray discoloration in 10 minutes or less. And unlike chlorine bleach, which can actually degrade the structure of the wood, Deck Brite’s oxygen bleach formula cleans and restores the wood to its original, like-new look without whitening or damaging the wood surface. Protective finishes will adhere better and last longer.

Step 2:

Protect your deck against mildew attack, water damage and graying with a powerful finish and preservative, like Wolman F&P Premium Wood Finish and Preservative. As a preservative, F&P contains twice the mildewcide of other products to prohibit decay-producing fungal growth including mildew and mold – other leading products simply resist mildew on the coating film. It also contains a water repellent that exceeds national standards, thereby minimizing wood damage such as splitting and warping. In fact, F&P is guaranteed to repel water and protect against wood rot and decay up to four years. F&P is available in four one-coat, easy-to-apply finishes – golden pine, natural, cedar and redwood – that beautify wood with long-lasting, transparent color that reveals natural wood grain and protects against graying.

Step 3:

Bring out your patio furniture and enjoy your deck this spring – and, for many seasons to come.

For more information about restoring, protecting and beautifying your deck, please call the Wolman Consumer Help Line at 1-800-556-7737 or visit www.wolman.com for more helpful deck care tips.

About The Author R.L. Fielding Wolman Wood Care Products is a manufacturer of products designed to seal, clean, strip, and preserve all exterior wood surfaces including decks, roofs, sidings, and fences. www.wolman.com

This article was posted on September 26, 2005