HOW TO PROTECT YOUR OUTDOOR DECK
FROM RAIN AND SNOW in the winter months

HOW TO PROTECTING YOUR OUTDOOR DECK FOR DURING WINTER MONTHS
Hi Everyone I'm Chris Town owner of Town Construction and Development. Ok, folks, winter is here for some people and just around the corner for most. Some areas of the country get rain others to get snow or both rain and snow. Don’t panic as it’s never too late to protect your deck. Of course protecting your outdoor deck before the cold, rainy, and snowy grips of winter is always the best solution. But we don’t always have time or are too lazy until it’s too late.

So here are some solutions and tips that can help save your outdoor deck/patio just before and during those cold winters months.

How Winter Weather Affects Wood:
If you’ve ever wondered why winter is so tough on wood, it’s the moisture and cold temperatures. Wood is a very porous material and when left unprotected, these porous areas can easily get filled with particles such as water, fungi, and bacteria. As temperatures lower, the water inside the wood contracts, then freezes and expands, and causes the wood to bend and eventually crack or break. Not only that, but fungi (mold) that thrive in damp environments like mold and mildew can spread and cause rot.

PROTECT YOUR OUTDOOR DECK/PATIO JUST BEFORE THE RAIN AND SNOW
Clean your Deck Thoroughly:
Exposure to moisture and snow can create perfect conditions for the growth of mold, mildew, moss, and algae. All these conditions make it important to clean your deck thoroughly before winters grip.

If you still have time – begin the sealing process:
Don’t seal a deck below 50 degrees. You don’t want to begin the sealing process until you can safely guarantee that the temperature will remain above 50 degrees for at least 48 hours… A 65-degree day may easily become 40-degree at night or lower, and your seal will become a deck nightmare.
if you’re looking for a clear water repellent to protect against water damage without changing the color of the wood, choose a Premium Water Sealer. It will protect your deck against the elements for two to three years. Don’t go cheap here folks, I said the best “Premium Water Sealer” money can buy. In this specific case, you do get what you you pay for.

Ran Out Of Time and Winter is Here? Don’t Panic!
Remove Snow From the Deck Surface:
Any time you notice snow any accumulation on your deck, shovel the snow off the deck. While you can cover portions of your deck in a tarp, you’ve probably left stairs, railings, and other areas uncovered. Use a broom or shovel to keep snow accumulation to a minimum on the deck. Avoid salt or other commercial products to do the job for you, as these products will discolor and damage the finish. Snow removal is one job you want to do the old-fashioned way.

“Town Tips” by Chris Town
Use a plastic shovel, which does not have harsh on the wood as a metal shovel.
Shovel parallel to the boards rather than perpendicular so that the shovel does catch and gouge the planks.

“Town Tip ” by Chris Town
One of the best ways to protect your deck from snow and Ice as I mentioned above, is a clear plastic Tarp.
Spread a Tarp Over the Deck:
No matter how well you’ve prepared your deck, your deck can still suffer underneath layers of snow and ice all winter. Keep your wood looking great by covering the deck with a tarp in the harsh winter months. This covering provides an added barrier between the wood and moisture. Too much-melting snow can cause the boards to warp, and ice will worsen cracks in your deck.
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In conclusion, don’t leave your deck to battle the elements alone. A few weekends of work and some regular attention (again use a clear thick torp) throughout the winter will protect the wood and finish so you have a beautiful outdoor space to return to when the weather warms up again.

Visit Us for more Home advice, solutions, and tips.
Town Construction and Development
https://www.townconstructionanddevelopment.com/
Chris Town

All solutions for home -living have some advantages and disadvantages…
“There are no perfect solutions out there, only the ones that are perfect for you.”
Chris Town/

Seattle Home Water Damage Restoration and Repair

Seattle Home Water Damage Restoration and Repair

HELP PREVENT WATER LEAKS
Doing routine checks on your appliances and piping under your kitchen and bathroom sinks is one way to initially prevent leaks. And of course that leaky toilet…one leaky toilet can leak 90 gals per day.
Monitoring your water bill is also extremely important, as you can find spikes in the charges and determine if there is a leak or if you simply used more water that month.

“Town Tips” by Chris Town
Sometime you have to pay money to save money. In this case you will not only save money but avoid the time and headaches you will incurred as these folks I talk about here in this blog.
Home Leak Detection System is the solution…A whole home leak detection system with automatic water shutoffs detect when water is running continuously for an extended period of time and will automatically shutoff your water, very cool, so check it out.

This Is A Home That We Built 12 Years Ago For Some Great Clients In Downtown Edmonds, WA.
They We’re Asleep And Heard There Alarm Go Off And Got Up To Investigate. What They Found Was The All Upstairs Hardwood Floors Had Approximately 2” Of Running Water On Them. The Dishwasher Supply Line Had Failed And Was Leaking Water For 3-4 Hrs!

They called me early morning and asked me for help. I arrived to access the situation and found the water was running through the floor to the downstairs ceilings and all the drywall was destroyed. To add to the problem, we had insulated all the floors and interior walls for sound absorption. All had to be removed and reinstalled throughout the home. We also installed portable heating fans to accelerate the drying process.

After all the water, drywall, insulation was removed and the house dried, we came in and repaired all the damage. Some doors had to be replaced because of warping and most of the flooring throughout the house had to be replaced as well. As the pictures show, this was quite an involved process. I am happy to report that, “The Home Looks Like New Again And My Clients Are Happy To Be Moving Back In There Gorgeous Home!”

“More Town Tips” by Chris TownThere are four important things you can do right away in a situation like this:
Tip 1: Don’t panic and run around the house searching for the leak as you are wasting valuable time.
Tip 2: Go to your water main water supple to your home. This valve is usually in the basement or on an outside wall in a utility area of the house. The main shutoff valve allows a full flow of water through the pipe when it’s open.
Tip 3: If there is extensive water leakage and build up, you may also want to consider shutting off the electricity to those areas infected.
Tip 4: Clean Up Mess – If you catch the leak early enough, it is important to clean up the mess, as much as you can, immediately. If not cleaned up this can result in mold and mildew and can cause more problems down the road.

Town Construction & Development
"Better home Ideas for better Living"

"At Town Construction & Development We Understand That Your Home Is The Single Biggest Asset/ Purchase Most People Ever Make. We Take This Process Seriously From The Start To Handing You The Keys To Your Finished Home. We Understand That Your Home Is A Reflection Of You And Your Lifestyle. It’s Where You Entertain Friends And Family, Raise Your Children Or Just Relax . In Other Words, Your Home Is Your Sanctuary!"
Chris Town

Chris would be happy to sit down with you and talk about your home project ideas and find out how he can help you.
Call Chris: 1-206-947-8818
www.townconstructionanddevelopment.com/

Home Construction and Remodeling - Town Construction & Development

Town Construction & Development     "Better home Ideas for better Living"

"At Town Construction & Development We Understand That Your Home Is The Single Biggest Asset/ Purchase Most People Ever Make. We Take This Process Seriously From The Start To Handing You The Keys To Your Finished Home. We Understand That Your Home Is A Reflection Of You And Your Lifestyle. It’s Where You Entertain Friends And Family, Raise Your Children Or Just Relax . In Other Words, Your Home Is Your Sanctuary!"
Chris Town

Chris would be happy to sit down with you and talk about your home project ideas and find out how he can help you.
Call Chris: 1-206-947-8818
www.townconstructionanddevelopment.com/

MY HOME JUST GOT FLOODED WITH WATER - WHAT DO I DO? WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION ADVICE

MY HOME JUST GOT FLOODED WITH WATER...WHAT DO I DO?

This Is A Home That We Built 12 Years Ago For Some Great Clients In Downtown Edmonds, WA.
They We’re Asleep And Heard There Alarm Go Off And Got Up To Investigate. What They Found Was The All Upstairs Hardwood Floors Had Approximately 2” Of Running Water On Them. The Dishwasher Supply Line Had Failed And Was Leaking Water For 3-4 Hrs!

They called me early morning and asked me for help. I arrived to access the situation and found the water was running through the floor to the downstairs ceilings and all the drywall was destroyed. To add to the problem, we had insulated all the floors and interior walls for sound absorption. All had to be removed and reinstalled throughout the home. We also installed portable heating fans to accelerate the drying process

After all the water, drywall, insulation was removed and the house dried, we came in and repaired all the damage. Some doors had to be replaced because of warping and most of the flooring throughout the house had to be replaced as well. As the pictures show, this was quite an involved process. I am happy to report that, “The Home Looks Like New Again And My Clients Are Happy To Be Moving Back In There Gorgeous Home!”


There are three important things you can do right away in a situation like this:
1: Don’t panic and run around the house searching for the leak as you are wasting valuable time.
2: Go to your water main water supple to your home. This valve is usually in the basement or on an outside wall in a utility area of the house. The main shutoff valve allows a full flow of water through the pipe when it’s open. 
3: If there is extensive water leakage and build up, you may also want to consider shutting off the electricity to those areas infected.
4: Clean Up Mess – If you catch the leak early enough, it is important to clean up the mess, as much as you can, immediately. If not cleaned up this can result in mold and mildew and can cause more problems down the road.
Chris Town
See more blogs here for home repair ideas...