When you are maintaining your deck, you normally concentrate on the surface of the deck that is visible, but this is not always enough. If you want to ensure that your entire deck is protected against mould and swelling, it is important that you also focus on the underside of your deck. It is essential that you also waterproof under your deck to ensure that water is not absorbed into the wood. If you do not waterproof the underside, it is still possible for swelling of the wood to occur. You can cut back on the cracking of your deck paint and the amount of pressure that is placed on the wood joints if you waterproof underneath your deck. Before you begin waterproofing the underside, here are some tips that you need to be aware of.

Preservative

It is important that you use more than just a waterproof solution that contains a repellent. The solution you use should also contain a waterproof preservative. If you use a waterproofing solution that has a preservative, it will contain chemicals that will make sure that your wood does not mildew over time. It is also possible for the preservatives to help keep insect infestations at bay. As long as the waterproofing stain that you choose for the underside of your deck contains water-repellent preservatives, it should be sufficient.

Eye Gear

When you are applying waterproofing stain to the underside of your deck, it is important for you to wear eye protection gear. It is possible for the stain to run and drip into your eyes, so you need to maintain safety by making sure that your eyes are covered at all times.

Application

When you begin applying the waterproofing stain to the underside of the deck, you need to be sure that you are applying it liberally. You can use a brush to make application more efficient, but the brush needs to be dipped in the waterproofing preservative thoroughly. You need to be sure that all ends of the deck boards are covered and that you are applying even more waterproofing preservatives on the portion of the deck that features rougher wood. It is best to apply a few coats of the waterproofing preservative to ensure that you have the entire underside of the deck covered effectively. You can then also apply a primer and a coat of deck paint to the underside of your deck for even more protection. 

If this project is too big for you to handle, contact a waterproofing company for assistance.

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