A backyard deck is no longer just a deck. Gone are the days when you set a few folding chairs by the door and grilled burgers.

Today's trend is for decks to serve as an extensions of the house. And building a deck has become one of the most popular do-it-yourself projects for the homeowner.

According to Tim Cross, owner of Pro WoodCare in Germantown, which specializes in the care of exterior wood surfaces, one out of four American homes has a deck.

It's easy to see why decks have become so popular. They're a satisfying and economical way to extend your outdoor living space and enjoyment. A deck also increases your property value. But being the proud owner of a deck doesn't just involve building; it also means caring and preserving the wood once the deck is built. Taking care during both phases of a deck's life - building and maintenance - can add both years to the life of the deck as well as value to your home and your life in it.

Customizing

Decks today have moved beyond just a flat surface on which to grill or have a picnic to what are called deck add-ons. According to the California Redwood Association, deck add-ons enhance the overall look of a deck and give it character, style and function. Popular deck amenities include spas, built-in benches and planters, food cooking and service areas, garden work centers and overhead shade structures.

Although several different kinds of wood can be used in decks, redwood is often chosen because it’s beautiful, cuts and drills easily, and is naturally decay- and insect-resistant. Here are some ideas from the California Redwood Association on how to turn a plain deck design into a beautiful custom-tailored outdoor addition.

Changes in levels can make a deck more interesting and emphasize areas designed for specific functions, such as cooking, entertaining or conversations.

Decks are being built in shapes, including angles, geometric six-and eight- sided sections and pleasing curves.

The most beautifully designed and constructed deck is of no value if it is not properly preserved and cared for.

According to Cross, “Homeowners with decks often recognize that the exterior wood walls of their homes need care but are unaware that the same principle applies to all exterior wood surfaces, including decks.”

Cross generally sees two different scenarios while restoring some 250 decks a year in southeast Wisconsin. The first case involves pre-existing decks that have been neglected or have a sealer that isn’t performing well. Such decks need to be cleaned and treated with an oil-based preservative that protects against mold, mildew and water and photodegradation.

Cross acknowledges that most homeowners do not deliberately neglect their decks. About half make the common mistake of cleaning their decks themselves with a clear preservative or sealer that doesn’t adequately protect the deck from turning gray.

The best thing for do-it-yourselfers who want to preserve their deck’s beautiful color, advises Cross, is to apply a preservative with a cedar or redwood tone to it.

Cross says that a properly cleaned and treated deck lasts between three to four years. Then, it benefits from cleaning with a mild detergent and reapplications of preservative. The same holds true for roofs, he adds.

The cost of professional cleaning and preserving varies from about $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot, depending on the condition of the deck and whether it has been treated with a finish that is failing and has to be removed.

The second common mistake Cross sees occurs with homeowners who have new decks.

There’s a myth, he asserts, that decks need to “weather” a years before anything can be applied to them.

The myth derives from the fact that new lumber is milled and the hot blades leave what is called “mill glaze” on the wood. This glaze generally wears off in about a year, Cross says.

If homeowners don’t allow it to wear off or they take it off, anything they put on the deck will fail prematurely.

What they need to do, suggests Cross, is use a new-wood conditioner, which prepared a deck to accept a finish. This eliminates the cost and labor of trying to bring back a deck’s color a year after the “weathering.”

Cross stresses that a properly maintained deck, roof or wood surface can double or triple the life of the wood. He and his colleagues can be reached at Pro WoodCare, 251-1737 or 1-800-238-1711.