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The home embodies different sentiments and feelings for different people. However, one of the feelings that almost everyone has about their home is the feeling of comfort. You want your abode to not only be safe but comfortable. For this reason, many homeowners take the protection of their homes, both the interior parts and the exterior part, very seriously, as it should be.
Water is one of the elements that you need to protect your buildings from. Granted that water is important in the construction of a building and even allows for the optimal use of the building. However, when water finds its way into some areas of the house, it causes serious damage that could result in expensive repairs. One of these areas is the deck.
In this article, we will examine the importance of waterproofing your deck as soon as possible, and also discuss the best option for deck waterproofing in Orange County.
Importance of Waterproofing Your Deck
Water damage is quite serious when it comes to buildings. Apart from the expensive nature of its repairs, it could threaten the structural integrity of the building if the repairs are delayed for too long. This is why it is important to take a precautionary step in preventing water damage by waterproofing your deck.
Below are some of the reasons why you should waterproof your deck;
Ensures the Longevity of the Joists and Beams
You don’t want water or moisture trapped between the beams, joists, and the deck in your building. That would be you courting structural damage for your deck. This is most prevalent in buildings that use wood for their structural parts. When the joist and beam hold water or moisture for too long, the wooden members start to decay and rot. After some time, leaves start to grow and get stuck on these members, and this worsens the situation.
Eventually, this leads to compromised structural integrity which could cause serious injuries and in extreme cases, death. You can avoid these grave consequences by flashing the beams and joists. By flashing, you protect the joists and beams from water damage, put a barrier between these members, and seal off the decking screws. Only a qualified professional can handle this process so be sure to contact one.
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Increases Durability
One of the important attributes of a safe building is its durability. However, a building is made up of different components and members. Thus, the durability of the building is the total durability of individual components and members. One of the ways of ensuring the durability of the deck, which is an important member of the building is through waterproofing.
When a building component is durable, it saves you the periodic cost and expenses of maintaining it. This means that you can use the component for a long time without having to worry about changing or repairing it. With regards to the deck, the more durable your deck is, the safer and better it is for the people around you.
Optimal Weather Protection Technique
When the rain and storms start, the last thing you want to do is have an unprotected deck. With the rainy season, the chances of your deck getting damaged increase. Different types of damages could occur. From cracked and warped wood to splintered, soft, and spongy wood, any of these damages cause serious structural risks for the building. However, when any of these damages occur, it is a sign that the members are already experiencing wood rot.
The best way to protect your home against this problem is by waterproofing your deck. When you do this, you reduce the quantity of water that gets to the wooden members, therefore, protecting the building from structural damage. Some homeowners prefer to hold off till the end of the rainy season without doing the deck waterproofing. However, this may be a dangerous option.
Because, the longer you delay the solution, the more serious the problem gets. The wooden members could get damaged and bring about the introduction of mold, mildew, and even UV rays.
Improve Building’s Aesthetics
By including a deck in your building, you are making both an aesthetic and functional decision. However, both of these decisions would look ill-taken if you fail to waterproof the deck. This is because a deck without waterproofing would start courting damages and defects after some time. These defects and damages will not only make the deck look repulsive and unaesthetically pleasing, but it will also pass the message that the deck is not safe for you.
You can avoid all of these by employing professionals to handle the waterproofing of your deck.
Reduces Costs of Maintenance and Repairs
If you take good care of your deck, you will have no reason to repair the deck. However, to properly maintain your deck, you need to have a professional handle the waterproofing of the deck. Only after the waterproofing will you be able to do a few sweeps and cleaning a few times within a year. However, without waterproofing, you will need to do extensive repairs on your deck at the start and end of every storm or rainy season.
Professionals that handle waterproofing use a nice-looking coating for the process. This coating makes the deck look aesthetically pleasing without any additional effort on your part.
Decreases Incidents of Slips and Falls
If your deck is not waterproof and it rains, the deck gets wet and slippery. This could increase the rate of slips and falls around the deck. Injuries from these slips and falls could also be fatal and can cost lives, in extreme cases. Between 2001 and 2016, there were about 4600 ER visits concerning slips and falls on the deck, including deck collapsing, according to the CPSC. If someone slips and injures themselves on your deck, you could be held liable and end up with a lawsuit.
You can avoid this legal tussle by getting the deck waterproofed. To get your waterproofing done in Orange County, you should contact Orange County Deck Builders.
