Ever invest in a new deck or classy outdoor furniture only to end up with a mess of mildew?
Mold and mildew are serious threats. In fact, there are 45 million buildings in the U.S. that have mold problems. The good news is, yours doesn’t have to be part of that statistic.
Protecting Wood
Mold, mildew, whatever you prefer to call it, is a homeowner’s nightmare. The stuff can grow on any surface and wreak havoc both inside and outside your home.
Bare wood, in particular, is quite susceptible to mold growth. The porous surface offers a welcome place for spores to let loose. This is especially true for freshly harvested wood. New wood contains a high sugar content; mold loves sugar.
Bare wood also absorbs water quite easily. So, between the sugars in the wood and the water it absorbs, mold is happy setting up camp. It’s not as dire as it sounds; there are a few steps you can take towards protecting your wood.
Start With Prevention
To protect outdoor wood furniture or other wood features, consider a good sealant. A proper sealant is the first line of defense against mold, mildew, and UV damage.
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sealants will help keep the wood protected from the elements. In short, nothing will get in or out once the sealant is dry.
Unsure of what type of sealant is right for your wood? Here are three tips to help take the guesswork out of it.
If You Can’t Beat It, Clean It!
Suppose you skipped the sealant part and went straight to enjoying your deck or outdoor furnishings. That’s OK. With a good cleaning and application of a good sealant, you can get back to enjoying your home in a jiffy.
Always make sure to cover your mouth and eyes when cleaning mold/mildew. Your best bet will be to start with a good pressure cleaning for a deck or large surface. Use a mix of 1:1 white vinegar and water. The same mix can be used for wood furniture too.
If you find stubborn areas, you can add a tablespoon of borax per cup of water and scrub that into the wood. Let the mixture absorb to really permeate the wood and kill the spores. If you don’t have a pressure cleaner, you’ll just have to do a little bit of scrubbing.
Once everything is cleaned and dried, protecting wood is just a coat of sealant away. Don’t skip this step! We offer some of the best sealants on the market at affordable prices, with a money-back guarantee.
Enjoy The Fruits of Your Labor
It’s safe to say that no one really enjoys mold remediation. But when it comes to protecting wood, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Once you’ve tackled any existing mold, the trick is to seal your efforts immediately. This will ensure that you’ve done all you can to protect your outdoor wood furniture or deck.
