A nice patio or deck is an attractive feature for buyers looking for a single-family rental house in Denham Springs. A rental home with a nice outdoor gathering space is very attractive to renters. This is true if the patio or deck is in good shape. Potential hazards like splintered wood, stained concrete, and dirty vinyl planks could become deal breakers for tenants. Because of this, it is a must to perform regular maintenance on your rental property’s deck or patio, as well as keep up the condition of any fixtures.
In the subject of maintenance, wooden decks require the most upkeep. Maintaining a wood deck need not be an expensive undertaking, you just need to clean them with standard deck cleaner each spring to take away dirt and debris. After this process, the deck should then be sealed to protect it from the elements. Now you can rest assured that your wooden deck would look great and also more resistant to splintering, rot, and mold.
However carefully you maintain your deck, you still need to stain or repaint it after many years of use if you want to prolong its good shape. This is probably the process that requires the most time in maintaining a wooden deck but it is necessary to keep property values high. When you repaint your deck, the old paint must first be removed, and then the wooden planks should be sanded before finally repainting. It is important to choose high-quality paint designed for outdoor use. When you stain a deck, you have to prep the wood first before you can apply the new coat of stain. Both stained and painted wood should be coated with a sealant for maximum weather resistance.
Because a lot of care is needed for wood decks, property owners look for vinyl planks instead. Vinyl decks are very easy to maintain but still need to be cleaned. Because vinyl is already extremely durable and weather-resistant, most vinyl planks will need a good scrub with warm water and mild soap to stay looking like new.
If your Denham Springs property has a patio instead of a deck, you might be assuming that this is maintenance-free. But this is not accurate. Regular sweeping is not enough since concrete and stone patios can still become dirty and stained. That’s why it is required to thoroughly clean the patio at least once or twice a year. Concrete can be hosed off, and pressure washed or scrubbed with a bristle brush. Use a degreaser for stubborn stains. But for natural stone pavers, it must be cleaned carefully to prevent damaging the surface. By sealing both concrete and stone, cleaning would be a lot easier since dirt and stains cannot easily settle in.
Finally, what is a deck or patio if it has no outdoor furniture? Regular cleaning and maintenance are also needed for outdoor décor furniture. Most outdoor furniture can be cleaned using mild dishwashing liquid mixed with water and a soft-bristle brush. If possible, when items are not in use, they should be covered and stored indoors. Every year, wooden furniture should be cleaned, sealed, or repainted just like wooden decks. For fabric cushions or pillows they should be surface cleaned using mild soap solution and then air-dried to prevent mildew.
There you have it, these simple maintenance tasks can make your rental property’s deck or patio looking like the outdoor oasis renters want.
Got more questions about maintaining your property? A Denham Springs property manager at Real Property Management Baton Rouge is standing by to answer your call. You can contact us online or call us at 225-389-6860 for more information.
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