4 Ways to Protect your Exterior Wood Decking From Leakage

Winters are approaching. It is the time to sit on your deck with your family for enjoyment and to have direct access to sunlight. A wooden decking is basically an addition to the exterior of your home. Like the other parts of your home, decks also require routing maintenance, inspection, and repair by professionals.

At the initial stage, it requires very little maintenance. With time, deck exposes to different elements like extreme sunlight, humidity, and rain. These elements results into damage and leakage of wooden surface. On the other hand, one can’t deny from the fact that if timely protection or proper maintenance is done, the deck would remain durable and faraway from the problems like leakage. In this post, I have listed four most effective ways to prevent your wood decking from leakage. Have a look:

1. Shape of your wooden decking and using right preservative

Wooden decks are a perfect addition to a home. It provides a touch of rustic in urban areas. The shape of your deck should be a little slanted so that water doesn’t get a chance to stay there for a long time. Wood is a natural material that has a tendency to easily breakdown or damage. To keep your decking away from such issues, you should apply a wood cleaner and then scrub the deck completely with a nylon brush. After it dries, find cracks and holes and fill them with finest wood filler. Cover it with a sealant for 48 hours and your deck is ready to sit.


Another way to protect your outdoor surfaces or wood and Ipe decking is using high quality, oil-based preservative. Using such kind of preservative with ultraviolet inhibitors keeps your deck shiny. It doesn’t let the water to reside there for long time. The most advantageous part of oil is that it penetrates deeply into the pores and makes the inner surface of wood moisture resistant. Unlike paint, oil doesn’t bubbles up and split.

2. Investing in under decking

An under decking system is generally comprised of interlocking, aluminum, PVC, or vinyl panels. All these materials allow water to flow safely and easily from the deck. This ensures deck’s protection from rainwater. If you also have a two storey deck in your home, then investing in under decking will be in your favor.

3. Proper installation of roof decking

If you have installed or going to install a roof decking, pay an undivided attention on the installation of roof decking. It is because their improper installation and flat roof decks may cause leakage which can further lead to damage of walls and furniture. Prior to installation of a roof deck, you should make a deep research. There are two options for it. One is to install a PVC membrane directly on the roof and make it water-resistant. Second option is used in case you prefer to view a beautiful look of the roof deck. In this option, a membrane is first set and deck is placed over it.

4. Pay Attention to your posts and doors

In addition to wooden deck, take care of your posts and door also. Generally, a roof deck leaks at two places, around the corner and near the doors. It is because corners support deck’s railing and door leads from the inside of your home out to the deck. Ensure to make your door water proof so that deck leaking doesn’t affect doors. On the other hand, to prevent deck post’s leakage make sure your deck’s waterproof layer goes a portion of the way up the post.

One thing worth to mention is use good quality wood for wall decking. There are many waterproof decking are available, choose one of them.

Follow these tips and keep your deck shiny & leak-free for years.