A beautiful patio or deck may seal the deal for people on the market for a single-family rental house in Westchester. You can increase the demand for a rental home if it has an outdoor gathering space. If the patio or deck is in good condition, then this is true. Things like splintered wood, stained concrete, and dirty vinyl planks are potential hazards and could discourage tenants. Therefore, one must give time for regular maintenance on your rental property’s deck or patio, as well as keep up the condition of any fixtures.
As any person with a lot of experience in maintenance would say, wooden decks need the most upkeep. Maintaining a wood deck does not have to cost a lot, but you have to clean them with standard deck cleaner each spring to take away the dirt and debris that might have accumulated. The next step is to have the deck sealed to protect it from the elements. Doing this makes your wooden deck look great and makes it 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 part of the maintenance of a wooden deck is perhaps the most time consuming but 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. Make sure to purchase 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.
Property owners who find maintaining wood decks to be too much of a hassle have turned to vinyl planks. Vinyl decks need to be cleaned but are very easy to manage. 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 Westchester property has a patio instead of a deck, you might be thinking that there is no need for maintenance. But this is not the case. While regular sweeping can help keep surface dirt away, concrete and stone patios can still become dirty and stained. That’s why there is a need 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. For stubborn stains, a degreaser is an answer. But natural stone pavers must be cleaned carefully since you can easily damage the surface. Both concrete and stone must be sealed so cleaning it would be easier.
Finally, outdoor furniture is a must for your deck or patio. The outdoor décor furniture needs to be cleaned and maintained periodically too. The use of mild dishwashing liquid mixed with water and a soft-bristle brush is perfect for cleaning outdoor furniture. When not in use, cover items and store them indoors. Clean, seal, or repaint wooden furniture every year, as what you would do with wooden decks. Surface clean the fabric cushions or pillows using mild soap solution and then air-dry them to prevent mildew.
Just make sure to perform these simple maintenance tasks consistently and you’ll have your rental property’s deck or patio the outdoor oasis that all renters want.
For more advice on the maintenance of your property, a Westchester property manager at Real Property Management California Coast would be happy to help you. You can contact us online or call us at 310-535-2150 for more information.
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