New deck furniture can transform your outdoor living space into a beautiful, inviting, and relaxing place. The entire family can get together to share meals or just chill out as they enjoy the outdoors. But how do you ensure that your furniture doesn’t ruin your deck floor?
To keep your deck chairs from scratching your deck, invest in quality, scratch-resistant decking like composite or Ipe. Protect the surface using furniture pads, outdoor rugs, or carpets. Keep the deck free of abrasive material, like twigs or debris that could cause scratches.
Keep reading for more details on how to protect your deck and the do’s and don’ts to help maintain it. You will also discover helpful tips and tricks on how to prevent scratches from ruining your deck surface and how to repair scratched deck floors.
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How To Keep Your Deck Free of Furniture Scratches
Quality deck flooring is a hefty investment. Therefore, you wouldn’t want to have anything messing it up, leaving behind unsightly scratch marks. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to protect your deck from accidental scratches. Let’s explore them.
Invest in High-Quality Decking
If you are redoing your house decor or merely sprucing up your deck, consider investing in high-quality floor decking. Go for one that comes with a scratch-resistant surface and a solid core.
For wood decking, the harder and denser the wood the better. Decking like Ipe and other exotic wood are often more resistant to damage.
Avoid softer wood decking like Cedar. Cedar may be naturally resistant to rotting but scratches very easy. Even after being stained the decking can mark easily.
With composite decking, the cap will make all the difference. The harder the cap the less likely it to become scratched by furniture.
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PVC decking with its acrylic clear cap is probably the most resistant to scratches. Similar material as what is used to protect kayaks, recreational vehicles and even optic lenses. Really tough stuff.
But if you are not in the market for photo-realistic hardwood flooring on your deck. There are many other composite decking options.
Many people sing the praises of Trex Transcend as being one of the most durable caps on the market. During construction, I often find it will mark less than other composites.
TimberTech’s wire-brushed finishes may not be as scratch-resistant but their finer wood grains can often camouflage minor scratches. Which can have its advantages.
Besides your bulletproof Ipe, the best protection against deck scratches is good practises on your deck. Continue reading to learn more.
Use Furniture Pads To Reduce Pressure on Your Deck
Also known as glides, furniture pads protect your deck from furniture scratches caused by friction or excessive pressure. They help prevent immediate contact between your patio furniture and the decking and are particularly suitable for wooden decks since they blend in well — they are made of recycled wood.
Patio furniture often comes with inbuilt nylon protection, but at times, you might need to affix nylon guides after buying the furniture. The ones bought with your furniture over time wearing off.
You can buy glides from your local hardware store or even make them yourself if you are the handy type. Attach them to your furniture using adhesive, or choose to buy the self-adhesive type.
Have a look at the video below to see how you can make glides at home:
Use Furniture Feet To Prevent Deck Scratches
Another option is to get rubber or epoxy feet or caps for your furniture. Rubber furniture feet make it easy to move heavy furniture around when cleaning without incurring any damage. During parties, guests can also move their seats without fear of scraping your deck.
Plastic furniture feet are durable and easy on your deck, while silicon furniture feet are more high-end but better than plastic ones.
Furniture feet are well-suited for wrought iron furniture or furniture with pointed feet. Also, if your deck is slippery, they prevent the furniture from sliding when someone sits on it.
Some furniture contains metal bottoms (depending on your decking) and is highly prone to making scratches on your deck. As such, you would need to be extremely careful when moving such furniture. Rubber and plastic furniture pads are the most suitable for use in your patio since they are also water-repellant.
Peel-and-stick protectors are readily available in the market. There are also glue-on or screw-on design options, so you can select your preference or choose depending on your outdoor furniture’s feet. Use them to cover patio tables, chair legs, stools, and any other deck accessories that might need them.
Use Outdoor Rugs That Also Complement Your Decor
If your furniture does not contain inbuilt protection, you can use the protective padding discussed above or cover the floor with an outdoor carpet. For instance, you can place a thick carpet underneath your patio table to prevent the table’s feet from scratching your wooden deck. Go for something that complements your existing decor and style.
Outdoor rugs are popular since you can use them to alter the look of your patio from time to time. They add colour, complement your existing decor, plus you can also use them to create different sections in your outdoor space.
Read more about the best outdoor rugs for composite, by clicking the link.
Sweep and Clean the Deck Regularly
Because your deck is located outdoors, dirt and debris can quickly settle on the surface. Twigs, leaves, and small branches from nearby shrubs or trees can also be collected here. All these can cause scratches on your deck, especially if someone steps on them. Regular sweeping and cleaning of the deck area using a fine broom will prevent such an occurrence.
Occasionally, use soap and water to remove dirt and dust buildup. If you need to scrub off some spots, do it gently with a soft brush. Also, avoid power washing and instead use a garden hose to clean the deck.
During winter, remove snow from your deck using a plastic shovel. A metal shovel contains sharp edges that could scratch the deck. For the best results, follow the boards’ direction, i.e., move parallel to the boards’ direction to avoid nicking the surface.
Remember, keeping your deck clean improves its appearance, helps to maintain it, and makes it last longer.
Do Regular Sealing for Your Deck
If your deck flooring is prone to scratching, try sealing it. This entails applying a protective seal on the deck surface to ensure that the floor does not suffer avoidable furniture scratches.
Besides, once the seal forms a protective cover, some minor scratches will cease to be visible. Regular sealing is advisable since it will leave your deck looking nice and attractive.
Do’s and Don’ts of Caring for Deck Flooring
After installing your beautiful wooden decking, you don’t want to ruin it with scrapes and scratches from your patio chairs and seats. Here are some guidelines on how to care for and maintain your deck’s good looks. Following these principles will help keep any deck flooring in tiptop condition for the longest time.
To reduce the risk of scratches occurring on your deck:
- Opt for deck flooring that’s hard, dense, and boasts superior capping.
- Order samples of your potential decking to test how scratch-resistant the deck surface is before committing to buying it.
- Use the appropriate decking repair kit for your deck flooring.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when removing scratch marks from your deck.
- Don’t use rubber pads on PVC decking because they can cause discoloration.
- Don’t drag your furniture across your deck; lift it instead to avoid scraping the deck.
- Don’t buy furniture with pointed feet, as it will likely scratch your deck.
- Carefully choose your patio furniture; for example, wrought iron furniture could scratch your wooden decking.
How To Remove Scratches From Your Deck
Accidents happen. And no matter how careful you are, you might find the odd scratch or two on your decking. Even scratch-resistant surfaces like composite decking could still suffer damage from abrasive furniture legs such as wrought-iron chairs.
While the appearance of some scratches could diminish with time, others might be a bit stubborn. So what can you do?
Below are some valuable suggestions on how to repair various deck surfaces:
- Composite decking: By using a heat gun, you can make the scratch blend in and disappear. However, to avoid damage, keep the heat gun’s tip constantly in motion. Additionally, always hold the heat gun at a distance of 2 inches (5 cm) from the deck floor to prevent permanent damage. Also, avoid sanding or wire-brushing without checking with the manufacturer, as you might harm the surface.
- Pressure-treated wood: Sand the area until the scratch disappears, then seal the deck. This will give the deck a finished look once more.
- Tropical hardwood: This type of decking is quite dense and robust. Thus, it rarely gets significant scratch issues. Light sanding is enough to remove the minor scratches.
And here is a short but insightful video on how to repair scratches on composite decking:
Conclusion to How to Stop Furniture From Damaging Your Deck
Scratches and impact damage can mess up your beautiful deck flooring, leaving it looking unkempt. But not if you follow the helpful suggestions outlined in this article. You will not only get to protect your deck and keep it scratch-free but will also minimize the potential damage your outdoor furniture can cause.
