Do you have natural wood vegas and beems? Info from Decktek Coating, Wood Restoration in Prescott

Wood restoration and refinishing in Prescott by Decktek Coating
Protecting our decks and railings from the elements is important, but too often we overlook items like vegas and beams. These are important structural supports for our homes. We not only want them to look architecturally pleasing but also protect them from the elements as well. Decktek Coating, a local service provider of wood and deck restoration in Prescott, offers the following about sealing vegas and beams from water intrusion and potential wood rot.

The bottom mounting location for vegas and beams is often overlooked. Sealing up the gap between the vega and the mortar is important in the prevention of wood rot. Another area that is often overlooked is the cracks and splits that occur at the bottom of the mounting location as well. These open cracks allow water in around the base of the vega, overtime deteriorating the wood.

BEST PRACTICE FOR SEALING

There is a right and wrong way for sealing these cracks. The wrong way is to think you can simply take a caulking gun and fill the crack with any household sealant. The right way I will demonstrate with pictures, the use of the right sealant, and the right way to fill a crack.

To properly fill the cracks, we must first use what is called “backer rod”. This foam like product comes in rolls, available in different diameters from box stores (see pic). The backer rod is used to bridge the gap between the wood and the mortar. The reason for this is to eliminate large thick amounts of caulking that would normally be used. Thick amounts of caulking fill the gap but will not expand and contract with the wood eventually not sealing the vega and allowing water to intrude again.



We want to use no more than a 5/16-inch layer of sealant. So, pick the best diameter backer rod to suit the gap and with a putty knife push it in around the base of the vega. Leaving a gap to fill with sealant of no more than 5/16 inch as mentioned above. You do not want to pack it in hard.

 Your next step is to use your sealant, and the best sealant for this job is urethane. Not silicone and not silicone with latex. Urethane is a much better sealant and not often used because it's more difficult to work with. Urethane is also available in box stores and comes in different colors. Urethane is mineral based and can be sticky and messy to use. Best method to make it easier to use is a spray bottle filled with mineral spirits or paint thinner. Apply the caulking, mist spray with the paint thinner, and finish smoothing with your finger. Wait about 3 days for the caulking to cure and then your ready to paint or stain.

The same method applies for vertical cracks that will allow water into the base of the vegas as well ( see pic ). The same method is applied only the caulking is a little different if you are using clear or semitransparent stain. If you're using solid stain then the urethane can be used. For clear coat or semitransparent stains there are caulking products that are colored to match close to the finish stain color or species of wood. (See pic.) The only other difference here is to use tape around the crack, fill the crack and use a putty knife to remove the excess. The tape is used to make a cleaner looking job. Remove the tape, give it time to cure, and you’re ready to paint or stain.

Refinishing your wooden projects can be a lot of work! We hope that you have found this informative. Decktek Coatings knows just what needs to be done to refinish decks and other wooden surfaces for your Prescott home. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to see how we can help. Call 928-899-3225 or visit our website at http://www.decktekcoating.com.

More Information:
Wood Refinishing in Prescott
Prescott Wood Restoration
Helpful Restoration Articles

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