A beautiful patio or deck may seal the deal for people on the market for a single-family rental house in St. Petersburg. A rental home with an outdoor gathering space usually has a high demand. If the patio or deck is in good condition, then this is true. Splintered wood, stained concrete, and dirty vinyl planks are potential hazards and are also deal breakers for 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.
Usually, wooden decks require the most upkeep. Maintaining a wood deck does not need to be very expensive, all you need to do is clean them with standard deck cleaner each spring to remove dirt and debris. Once finished, the deck should be sealed to protect it from the elements. Now, your wooden deck would not only look good but it would also be more resistant to splintering, rot, and mold.
After years of use, no matter how you carefully maintain the deck, you would need to stain or repaint it to prolong its lifespan. This consumes a lot of time, a given for wooden decks but necessary to keep property values high. Should you repaint the deck, first remove the old paint, and then have the wood planks sanded before having it repainted. It is recommended to use high-quality paint designed for outdoor use. It’s not as simple as just staining a deck, since the wood needs to be prepped for the new coat of stain. Both stained and painted wood should be coated with a sealant for maximum weather resistance.
Wood decks need a lot of care and because of this, vinyl planks are a popular option for property owners. Although vinyl decks are way easier to manage, they 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 St. Petersburg property has a patio instead of a deck, you might assume that there is no maintenance required. But that is not the case. While regular sweeping can help keep surface dirt away, concrete and stone patios can still become dirty and stained. Therefore it is a must 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. It would be a wise decision to seal both concrete and stone since dirt and stains cannot settle in easily so cleaning it would be much less of a hassle.
Finally, outdoor furniture is a must for your deck or patio. The outdoor décor furniture needs to be cleaned and maintained periodically too. Clean outdoor furniture using mild dishwashing liquid mixed with water and a soft-bristle brush. Items that are not in use should be covered then stored indoors if ever possible. Clean, seal, or repaint wooden furniture every year, as what you would do with wooden decks. For fabric cushions or pillows, surface cleans them with a mild soap solution and it’s best to 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.
If you want to know more about maintaining your property, a St. Petersburg property manager at Real Property Management TradeWinds would be happy to help you. You can contact us online or call us at 727-400-4722 for more information.
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