Clear the decks
Question for Bates McLain, general manager of Spray and Wash: What are the best ways to maintain a wooden deck?
Answer: The biggest mistake people make when cleaning a deck is using bleach, says McLain. “It breaks down the lignin, which holds the wood fibers together, causing the wood to fall apart within six months.”
Using a power washer is the way to go, and if you tackle it yourself, “It is better to use lower pressure or else you run the risk of ripping the wood apart,” says McLain.
 Lay off the bleach! It’ll crumble your deck, says a local expert. |
Getting rid of leaf piles tucked away in corners or nestled against table legs is a must. Says McLain, “The moisture and acidity of the leaves can leave a dark stain on anything.”
Once the deck is clean, maintenance gets a lot easier after a seal is applied. McLain suggests solid colored stains that are oil-based, such as Olympic products. The resin seals cracks in the wood caused by the swelling and drying from rain and other weathering. “Don’t over-apply it though; it’s not supposed to be shiny like some people think,” McLain says.
If you decide to hire a pro, remember that every deck is unique and factors apart from wood type and size affect the cost. “It gets very complicated because there is so much about the condition of the deck,” says McLain. “If someone gives you a quote over the phone they will probably charge you too much or end up doing poor quality work.”—Suzanne van der Eijk
Lords and ladies
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Seemingly pink and abstract outside, Derry Moore’s book of photographs, Rooms, has an interior as full of Old World charm and decadence as you’d expect from a photographer whose other job is being the 12th Earl of Drogheda. The pages are filled with photographs of stately homes from across Europe, and interspersed with anecdotes about owners as eccentric and unique as the rooms they inhabit. This book is an adult fairy tale: an aristocratic fantasyland of tapestry and chandeliers to fall into once in a while when real life gets too plebian.—Lily Robertson
Ease wax
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It’s a lamp! It’s a candle! It’s both, in a way. Spotted at Glo on the Downtown Mall, this small lamp gets its lumens from a bulb, not a flame, but the quality of its light is due to the shade’s being made of wax. You can choose whichever base and shade lights your fire.