Q.I am having a spirited debate with my husband about how to clean a deck. The job doesn't seem that hard, but my husband wants to use a pressure washer, as he thinks it will save time. I want to use ...

Dear James: The surface and some of the support lumber is deteriorating on my raised deck. How can I test the lumber ...

Pressure washing that old wooden deck in your back yard might make it look better, but you may be creating a carcinogenic hazard that puts you, your children and your pets at risk in the process. That ...

Q:It's time to refinish my sun-pounded deck, and I was wondering whether you'd recommend sanding it down again. I did so about three years ago, and although I love the freshly finished look, I'm not ...

Dear Angie: What kind of companies can I hire to pressure wash a home and a wood deck? Are there any risks with power washing? Alan M., River Vale, N.J. Dear Alan: Pressure washing is great for ...

Q: Last June we installed a new redwood deck. After waiting two weeks, my husband treated it with Cabot Australian tree oil. We now have areas that are almost black and others as pristine as the day ...

Do you own a pressure washer? I’ve had no fewer than five of them in my lifetime. I must say they’re amazing machines when you use them correctly on surfaces that won’t be harmed by the powerful blast ...

Q. I have an old Vermont farmhouse, and the trim around the south windows may be too old to hold paint. After 10 or more years since I last painted the wall, the paint on the trim comes off in sheets, ...

Warmer air means time spent outdoors. You're poised to be a super host this summer. From Father's Day barbecues to graduation parties, the lawn is mowed and you've got the grill — but is your deck ...

Wood balconies and decks take a beating in the desert sun and wet winters. A good cleaning might be all it needs to perk up. Because wood needs to breathe, it is not a good idea to seal exterior wood, ...