Here’s how Chagrin Home Improvements can get your deck winter ready

By Mary Malik

Summer is winding down. Are you regretting never having your deck cleaned and stained? The good news is there’s still time to get it in shape to enjoy the precious remaining outdoor months. And a late summer cleaning will ensure your deck is prepared to withstand the inevitable harsh winter conditions to come.

“Late summer, early fall is a great time to get the deck cleaned and stained,” says Joe Jacobs, owner of Chagrin Home Improvements. “We can have great deck weather into November. And preparing your deck for what’s to come is an extra added bonus to doing it now. People think they’ll just wait for spring but that can be a big mistake. Protect your investment and avoid greater cost later by handling it before winter hits.”

In Northeast Ohio, we cherish our summer and fall months and the time we can spend outdoors relaxing with family and friends on the deck. It’s truly an extension of our living space. Joe knows a deck is an investment that bears the brunt of the winter months. It’s important to protect it.

“Growing up in Northeast Ohio, I know the damage winters can do to our outdoor spaces,” says Joe. “After graduating from college in Florida, I moved back here and was looking to start a career. I had done lots of outdoor jobs in high school and college and learned many trades. So, I decided to build on what I knew and started Chagrin Home Improvements with a focus on deck cleaning, repair and restoration.”

Joe recommends rinsing off your deck regularly to avoid the mold and mildew. Every two or three years, decks require more than that.

“Only a professional, thorough stain restoration process will protect it from rotting, warping and other issues that could cost you down the road,” says Joe. “The constant freeze and thaw cycles of our winters here are what cause all of those issues. Cleaning and sealing the deck regularly will lengthen its life and save you money down the road.”

Joe says clients often think their deck is beyond repair and needs to be replaced. They’re pleasantly surprised when a few repairs and a good cleaning, staining and sealing make it like new again.

“Only about five percent of the time is replacement necessary,” says Joe. “We can almost always repair it and spare you the cost of replacement. We’ll assess your deck’s condition, make those repairs by replacing warped wood and loose nails, and clean and prepare the deck for staining and sealing. It’s an efficient process.”

Joe compiles all the quotes himself and you don’t even need to be home for the assessment or the job itself. They’ll look at your deck, take photos and measurements and he will get back to you with his written quote.

“It’s just me and few staff members doing the work and I’ve known these guys my whole life,” says Joe. “We arrive on time and get to work. And a cleaning, staining and sealing should last a couple of years with minimal maintenance if it’s done right. And with my crew, it will be done right.”

For more information and to get on the Chagrin Home Improvements schedule, call Joe Jacobs at 440-247-6700 or check the website ChagrinHomeImprovements.com.