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This past Spring, this deck was power washed and given two coats of the product in the top pic. Now just four months later you can see the dark stains I have underneath my bird feeders in pics 2 and 3.
In addition to sanding and reapplying the sealer/stain what can I put down (or do) to prevent this from happening again?
BTW, I'll use door mats before I will take down my feeders.
The first thing to do is figure out what's causing the darkening--just having birdseed dropped on there shouldn't discolor the wood, my thought is moisture is collecting there and not drying quickly. Sanding and resealing will keep it nice for a while, but if water puddles up there regularly the only way to permanently fix the problem is to redo that part of the deck so that it slopes properly to allow water to drain.
My personal light bulb finally flashed on. Believing it was an oily scum from the suet, I dragged out the power washer (every home should have one) and was able to clean it to a like new condition.
Now, with just a monthly or bi monthly cleaning with the garden hose and my deck brush it should stay that way.
Why is it that I have to make a post like this before I kick myself in gear?
How about suspending the feeders over the lawn instead of the deck? It looks like there's room to mount one on the other side of the post. Or maybe on a pole a couple feet away from the deck, but close enough to reach in winter. Just an idea.
I started to edit this and tell you I was d mailing about the wasp - I thought my answer seemed like I was complaining when I really meant that I had just forgotten to persue that ID further - anyway, as I was writing, the neighbor's propane tank blew up and burned the house to the ground, very quickly. Everybody is okay, but it was scary for a while there.
Some fine Oaks were singed, so I might start a thread about their fire resistance, if I can figure out what kind they are. What a night.
Ironically, their deck is the only thing left.
claypa, I've never had any experience other than reading about with a Propane Tank explosion. This is a horrific experience for your neighbors. Losing their home must be close to causing shock ... like being mugged, shot and left for dead. I hope they can fully recover soon. Perhaps having you as a neighbor will help them through their recovery. This kind of thing should be automatically covered by some insurance. I think our tank is a leased unit here. The Propane Company would/should be completely liable for any and all damages. Wish them well from me. My family moved west from Union, Fayette Co. PA. in the 1870's. My 5ggrfather was a successful proprietor, landlord and farmer named Reuben Sutton. At his passing in 1863 he gave my 4gr grandmother (and her 4 siblings) each a huge cash settlement. Grandma Paulina immediately moved to near present day Livingston, Montana ... just north of Yellowstone National Park. She's there all alone in a small Catholic Cemetery. 2 of her daughters were 75 miles west in the Gallatin Valley and mine was in Olympia, WA. We have some pioneer heritage out west. I drove by Altoona and Washington Co. and Fayette Co last summer on a trip to and from Baltimore all the way from Seattle with my 18 yr old. We pulled a small utility trailer there and and filled it full of used and specialized micrographic equipment that we repair and sell from a warehouse ... just a living. The landscape is so lush and hilly. I've never been to visit Philadelphia ... but it is on my list of things to do.
Their insurance company has been really thorough and responsive - there have been lots of investigators and even security at night to make sure any evidence or leftover belongings weren't tampered with. I will pass along your good wishes, too. They seem to realize how lucky they are to be alive!
Anyone would enjoy at least a short visit to Philly. The museums and historical sites are incredible, and the arboretums and gardens are maybe the best anywhere because of the quantity in one area - Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, Bartram's, the Morris, Jenkins and Scott arboretums. I'm sure there are more.
