Having custom millwork integrated into your outdoor areas can be beautiful, but always requires the proper care and maintenance.
As the weather is warming up and the summer months are on their way, we gave some examples of great outdoor projects for incorporating custom millwork into your outdoor landscape. If you’ve taken our advice and considered options for a beautiful pergola to be constructed over your outdoor seating area or added some dovetail timbers to your yard — or, if you have a few of those already — we’re going to share a few important tips to keep that outdoor woodwork looking beautiful. Whether it’s against the winter chill or the summer’s hot sun, any custom millwork that you add to your outdoor areas will require a bit of maintenance and proper care. Here are a few things to keep in mind!
Custom Millwork Needs A Good Cleaning
First off, the best recommendation for your outdoor woodwork is the same as any wood you have indoors: be sure you’ve had is properly stained. While there are alternatives if you’re outdoor custom millwork structures have pre-existing damage, in the case of basic cleaning or preventative care, the best thing to do is simple — keep it clean! Remember that your outdoor millwork will be facing all of the elements of the year-round seasons, and even dirt and grime and make beautiful woodwork losing its natural luster and fade. In the case of a standing pergola or dovetail timber, use a high-pressure water hose to eliminate any dirt that may be clinging on the surface, and be sure to begin hosing in a downward direction. If you really need to give that custom millwork a good cleaning, visit a hardware store and buy a cleanser that can be applied with the help of a brush with bristles that are tough enough to clean the area properly. You can also use a tooth brush for stubborn areas of the pergola that cannot be targeted with a bristle brush. Always take care to remove any splinters of wood or paint that may appear to be peeling off. To remove any mildew that may have accrued, mix a cup of oxygen bleach with a gallon of water and apply it — but only after you’ve washed the woodwork. Once you see the stains lighten, wash it again with soapy water followed by rinsing.
Keep Your Garden Foliage In Check
A popular practice for many homeowners with pergolas is to allow their gardens to drape and overhang from the pergola’s beams, or deliberately grow decorative vines along its structural posts. Done correctly, this definitely adds a further touch of elegance, however, it is important to remember that vines thicken and add to the weight to the custom woodwork. To avoid damage, try to keep trimming the vines couple of times throughout every year.
About Mahogany, Inc.
Mahogany, Inc. is a general contractor specializing in quality construction for projects across a wide range of industries. Located in southwest Baltimore, we employ 100 persons, and are one of the largest minority-owned businesses in the state of Maryland. Make sure to check back with our blog every week for the latest industry related information. For more information, you can contact us at 410.727.0334, or email us. We look forward to hearing from you!