Jobs to Sort Before Summer

Kiwi houses take a real beating, and paint applied at the wrong time doesn’t help.

After a winter of wild weather, rain, frost and humidity, decks and fences need a healthy dose of care to get them looking their best again.

Decks

Start with a walk across the deck, paying attention to how it feels underfoot. Soft or spongy spots can indicate rot in the decking boards or framing underneath. Check for lifted or cupped boards, popped nails or screws, and split boards, then look at the posts where they meet the ground; this is where moisture sits and rot begins.

Timber decks need oiling or staining before the summer heat arrives, ideally on a warm, overcast day with low humidity and no rain forecast. If the finish has worn back to bare timber, it’ll need a clean and a light sand first. 

And if this is the spring you’ve been thinking about finally building a deck, now’s the time to start the conversation with a builder. Design, consent and the build itself all take time, and starting now means it’s done and ready well before summer.

Fences and retaining walls

Fences take a beating over winter, particularly timber ones. Check palings for rot or splits, and posts at ground level for lean or softness. A tired but structurally sound fence can often be transformed with a clean and a coat of stain or paint. If it’s a boundary fence, repair costs are typically shared equally with your neighbour, which is worth raising before you get quotes.

For retaining walls, look for any signs of movement, bulging, or gaps in the joinery. A retaining wall that’s shifting after a wet winter is something to get a professional to assess.

For a full guide on fencing issues, repair vs replacement, and what to expect from the process, read: Your Handy Fencing Guide for Common Issues and Repairs.