A: I referred your question to a painter, since they refinish decks. He immediately questioned how much water could cause a large buildup of mold and mildew on a deck, and why there would be any ventilation problems outdoors.

Applying a bleach solution will kill mold and mildew but you would have to worry about the environmental impact of introducing bleach to the soil and your surrounding landscape. It may also just treat a symptom of a more serious problem that needs to be rectified.

He suggests you address the cause of so much moisture, and wonders if you have standing water under the deck to encourage that mold and mildew growth. He advised contacting a landscape contractor to look into installing drainage in your yard to divert it away from the deck, and the rest of the house, if your deck is attached or adjacent to your home.

To locate some reputable landscape contractors to consult, visit Home Advisor, fill out a service request and be matched with the ideal service professional in your area.

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com