If you have a decking at home, you should expect it to last for between 15 and 30 years on average. However, with the proper care and maintenance, you can ensure it lasts much longer. Today's guide looks at decking maintenance, including how to clean, strip, and protect your deck.
Cleaning your decking.
Before you attempt to do any maintenance on your deck, it is essential to clean it first. Outdoor Maintenance Company uses a jet wash and soft wash treatment method. This treatment method ensures the removal of moss and mould, as both are unlikely to be sorted by just scrubbing.
We advise, firstly, to regularly sweep your deck of debris. This sweeping removes any excess leaves and dirt. Once cleaned, cover your plants and grass to protect them from the cleaning solution, and then apply a multi-purpose cleaner. Always remember to read any instructions when applying chemicals. Once applied, wait for the answer to work, and then use a pressure washer.
We recommend that you use a wide nozzle to distribute the pressure evenly. You can hold the jet wash at least about half a meter above the deck, to begin with, ensuring you go no closer to the deck than about 30cm, as this could lead to surface damage.
Once cleaned, consider oiling or staining your decking. Whilst there is no right or wrong answer here, each option has its pros and cons.
Benefits of oils.
Decking oils come with many benefits. Oils often come in natural colours and can easily enhance your wood's appearance. Soaking into the wood also provides additional protection from cracking or warping. Oil is also easy to maintain.
In addition, you can choose from two different types of decking oil. These types are either water-based or oil-based. Water base decking oils last longer as the product sits on top of the wood, whereas an oil-based product penetrates the wood, giving it a traditional look. Furthermore, water-based products dry quicker than oil-based ones, which is usually seen as an advantage if you want to complete the job within one day.
Stains offer a great alternative.
However, stains also offer a great alternative to oils. Instead of penetrating the wood, they protect it by sitting on the surface. Although, they can become slippy when wet. Therefore, should you have an area with large footfall in the winter, opting for a stain might be a better option?
Get in touch with professionals.
Our friendly team can provide a free, no-obligation quote if you want to restore weathered decking this winter. Call us on 01252 229999 or complete our online form.
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