How to Maintain a Deck in 5 Steps

The deck is an essential part of family life in summer, especially in sunny Queensland. What’s the best way to maintain a deck so you can make the most of your home’s outdoor space?

Step 1: Sweep Regularly

Use a stiff broom to sweep the entire deck. This will remove dirt, caked on mud, and even moss. In addition to making your deck cleaner, regular sweeping can prevent water or dust from drying out the timber.

Step 2: Clean Thoroughly

Giving your deck a good wash is an essential maintenance routine, and it’s a great task to get the kids involved with. Add detergent to warm water,pour over the deck and scrub with a stiff broom or even one of those small brushes that come with the brush and shovel combo. You can also use a pressure cleaner, however, this may remove your deck’s protective coat.

Step 3: Fix Damage

Once your deck is clean and dry, have a good look for any damage. This may include loose nails, loose boards, rot and moisture damage. Loose boards and nails are an easy fix; simply nail them back in. Mild moisture damage can be removed with sandpaper. Serious moisture damage and rot may require the replacing of boards.

Step 4: Apply Deck Oil

Oiling your deck helps protect it against the weather, especially UV rays that dry out the wood and cause it to crack. You can purchase deck oil with UV protection added in, as well as moisture and mould resistance. You can apply deck oil with a large brush – but a roller is best.

Step 5: Stain Your Deck

Deck stain adds stunning colour and a lustrous texture to your deck, and highlights the natural grain of the timber. Again, deck stains help protect against harsh weather.

Staining your deck can be quite tricky. You need to work from one side of the deck to the other, so you avoid standing on the wet product. You’ll also need to cover one entire board at a time, to ensure each piece of wood dries evenly. This will help prevent blotchy patches.

Get Your Deck Stained Professionally

Did you know we offer a deck staining service? We’d love to give your deck a makeover so you can make the most of the space this summer. Give us a call on 07 3829 5735, or fill out the form on this page. We’ll get right back to you with an accurate quote.