Decking Care
In the late 1990s garden decking became hugely popular, especially with its regular
use on tv garden makeover programmes. It is perfect for obtaining a balance between
a natural look and making practical use of space. It makes creating different levels,
steps and covering unwanted surfaces a relatively easy task. Unfortunately our climate
is not kind to wood and many homeowners have learnt the hard way that decks built
in shade quickly become very slippery in the resulting damp conditions and that
it is not a surface you can just leave for years and expect it to stay in good condition.
However, despite the typical British extremes of wet, cold and ice during winter
followed by baking hot conditions in summer (hopefully), with the correct care and
attention a decked area can easily exceed 30 years of use. To achieve this, the
following steps should be taken before winter begins.
- Pick the right day - A sunny day just before winter starts is the best time preferably
choosing a time that will give a window of at least six hours of dry weather before
the any rain might begin.
- Clear the deck surface - Start by making sure that the decking surface is free of
any clutter, obstacles and garden furniture. When clearing the area do not drag
furniture on the deck as this might damage the oily coat which protects the wood.
- Brush the deck thoroughly - Using a stiff broom brush the area to get rid of any
dirt and debris which has accumulated over the summer months. Unlike an indoor brush
which has soft fibres aimed to collect dust, a stiff broom is designed to slightly
scrub the surface, thereby removing larger particles.
- Wash the deck – Although not absolutely necessary this will help to ensure that
no dirt and debris particles are left on the deck. A pressure washer is useful for
this job but a garden hose will also work well. Do not use an industrial grade pressure
washer (above 1500 psi/100 bar) as it might damage the oily coat which protects
the wood.
- Treat hard stains - Stains such as food and drink residue can be removed using either
soda crystals or a chemical cleaning agent. Soda crystals are not only the cheapest
option but are also more environmentally friendly and easy to use. Simply spray
warm water over the decked surface and sprinkle on the crystals allowing the surface
to dry before giving the area a thorough brush using a stiff broom. When using chemical
cleaning products it is important to pay attention to health and safety by carefully
reading the product’s instructions.
- Treat the wood – This will give the wood protection over the winter months. The
best result is achieved by using decking oil which will seal the wood by penetrating
into the timber leaving a natural looking finish on its surface. Apply two thin
coats of oil using a soft-haired paint brush and wait an hour between each coat.
The soft-haired brush will ensure that no puddles of surplus oil are left.
- Leave to dry - Depending on the weather, garden furniture may be returned to the
area after a couple of hours. Again it is important to take care not to drag along
the surface.
This job is worth your time and effort, as this yearly process will greatly help
improve the longevity of the wood.
The information for this article was provided by the team at
hardwood decking timber supplier Wood and Beyond which offers a wide range
of garden decking and
hardwood flooring for your home and garden.
© Sharon
Brown 29th September