Timber decking can be a fantastic addition that really spruces up your garden. Plus, with timber decking typically lasting between 15-30 years, it’s certainly a worthy investment. However, your decking can’t live out its full potential without a little bit of help. With the right care, your timber decking will be able to last for decades to come – regardless of wear and weathering.

However, if you’re new to the world of timber decking maintenance, you might be a bit lost on where to start. Fortunately, in this guide, we’re going to cover how to properly clean timber decking, how to protect it and provide some other essential care tips.

How to Clean Timber Decking

Before you perform any maintenance work on your timber decking, you’ll first need to clean it. There are a couple of ways that you can do this. You could use a decking cleaner that quickly gets to work and doesn’t require much work on your part. This is a particularly good idea if you need to get rid of tough dirt or stains.

Alternatively, if there isn’t a significant build-up of dirt and debris, you could use a pressure washer, stiff brush and a bit of elbow grease to get the decking clean. We don’t recommend this method if you are dealing with mould, however, as this could make the problem worse. Mould should always be treated first.

Using a Decking Cleaner

1.    Sweep the Deck

Remove all furniture and use a stiff wire brush to sweep away loose debris and dirt.

2.    Protect the Surrounding Area

Decking cleaners can be damaging to your plants and grass, so cover these areas with plastic protection before applying.

3.    Apply the Decking Cleaner

If you have mould growing on your timber decking, certain multi-purpose decking cleaners are able to remove spores at the same time as cleaning the decking boards. This is a quick solution to take care of several issues and have your decking looking as good as new in no time.

For advice on how to apply certain decking cleaners, always check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Using a Pressure Washer

If you choose to clean your decking using only a pressure washer, you’ll still need to first sweep and protect the surrounding area – just to make sure that nothing gets damaged. Before getting started, you should also test the pressure washer on a hidden area to check that it won’t damage the decking.

To wash the decking boards, use as wide a nozzle as possible to evenly distribute water pressure. Hold the pressure washer about half a metre (two feet) above the decking to begin with. Keep the nozzle at an angle and gradually move closer to the deck, but don’t go closer than 15-30cm, as this can cause damage.

Move the nozzle in sweeping motions – starting at one end of the deck and following the grain of the wood. Make sure the nozzle is constantly moving in a back and forth motion to ease the impact of the pressure. You might also need to keep scrubbing with a stiff brush to get rid of particularly stubborn areas.

Decking Oils vs. Stains: Which is Better?

For treating and protecting timber decking, there are once again two popular options: using a decking oil or decking stain.

Decking Oil

Decking oil often comes in natural colours or a clear formula to enhance the natural beauty of your wood. They work by soaking deep into the wood and penetrating the grain to provide protection from the inside out. This prevents your decking from cracking, splitting or warping, and should generally keep your wood nourished. It protects against the weather all year round too, so your wood is less likely to weather and grey, and will instead look its best for longer.

Decking oil is very durable and easy to maintain, meaning you’ll just need to touch it up every now and then. However, it’s worth noting that it cannot be stained or painted over, so if you decide you want to change the finish you’ll have to first strip the oil. It also can’t be used on certain types of hardwood, like teak or balau, as these types are naturally oily and have a very dense grain that’s hard to penetrate.

Decking Stains

Decking stains are similar to varnish and available in a wide range of colours. Unlike decking oil, stains essentially create a protective seal over the wood to protect it from weathering, instead of penetrating the grain. Despite this, it provides a similar level of defence against environmental factors and footfall. However, they do have a tendency to become slippery when wet, and they are more susceptible to peeling or flaking if not properly maintained.

Because of the pigmentation in decking stains, they can conceal the grain of your timber decking. If you’re hoping to go for the natural look, you’re probably better off opting for a decking oil.

Do I Need to Treat New Decking?

Most new decking boards come pre-treated – just look for a green or brown tinge, or a slightly darker surface compared to the cut end. New decking needs to be left alone to weather naturally until all of the pre-treatment has eroded. This typically takes around 6 months, after which you can treat it as normal with an oil or stain.

Another key way to protect your timber decking is to use an end grain protector to prevent damage to the exposed ends. This ensures that no moisture seeps in and the wood doesn’t contort or split.

How to Restore a Weathered Deck

Timber decking that’s been weathered by the sun will look grey, split and sometimes warped; if damaged by water, it could rot and become unstable. Unfortunately, when it comes to rotting, there’s little you can do other than replace the afflicted boards. However, sun weathering can be salvaged with a bit of extra work. Here’s what you should do:

1.   Make Any Repairs

If you really want your timber decking to look as good as new, you should carry out any necessary repairs first. Identify any areas that need fixing or sanding, remove all splinters and replace any loose or broken decking boards.

2.   Clean the Deck

Once you’ve made repairs and your timber decking is structurally sound again, it’s time to clean it. See our ‘How to Clean Timber Decking’ section above for more advice on this.

3.   Pick Your Treatment

There are two different ways you can revive old, weathered wood. You can either use a clear restorer which brings back out the natural grain, or you can use a reviving paint which conceals imperfections and colours the wood. If you opt for a restoring treatment, you’ll still need to add a layer of stain or oil to protect your timber.

Shop Timber Decking Maintenance Products Today

For all of your timber decking maintenance and care products, look no further than Hales Sawmills. From decking cleaner to decking oil and decking stripper, we can supply everything you need to ensure your decking is protected from wear and tear and maintains its natural beauty for longer.

Alongside decking treatments, we also supply an extensive selection of timber products – from decking boards to fencing and sheds – manufactured from premium-quality, sustainably sourced timber. You can shop our full range online today, or for more information about any of our products, please get in touch with us today.