Investing a short amount of time on a regular basis to maintain and care for your decked area will pay dividends in the long term, but what does decking need to be protected from?
Sweep decked areas regularly
Dirt and debris can quickly accumulate on decking and if left unchecked, can lead to a shabby appearance and deterioration of the timber. Sweeping regularly with a stiff brush, paying close attention to the grooves in the decking boards, will prevent a buildup of dirt. It is important also to sweep away fallen leaves before they have time to become wet, a main cause of slippery decking.
Deep clean decking
How often you deep clean decking will depend on where you are and how bad the weather has been, and if leaves or moss have not been swept away and been allowed to accumulate. Without regular cleaning, decking can become wet, leading to mould which is one of the common causes of damage to decking.
If decking is swept regularly and deep cleaned at least once a year, it will need the minimum of maintenance – an appropriate protective treatment such as sealant, stain, or decking oil, applied annually will be enough to maintain its strength, durability and good looks. Note: when applying any timber treatment after deep cleaning decking, ensure that the timber is completely dry before applying the stain or colour.
How to treat timber decking
Just as with decorating the interior of your home, there are steps that should be followed when protecting timber decking. At Witham Timber, we stock the Protek range of products and the following is a guide to the order that is recommended for the application of various treatments.
Wood Preserver
Before applying a wood treatment such as stain or oil, a coat of Protek Wood Preserver will act as an efficient undercoat to provide protection against mould, fungi and insect infestation. Perfect for providing an adhesive surface for other treatments, the wood preserver can be followed by any of our other Protek products, depending on the desired finish, as follows.
Decking oil
Unlike wood stain, a decking oil will not change the colour of the timber. Transparent in colour, Protek Restol Wood Oil allows the original colour of timber decking to be retained while still providing a UV and weather-resistant coating. Apply the oil in a thin coat to prevent concentrated oily spots from forming, as these will take a long time to dry. A thin, evenly applied coat of oil should dry within a day of application. Decking oil can be used on its own, or as a top coat after stain.
Decking stain
Used like paint to add colour, wood stain is available in a wide choice of colours which will enrich the appearance of the timber decking. Protek Decking Stain is formulated with resin to give a long lasting and hardwearing finish that is perfect for high traffic areas. It will reduce the moisture content of timber too, making it more resistant to frost damage, while its linseed oil content gives greater penetration.
Combined wood stain and protector
Similar to wood stain, Protek Wood Stain & Protector will enhance the colour of your decking while at the same time providing a protective, waterproof coating with a mould inhibitor. Available in a range of popular shades, both traditional and contemporary, this treatment is water based and offers resistance to UV damage.
Here in the UK, we have had a love affair with decking dating back to the 1990s when garden makeover programmes became popular on the television. It can transform your entire outdoor space and provide an area for relaxing or entertaining. Tired or damaged and neglected decking however can do the complete opposite, but by following our guide and others in the decking section of our blog, you will have a decked area that can last for decades.