A timber deck is a great place to relax with friends and family, read the paper or play with the kids. But due to the harsh climate, a deck can also take a beating from the elements, so regular maintenance is needed. Here’s some handy advice to make your deck neat.
Clean the boards.
Sand away any loose fibres and give the weathered boards a good clean using White Knight “Renew It! Deck Cleaner”. Always follow the instructions on the bottle and allow the boards to dry.
Control the damage.
Check for any loose nails, screws or loose boards, and if required, replace any damaged ones, especially near stairs or railings.
Prepare it.
Apply two coats of White Knight “Renew It! Wood and Concrete Resurfacer”, following the label directions. It has a thick consistency, which rolls on really easily, so you can’t go wrong. Make sure you allow it to dry thoroughly between coats.
Match colours.
There are hundreds of Taubman's colours, so you can match your deck to the rest of the house. This process is easy and the end result so amazing that the transformation will make your friends think you have a brand new deck. A great colour to consider is Taubman's “Fudge Truffle”.
Watch bird droppings.
Maintain your deck by removing, and hosing off, bird droppings as often as you can. This will help prevent them from staining the timber -- it gets worse the longer they stay.
Use a pressure washer.
Using a pressure washer can be another great way to clean up your deck ready for restraining. However, be careful with pressure washers as, depending on the age of your deck, they can splinter the wood and remove the protective coating.
Mind the gap.
If there are any cracks in your deck deeper than 5mm, fill them with an exterior paintable sealant chalk. When dry, give the area a light sand for a smooth finish, using a 120-grit abrasive.
Clean with oil and stain.
Clean the deck with warm water and some detergent, and give it a good scrub, making sure it’s completely dry. Use a roller to apply a water-based decking oil with advanced UV protection. Oils dry quickly and are usually resistant to mould and fungus. You can also apply stain the same way as the oil, but make sure it’s completely dry between coats, so you don’t get any drips or blotches.
Sweep the leaves.
Debris between the boards soaks up water, promoting rot, so brush your deck regularly.
With regular maintenance, your deck will always look like it’s new. Get help from accredited carpenters in Australia for better results.