Your timber deck is one of your most important investments and really adds value to your modular home. On the flip side, a really poorly maintained deck can be a major drawback to your home – let alone an eyesaw!
We’ve gone out and spoken with industry experts, timber decking specialists and our own painters. After these discussions, the following tips on how to properly maintain your timber deck became pretty clear! By just following these 3 simple tips, you will be able to keep your deck in pristine condition and extend its lifespan considerably.
Read on to find out about the 3 simple steps you can follow to keep your deck in tip-top condition.
To start with the obvious, you need to keep your new verandah clean and well maintained. Sweep it frequently to remove dust and leaves, and wash it with water every couple of weeks or as needed. And we really recommend you avoid using detergents or degreasers! Just cool tap-water from the garden hose is fine.
For hard to remove stains – use a microfibre cloth, or if still won’t go you can use some “Spray & Wipe” detergent spray (or similar) applied sparingly and wash off with cool, clean water.
Regular inspection of your timber deck is a must – keep it under 6 months between checks – and look out for fading, ‘greying’ or fine cracks. If you can start to see this, it means a recoat is needed. Timber goes grey through UV exposure and rain which washes or “bleaches” the natural oils, pigments and tannins out of the timber. A simple and easy way to test whether your timber deck is ready for re-coating is to sprinkle a little water on it. If the water is absorbed into the timber, it needs to be recoated.
Most importantly, your deck needs a regular coat of decking oil or stain. The frequency of recoats depends on several factors such as your climate type, the level of exposure to the rain or sunlight, its proximity to pools, high and low traffic areas and the type of timber that has been used.
Deck prior to being oiled
Different areas of your timber deck will need recoating sooner than others. It is a good idea to still coat the whole deck, just apply it lighter to the areas that need it less. For a more detailed guide on how to oil your deck check out the Cabots application guide
Westbuilt and our team recommend using Cabot’s decking products to oil your deck. Cabot’s is a leading supplier of woodcare products in Australia. View their website at www.cabots.com.au for further information.
Check out this article to see the difference between staining and oiling a timber deck,