Your timber deck is one of your most important investments and really adds value to your modular home. On the flip side, a poorly maintained deck can be a major drawback to your home – let alone an eye saw!

We have gone out and spoken with industry experts, timber decking specialists and our own painters. After these discussions, we complied 3 simple steps on how to properly maintain your timer deck! By 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 how simple and easy it is to keep your deck in tip-top condition.

STEP 1: CLEANING YOUR TIMBER VERANDAH

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 for a more serious approach, use “Spray & Wipe” detergent spray (or similar) applied sparingly and wash it off with cool, clean water.

STEP 2: REGULARLY INSPECT YOUR TIMBER DECK

Regular inspection of your timber deck is a must – keep it under 6 months between checks. 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 is time to give it a recoat!

STEP 3: RECOATING YOUR TIMBER DECK

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.

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

TIP – WHAT SORT OF OIL TO USE ON A TIMBER DECK

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.