Decking care
Caring for your decking in easy steps
Having an area in the garden that can be used all year round is great for families with young children as they have an area where they can play outside without getting muddy in the winter months. It is for this reason that many people choose to have wooden decking in their garden when considering an alternative to concrete or stone paving slabs as they want a surface that is safe in case of trips and falls but unless this decking is maintained correctly and regularly it will soon look worn and unkempt. During the winter months decking that has not been cared for can become slippery and dangerous to walk on so proper maintenance is essential to prevent potentially serious slips and falls from both adults and children.
The first step is to regularly give the decking a good clean by first brushing with a stiff broom and then jet washing using a directional nozzle to get in between the ridges of the decking. A proprietary decking cleaner can be used which helps to remove dirt and debris from the decking. It is a good idea to do this on a day that is warm and breezy so that the decking has chance to dry completely before you move on to the next process to keep the decking in good order.
The next step, and probably the most important, is to treat the decking with a good quality wood preservative. This should be ideally carried out annually. Once the decking is clean and dry, the wood preservative can either be painted or sprayed on to the decking. If it is possible to get access to the underside of the decking treating this surface will help to prolong the life of the decking considerably. If at this stage you want to change the appearance of the decking, a preservative that also includes a wood stain can be used and light coloured decking can be transformed to a darker shade quite easily. The wood stain will make a big impact on the appearance of the decking so think carefully about your colour choices.
Along with the regular maintenance of the decking, checks should be carried out on the state of the decking and any worn or damaged sections should be cut out and replaced with new planks. This will ensure that the risk of injury from trips on damaged areas will be minimised ensuring that the decking is safe to walk and play on by the whole family.