Business
How to Maintain Your Wooden Deck All Year Long
How do you keep your wooden deck looking like new for decades?
Decks are built, then neglected until problems arise. By then, damage has occurred. Wood that is not properly protected can display cracks, wood rot and decay within eight short years, says a survey of over 100 contractors.
Fortunately, preventative maintenance throughout the year keeps the investment looking great and adds thousands of dollars to a home.
Read on for everything you need to know.
Deck Maintenance: Why It Can’t Wait
Let’s get real…
Wood decking is one of the most attractive options. But it comes at a cost. Failure to maintain wood regularly leads to rot, mold, sun damage and warped boards.
Wood deck maintenance over a 10-year lifespan costs around $4,000 — neglecting maintenance means costly repairs and likely a full replacement down the road.
Deck maintenance season by season isn’t difficult when you know what products to use. Start with the right wood protection. A quality outdoor wood oil with a matte wood oil finish is one of the best bets. It’s absorbed into the wood to condition and hydrate the fibers — keeping out moisture and UV rays. Unlike deck paints or varnishes, it won’t leave a thick, plastic-like coating on the deck.
Smart, right?
Spring Deck Maintenance: Clean, Repair and Prepare
Spring cleaning your deck is the most important time of year.
Winter is harsh to any outdoor structure. Months of snow, rain and freeze/thaw cycles leave damage. Start here to fix problems before they get worse.
Do this every spring:
- Give the deck a thorough cleaning. A deck cleaning product and stiff bristle brush will remove mold, mildew and winter grime. A pressure washer is a great tool too. Just keep it farther away from the boards than you think is necessary.
- Check wood for rot. Push a screwdriver into the wood in various places. If it easily penetrates, the wood is soft from rot and needs replacing.
- Tighten any screws or nails that have loosened over the winter. Also, replace any screws that may have rusted or corroded.
- Take a close look at where the deck attaches to the home. Called a ledger board. Decks fail at this connection point most often. It’s also often neglected when inspecting deck health.
Allow wood to dry thoroughly before applying any new treatment. Wait at least 48 hours. Wood oil traps moisture inside wood if applied while the wood is damp. The goal is to lock moisture out.
Summer Deck Care: Prevent UV Damage
Summer sun is bad news for wood decking.
Sun rays damage wood fibers, cause fading, and lead to cracking over time. Luckily, a matte wood oil finish prevents most of these issues.
Summer is the best time to reapply decking oil. It needs it most when temperatures rise. A fresh coat seals out moisture and hydrates wood fibers — all without the shiny look deck varnish leaves behind.
Summer time maintenance includes:
- Sweeping debris off the deck weekly. Leaves, plants and other organic materials hold moisture against wood.
- Rearrange patio furniture occasionally. Extended exposure in the same spot causes sun bleaching.
- Avoid letting planters sit directly on the wood deck surface. Planter pots trap moisture and cause dark stains.
- Reapply oil in high traffic areas if wood begins to look dry.
Fall Deck Preparation: Before Winter
Fall deck preparation is all about getting the deck ready for snow, ice and cold temperatures. If the deck goes into winter damaged or untreated, spring cleanup will be far more work.
Follow these four steps to prepare a deck for winter:
- Keep deck clear of leaves and debris. Leaves hold moisture against wood and accelerate rot.
- Clean the deck one last time before the freeze. Dirt and grime trapped against wood all winter causes problems.
- Inspect the deck for any damage that occurred over summer.
- Apply a new coat of wood oil to seal wood before cold hits.
Applying decking oil before winter is the most important step of the year. Decking wood that enters winter without protection will soak up moisture during freeze/thaw cycles.
It’s the number one reason wood decks crack, warp and rot.
Don’t skip this step.
Winter Care: Watch for These Things
Winter deck maintenance is easy.
There isn’t a lot to do. But these few habits ensure spring arrives to find the deck in great shape.
- Always use a plastic shovel to remove snow from decking boards. Metal shovel edges scrape and gouge wood surfaces.
- Avoid using rock salt or harsh chemicals to melt ice. They eat away at wood oils and damage wood fibers.
- Check under the deck after heavy rains or snowfalls. Pooling water can occur.
- Keep the deck clear of leaves that may blow in. Leaves in cold weather still trap moisture against wood.
Maintenance done in spring, summer and fall dictates how well a deck weathers winter.
Products Recommended for Year-Round Deck Care
Not all deck treatments are created equal.
Products that penetrate into wood work far better than those that sit on top. For decks, a matte wood oil finish works best because it conditions wood from the inside out.
Things to look for in a quality outdoor wood oil:
- Deeply penetrates into wood grain, not left sitting on top
- Provides UV protection from sun damage
- Repels water to avoid rot and structural damage
- Leaves a natural matte finish — outdoor wood does not look good with glossy finishes
With proper care, wood decks last between 15 and 25 years. Using the right product each season will ensure a deck lives on the high end of that spectrum.
Deck Maintenance Isn’t As Scary As You Think
Season by season deck maintenance isn’t difficult. Sure, it’s work. But dealing with a deck full of problems that should have been caught long ago is far worse.
Takeaways:
- Deep clean, check for damage and treat the deck every spring
- Apply deck protection before and during summer to avoid UV damage
- Prepare the deck before winter — clean and seal wood before snow arrives
- Keep an eye out for damage during winter and remove snow and debris regularly
Follow this guide and the deck will hold up for many years to come.
How do you keep your wooden deck looking like new for decades?
Decks are built, then neglected until problems arise. By then, damage has occurred. Wood that is not properly protected can display cracks, wood rot and decay within eight short years, says a survey of over 100 contractors.
Fortunately, preventative maintenance throughout the year keeps the investment looking great and adds thousands of dollars to a home.
Read on for everything you need to know.
Your Complete Season-by-Season Guide
- Why Deck Maintenance is Essential
- Spring Cleaning and Maintenance
- Summer: Blocking UV Damage
- Fall Preparation: Before Winter Hits
- Winter Care: Keep an Eye Out
- Recommended Products for Year-Round Care
Deck Maintenance: Why It Can’t Wait
Let’s get real…
Wood decking is one of the most attractive options. But it comes at a cost. Failure to maintain wood regularly leads to rot, mold, sun damage and warped boards.
Wood deck maintenance over a 10-year lifespan costs around $4,000 — neglecting maintenance means costly repairs and likely a full replacement down the road.
Deck maintenance season by season isn’t difficult when you know what products to use. Start with the right wood protection. A quality outdoor wood oil with a matte wood oil finish is one of the best bets. It’s absorbed into the wood to condition and hydrate the fibers — keeping out moisture and UV rays. Unlike deck paints or varnishes, it won’t leave a thick, plastic-like coating on the deck.
Smart, right?
Spring Deck Maintenance: Clean, Repair and Prepare
Spring cleaning your deck is the most important time of year.
Winter is harsh to any outdoor structure. Months of snow, rain and freeze/thaw cycles leave damage. Start here to fix problems before they get worse.
Do this every spring:
- Give the deck a thorough cleaning. A deck cleaning product and stiff bristle brush will remove mold, mildew and winter grime. A pressure washer is a great tool too. Just keep it farther away from the boards than you think is necessary.
- Check wood for rot. Push a screwdriver into the wood in various places. If it easily penetrates, the wood is soft from rot and needs replacing.
- Tighten any screws or nails that have loosened over the winter. Also, replace any screws that may have rusted or corroded.
- Take a close look at where the deck attaches to the home. Called a ledger board. Decks fail at this connection point most often. It’s also often neglected when inspecting deck health.
Allow wood to dry thoroughly before applying any new treatment. Wait at least 48 hours. Wood oil traps moisture inside wood if applied while the wood is damp. The goal is to lock moisture out.
Summer Deck Care: Prevent UV Damage
Summer sun is bad news for wood decking.
Sun rays damage wood fibers, cause fading, and lead to cracking over time. Luckily, a matte wood oil finish prevents most of these issues.
Summer is the best time to reapply decking oil. It needs it most when temperatures rise. A fresh coat seals out moisture and hydrates wood fibers — all without the shiny look deck varnish leaves behind.
Summer time maintenance includes:
- Sweeping debris off the deck weekly. Leaves, plants and other organic materials hold moisture against wood.
- Rearrange patio furniture occasionally. Extended exposure in the same spot causes sun bleaching.
- Avoid letting planters sit directly on the wood deck surface. Planter pots trap moisture and cause dark stains.
- Reapply oil in high traffic areas if wood begins to look dry.
Fall Deck Preparation: Before Winter
Fall deck preparation is all about getting the deck ready for snow, ice and cold temperatures. If the deck goes into winter damaged or untreated, spring cleanup will be far more work.
Follow these four steps to prepare a deck for winter:
- Keep deck clear of leaves and debris. Leaves hold moisture against wood and accelerate rot.
- Clean the deck one last time before the freeze. Dirt and grime trapped against wood all winter causes problems.
- Inspect the deck for any damage that occurred over summer.
- Apply a new coat of wood oil to seal wood before cold hits.
Applying decking oil before winter is the most important step of the year. Decking wood that enters winter without protection will soak up moisture during freeze/thaw cycles.
It’s the number one reason wood decks crack, warp and rot.
Don’t skip this step.
Winter Care: Watch for These Things
Winter deck maintenance is easy.
There isn’t a lot to do. But these few habits ensure spring arrives to find the deck in great shape.
- Always use a plastic shovel to remove snow from decking boards. Metal shovel edges scrape and gouge wood surfaces.
- Avoid using rock salt or harsh chemicals to melt ice. They eat away at wood oils and damage wood fibers.
- Check under the deck after heavy rains or snowfalls. Pooling water can occur.
- Keep the deck clear of leaves that may blow in. Leaves in cold weather still trap moisture against wood.
Maintenance done in spring, summer and fall dictates how well a deck weathers winter.
Products Recommended for Year-Round Deck Care
Not all deck treatments are created equal.
Products that penetrate into wood work far better than those that sit on top. For decks, a matte wood oil finish works best because it conditions wood from the inside out.
Things to look for in a quality outdoor wood oil:
- Deeply penetrates into wood grain, not left sitting on top
- Provides UV protection from sun damage
- Repels water to avoid rot and structural damage
- Leaves a natural matte finish — outdoor wood does not look good with glossy finishes
With proper care, wood decks last between 15 and 25 years. Using the right product each season will ensure a deck lives on the high end of that spectrum.
Deck Maintenance Isn’t As Scary As You Think
Season by season deck maintenance isn’t difficult. Sure, it’s work. But dealing with a deck full of problems that should have been caught long ago is far worse.
Takeaways:
- Deep clean, check for damage and treat the deck every spring
- Apply deck protection before and during summer to avoid UV damage
- Prepare the deck before winter — clean and seal wood before snow arrives
- Keep an eye out for damage during winter and remove snow and debris regularly
Follow this guide and the deck will hold up for many years to come.