1. Assess the condition of the deck
Start by walking over the whole surface and look out for:
- Even greying: this is the surface reacting to UV. The wood underneath is sound; a clean or light stripping is often enough.
- Peeling finish: a film-forming wood stain or varnish is flaking. It all has to come off before a new protective coat goes on, otherwise the new layer won't bond.
- Raised grain, splinters: a sign that sanding is needed.
- A soft board that gives under the pressure of a screwdriver: rot. The board needs replacing; check the joist underneath too.
- Small holes, tunnels, sawdust: have it checked for wood-boring insects, and flag it before any work begins.
2. Choose the technique
For simple dirt build-up, a properly adjusted steam or pressure wash is enough (too much pressure tears out the fibres). To get back to sound timber beneath an old finish or deep greying, you need mechanical stripping: sanding through several grits, edges included. Chemical strippers work, but they run off into the garden or the lagoon, so we avoid them wherever possible.
3. Choose the finish
Outdoors on the west coast, go for products that penetrate the wood rather than those that form a film:
- Deck oil: saturates the pores, limits water absorption and doesn't flake. A pigmented deck oil noticeably slows down greying.
- Oil: nourishes the wood for a warm look; needs more frequent maintenance.
- Film-forming varnishes and wood stains: not recommended on a sun-exposed deck, as they eventually peel.
4. Maintenance
- Sweep regularly so sand doesn't wear down the finish.
- Rinse with clean water after heavy sea spray.
- Plan a maintenance coat of deck oil when water no longer beads on the surface: often every year or two on the sunny coast.
- Keep an eye on the fixings: by the sea, choose stainless steel suited to marine environments.
5. Call in a professional?
A small deck in good condition can be maintained yourself. For a large area, heavily weathered (grey) timber, detailed woodwork or tropical hardwood that needs taking back to bare wood, professional equipment saves a great deal of time and avoids sanding marks. See our deck stripping service.
Published by CAZRénovation · updated on