If you've recently fitted or you're thinking of installing timber decking, then be prepared... It will need a little care and attention from time to time to keep it looking its best.
Like anything made from wood, be it a garden shed or fencing, decking is a long-term investment, so by taking the proper steps to care for and maintain it, you will prolong its life and keep it looking its best.
A quick search on Google will illustrate the vast amount of advice and cleaning products etc that are available to help protect and maintain decking.
But I have to say the effort and money you spend taking care of your deck is money well spent. Nothing beats the look of a good timber deck. Plus it is the perfect setting to show off garden furniture.
In the first year of a deck being laid, the use of and climate will have a dramatic impact on the wood. It will fade to a dullish grey as well as picking up dirt and stains.
However, if you keep it clean and protected, then you will keep that original colour. The likes of Cuprinol and Ronseal have an extensive range of deck cleaning products that will remove even heavy mould/algae growth.
These are just a few of the great videos we found online offering tips and advice on how to best clean and protect your decking:
The first two videos are from Ask Me DIY. In the first video, they explain how to clean your deck without a pressure washer and in the second they look at how you can safely clean your deck with a power washer.
If you want to clean your patio like a pro, then you need to pop to HSS (or any other Tool Hire Centre) and hire a rotary deck/patio cleaner.
It is the best way to clean patio decking and any other hard surface. No chemicals are used, only cold water under pressure is used. The following video from Jet Drive shows how it works:
Next up is a video from Wattyl Paints that looks a little closer at how to prepare and oil your timber deck.
OK, they're pushing their products, but don't let that put you off. They throw in some great tips on how to achieve a rich, transparent finish on your deck and how to best protect it from harsh weather conditions.