Most people who install wooden decking want it to look its best in the summer and worry about it becoming slippery in the winter. Regular decking maintenance keeps your deck looking good and usable year-round.
Cleaning your decking
Keeping debris and piles of leaves off your deck is essential year-round. Regular sweeping with a broom goes a long way toward keeping your deck in good condition and helps prevent algae growth. However, it is best to clean your decking every spring using a decking cleaner, ideally with a jet wash. Pretreating any algae-affected areas with a mould and mildew cleaner before jet washing helps. If you don't have a jet washer, a stiff broom with hot water, decking cleaner, and some elbow grease will also work well.
Treating your decking
After you clean your deck, treat and protect it with a good-quality decking oil. The oil will repel water, reduce splitting & cracking, and help keep your deck looking good all summer. To keep the timber looking more natural, we recommend using a clear or Light Oak Decking Oil. Don't forget to use the oil on your balustrading and newel posts too. I have found that two coats of oil are usually needed.
Anti Slip
If certain areas are consistently slippery, you can add Anti-Slip Plates, which screw onto the top of the decking. These plates are ideal for steps or ramps, providing extra traction in the winter months. When using new products on your deck, read the instructions carefully and try the product on a small, inconspicuous area first before applying it to the whole deck. If you need more advice on cleaning your decking, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team.
