The best way to keep your deck looking gorgeous for years to come is to maintain your deck. With our changeable Melbourne weather comes weather damage, discolouration and wear to your deck, not to mention the impact of foot traffic. So here’s my top tips for maintaining your decked area so you and your family can enjoy it for many, many years to come.

Your deck requires a little TLC every 12 months or so, and I’d recommend doing this around the start of December as it’s starting to warm up and before the Christmas rush and your highest volume of use.  For best results, make sure you have at least 2 days of warm weather on the horizon to allow for drying. 

Step 1: Clear Your Deck

Remove all furniture, plants, loose debris (leaves, twigs etc.) and sweep using a soft household broom.

Step 2: Clean Your Deck

Apply a deck cleaner. There are several products available on the market so this really comes down to personal choice. To apply, follow the manufacturers directions on the back of the product.

Step 3: High Pressure Wash

Using a high pressure cleaner, hose down the entire decking surface to remove any dirt or grime build up. Leave your deck to dry for 24 hours.

Step 4: Oil or Stain Your Deck

Coat the decking surface with decking oil or stain, depending on your preferred tint colour; from natural to darker shades. You can get a natural oil to suit most decking boards from hardware and paint retailers if you prefer the natural look of the timber.

You must allow each coat to dry before applying another coat, so follow the manufacturers directions to coat and re-coat your deck. You may need 2-3 coats to adequately seal your decking boards. 

Step 5: Maintenance

What people don’t realise is that you should be repeating this process at least every 12 months to keep your decking boards sealed. Completing deck maintenance will ensure you and your family can enjoy your deck for many, many years to come.