How to care for and clean a wooden deck?

Wooden decks are exposed to a number of adverse factors, such as precipitation, temperature changes, UV radiation and simply wear and tear as a result of daily use. But does this mean that they are impractical? Definitely not! Wood is a durable material - after all, trees, if not disturbed, can live for hundreds of years - environmentally friendly, renewable and at the same time incredibly aesthetic and pleasant to use. Only a little regular maintenance is enough to enjoy a beautiful terrace for many years. How to care for and clean a wooden deck? Check!

The importance of regular maintenance of a wooden deck

• Any material, even basalt, wears out over time, and wood is no exception. Your terrace will become dirty, dull and dull. 
• The good news is that wood can be repaired until the boards are almost completely worn out, and with proper care it will reward you with a beautiful appearance.
• It is worth adding that regular maintenance of a wooden terrace is much more effective than major repairs carried out from time to time.
• Proper and consistent care will not only make the terrace aesthetically pleasing, but will also protect the wood from external factors and pests. In this way you will extend the life of your terrace and make its use a real pleasure.

Cleaning the terrace is the first step to preserving the beauty of the tree

First of all, a wooden terrace requires regular cleaning. 

• It is worth removing soil, dust and fallen leaves from it every day - just sweeping with a regular broom is enough. Deck boards can additionally be washed several times a week, for this you will need a warm, clean water. This way you will remove dust and other residues from them.
• Several times a year, you should pay a little more attention to the terrace and clean it thoroughly. This can be done, for example, in the spring, before the start of the season, in summer and autumn, before it gets colder. To wash the terrace, you can use a high-pressure washer, which will thoroughly remove all the dirt. Do not forget to thoroughly clean the crevices - this is where soil, pine needles and leaves most often accumulate.
• Regular cleaning of the surface of the terrace will help prevent dirt from penetrating deep into the wood and preserve its color and properties of the material. Remember that all kinds of deposits, precipitation and dirt can change not only the appearance of the wooden terrace, but also the structure of the boards. This, in turn, can lead to weakening and faster destruction of the structure.

Besides all the practical reasons why patio care is important, we also can’t forget that sitting on a clean, well-kept patio is just a pleasure!

Oiling a terrace is the secret to preserving its shine and durability

Of course, regular cleaning is not everything. At least once a year it is worth covering a wooden terrace with a protective layer of oil.

Why is lubrication so important? 

• The fatty layer penetrates deeply into the wood, complementing and enriching the oils naturally present in it and enhancing the natural durability of the building material. 
• The oil layer not only protects, but also revitalizes the top part of the wood, giving it a beautiful color and pleasant texture. 
• Oil also prevents cracking and delamination of boards.

How to properly oil wood on a terrace? 

• Start with... Checking the weather forecast. The temperature on the day of treatment should be at least 10°C, and at least two sunny days are also necessary for the boards to dry. For this reason, the whole process is best carried out in late spring or early summer. And if where you live there is heavy snowfall and harsh winter, it is worth securing the terrace a second time - at the end summer or early autumn.
• Before you start applying the oil, the deck, of course, needs to be thoroughly cleaned with a sharp brush. If the surface of the boards has grooves, run the brush along the grooves. Pay special attention to all cracks and nooks. All you will need for the entire procedure is water and regular soap. If the boards have stains that are difficult to to remove, you can use specialized preparations and sandpaper.
• It is best to wash the deck in the morning - this will give it enough time to dry during the day. Remember that we only lubricate dry wood!
• To oil a deck, you will need two brushes - a wide one and a narrower one to cover the joints and crevices. The procedure itself is similar to painting, but you need to be very precise and oil every crack and joint of the boards.
• It is also worth noting that if your terrace has been painted or varnished, you must remove all unnecessary layers before applying oil. Then use impregnation and cover the terrace with it. Only after these procedures can you start oiling.

Repairing a wooden terrace - when and how to do it

The good news is that a well-maintained wooden deck can last for decades without the need for major repairs. However, repairs must be carried out every few (tens) years. Especially if we bought a property on the secondary market and its deck is neglected.

How to determine that a terrace needs repair? 

• First of all, take a look at the boards that make it up. If they are loose and discolored, this part may need to be replaced. 
• You can also use a screwdriver or other sharp tool - try to stick it into the suspicious-looking wood. If it goes in without problems, this is a sign that no treatment will help the wood.

Just as in the case of oiling, we also thoroughly clean the terrace before repairs - we sweep and wash it. Repairing a wooden terrace usually involves replacing worn out, rotten boards. Choose boards, planed on all sides, chamfered and impregnated under pressure - you will find them, for example, in the offer of our store https://foreest.com.ua/en/. In addition to materials, you will also need tools - a drill, tape measure and jigsaw, as well as clamps and spacers that will allow you to maintain the required distance between the boards. After laying fresh boards, impregnation and oiling are necessary.

Protection of the terrace - coating, patina and other solutions

Finally, it is worth adding that oiling is not the only way to protect decking boards from biological corrosion. On the market you can find special coatings for terraces that protect wood from weather conditions. These types of coatings, as well as oils, are selected depending on the type of wood. Exotic species require different care than domestic species, such as pine. Patination is a natural process caused by UV radiation. When exposed to sunlight, wood turns gray, which changes its color, but does not affect its strength and other properties. Patination is caused by lignin contained in wood, which darkens when exposed to sunlight. However, if you want to preserve the natural color of the boards, do not forget to regularly lubricate them with an appropriately selected preparation. This can be a colorless oil, thanks to which you will emphasize the natural color of the wood, or a colored one.