Last Updated on May 15, 2025 by Royal Stone Care
As the weather turns warmer, and thoughts turn increasingly to outdoor living, you may well be reassessing your outdoor space. And part of that might involve inspecting your decking and making sure it looks its best ahead of the summer.
Over the cooler months, your decking could have split, warped or started to rot. Or water may have damaged it, making it unstable. If beams have rotted, you’ll need to replace them as soon as possible, otherwise you could face big structural problems.
Here’s what else you can do to look after this attractive garden feature:
Make any repairs
As a priority, complete any maintenance repairs which need doing. That includes finding where you need to sand or fix boards, removing any splinters and replacing broken or loose timbers.
Clean thoroughly
Once you have structurally sound decking, you can clean it. Sweep up with a stiff wire brush and then use something to cover up nearby plants and grass to protect them from the cleaning solution you’ll need to use. If you spot signs of mould, a multi-purpose decking cleaner could help with that. Check manufacturer’s instructions. But usually you’ll apply the cleaner directly to the wood and work it in. After up to 20 minutes, remove with a pressure washer or hose.
And, by the way, it’s worth testing the pressure washer on a discreet area first to ensure it won’t damage the decking.
Next choose your paint
Choose a clear restorer to revive the wood’s natural appearance and grain, or a decking reviver paint to colour and cover the timber. Either way, you’ll need to add a layer of oil or stain afterwards as weather protection.
If you select the former, as ever follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and stir the product thoroughly before use. Apply the decking restorer with a paintbrush in a thick layer, covering up to four boards at once. And then work the product into the surface with a stiff bristle brush. Scrub again after quarter of an hour, before rinsing with clear water. Finally, allow your decking to dry out completely before you apply an oil or stain.
With a decking reviver, again read the instructions and stir and test the paint. Once you’re OK with the colour, start on a corner and paint along the lengths of the boards. Cover up to four boards at once to avoid overlapping marks. The paint should fill up minor cracks to give a smooth finish. But only apply the second coat after you have left it for four hours to dry.
Then it should take up to 48 hours for your decking to dry out – and it should then look like new and have a good level of weather protection.
Decking restoration from Royal Stone Care
At Royal Stone Care, despite our name, we’re not just about stone! Our extensive decking restoration service includes pressure washing, removing algae and dirt and wooden floor sanding in London, as well as protective oiling plus deep cleans. And we can sort out rotting timbers, too.
Get in touch today for an initial chat and quote, whether you have composite, hardwood or softwood decking.
