decking careYour garden's brand new timber decking will require a certain amount of care from time to time.
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Although there are many variations of advice and products available, the effort taken to keeping it looking it’s best is really worthwhile.
The first year will bring many changes in the weather and your timber decking will become faded and grey as well as dirty and stained.
If so, clean it thoroughly, restoring it’s original vivid colour...
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Whether your new wood has been pressure treated or not (pressure treated wood has a greenish tint) it should be treated with a deep penetrating treatment (not a stain or cheap oil as this will not penetrate into the wood) specifically designed for new wood, and ideally should be applied as soon as possible after your decking has been installed.
This helps to expel new moisture or water from getting into the wood. Sudden changes in weather conditions (one minute rain, the next minute sun etc) causes damp wood and then the sun causes the wood to swell and crack.
Some of the more expensive products used for treating wood contain a fungicide which helps prevent the growth of algae, thus helping to avoid slippery and potentially dangerous wet decking.
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After the first year your decking should only require one coat of clear oil (depending on the amount of sun exposure its had) to keep it looking great.
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For older decking or stained decking firstly you need to wet the wood thoroughly and apply a cleaning product you can mix with water and apply with a clean sweeping brush, really working the mixture into the wood and leave it for about 10 minutes. Then with a stiff bristled brush rub down the surface.
Once you have done this, leave for 30 minutes then hose down the deck. When it dries it should look pretty much as it did when it was new. Leave it for approximately 3 days to thoroughly dry out before applying a protective coat.
The next step is to use a deep penetrating clear oil that soaks into the wood rather than on it. There are products available that provide ready tinted oils.The first application should be two coats.
It is important to go back and apply your second coat immediately after the first coat, which should be approximately 1/2 an hour, this will enable the protection to last longer. One thing to remember is that if the wood is looking tired and grey - it needs oiling. |
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