Hal Major © 2009
BobVilaContractors.com
Is your wood deck looking a little tired and worn? You can restore it to that new look with a few tips from this article. First, let's assume the deck is constructed of weather and insect resistant wood. This can be pressure treated lumber, cedar, redwood or Ipe.
The first thing you want to do is carefully inspect the entire deck. Look for broken and severely cracked planks, banisters and handrails. Replace these with the same material as the original to keep the deck's look consistent.
Reset the nails
During your deck inspection, you should keep an eye out for nails that have worked loose. A nail that has worked its way above the surface presents a tripping and injury hazard. Have a hammer and a nail set with you during the inspection. Tap any loose nails back down to slightly below the surface. Not too deep, though. We don't want deep holes where water and debris will collect. The alternative is to replace the nail with special deck screws that are made for outdoor use.
Give it a good cleaning
The next step is to give the deck a good cleaning to remove any leaves, dirt and mud, insects, and bird droppings. You'll need a garden hose, a broom with synthetic bristles and a standard household cleaner used for washing floors. Remove any loose debris like leaves, first. Mix a little household cleaner with water in a bucket. Test an inconspicuous area with solution to make sure it doesn't discolor the wood.
Hose as much of the loose dirt off as possible. Then come back and apply the cleaning solution with the broom. Gently scrub any stubborn areas. Rinse the loosened dirt and cleaning solution from the deck with your garden hose.
Apply a wood brightener
If you are not a fan of the gray patina that most decks acquire naturally, you can restore the original color with a wood brightener. The brighteners are formulated to remove the gray and bring back the wood�s original color. Do Not use a chlorine bleach to brighten your wood deck. The chlorine damages the cells in the wood and lessens its weather resisting properties. Chlorine bleach is also harmful to surrounding vegetation and the environment.
Apply a waterproofing sealer
Once the deck is clean and dry it's time to apply a sealer. A good sealer prolongs the life of the deck and lengthens the time between your cleaning and brightening duties.
Add color with stain
You can stain the deck with just about any color you like. You can match the color of the house or maybe the trim. Deck stains come in three basic types:
1. Transparent - light coverage - all the wood grain shows
2. Semi-transparent - medium coverage - some of the grain shows
3. Solid - heavy coverage - grain not visible
Of course, you can have all of this work done by a professional. There are contractors that specialize in deck maintenance and restoration.
