Here we look at treatments for your garden decking. Your decking experiences all of the different seasons in your garden and as with most things needs some maintenance to keep it looking it’s best. One way to do this is to apply a treatment to your deck.  If new decking has been installed it is recommended to let it weather naturally for six months before applying any decking treatments.

Treatments for your decking can include oiling, staining or giving it a lick of paint.

First thing to do is to clear the area, removing any tables or chairs or plant pots, and give the decking a good sweep and a thorough clean. After cleaning allow the wood to dry for at least 24 hours before adding any treatment.

Then choose the treatment for your decking. You will need a dry day for this project but avoid very hot weather as it may cause the product to dry too quickly and not fully absorb into the timber.

When pouring the oil, paint, or stain out from the container make sure that you do this away from the deck to avoid any splashes. Remember to do a patch test first in a discrete part of the decking to check that you are happy with the finish.

You can choose to apply with a brush, roller or paint pads. Rollers or paint pads will enable you to cover an area quicker than using a brush. A brush is good when using paint and for any fiddly areas.

Start at the handrail or highest part of the deck to avoid drips falling on finished areas. Then work out from a corner to the entrance of your decking area so that you don’t end up walking on boards that you have just treated. Apply two thin coats rather than one thick one. Leave overnight before applying a second coat of treatment.

Oils

These are highly recommended as they provide a good level of protection and durability. The oil will penetrate into the wood, replacing any natural oils and resins that are lost over time and waterproofing the timber. Oils are more for protection rather than aesthetics and some decking oils also come with UV protection. You can buy clear decking oils or coloured oils which come in a variety of shades. It is recommended to do this every 6-12 months.

Stains

Staining a deck provides colour but allow you to still see the natural grain of the wood. It is good to chose a deck stain that is a similar colour to your deck or a shade darker. Staining can be carried out every 1-2 years.

Paints

Painting your decking gives you a lot of options on colour. Not only providing great colour to your garden but also protecting the wood and giving a fresh new look to your decking. We recommend using a paint that has a UV resistant formula and using a primer first if you are using a light paint colour.

For all of the above garden decking treatments allow at least 24 hours before walking on your deck.