How To Look After Your Garden Decking

A garden deck is a beautiful addition to any outside space and decking has become an essential part of contemporary landscape design, as homeowners are increasingly looking for versatile spaces to entertain guests and relax. A deck is essentially an open-air extension to your home; the perfect space for outdoor seating or to house a safe and secure play area. Garden decking serves the dual purpose of also covering up any slopes, uneven areas of ground or rough terrain, without having to carry out major landscaping work. 

With all the benefits that decking brings, there are inevitably some drawbacks; predominantly the fact that decking timber requires a fair amount of care and maintenance throughout its lifetime. This is because decking can be badly affected by weathering, even with quality timber and effective wood treatment. In this blog, we take a look at the most common problems that decking timber encounters and how to solve them, followed by a few helpful tips on how to look after your garden decking.

 

Common problems with decking timber 

Whilst a well-laid deck should last a long time, it won’t be immune from its fair share of problems over the years. Being aware of the most common problems is a surefire way to stay on top of your decking maintenance and solve any issues quickly before they become expensive. Let’s take a look at some of the complications that you may encounter.

 

Fading 

As it fades in the sun, timber will lose its colour over time. UV damage is obviously more prominent during the summer months, so after a couple of summers with your new deck, you may start to notice it fading to a greyish-silver colour. Whilst this is mainly just an aesthetic problem, it can really affect the overall look and feel of your garden. Further to this, if you have decking on a business premises, a poorly kept deck can directly affect your profits; your location will look shabby and unprofessional. 

With this in mind, if you notice that your deck is starting to fade to grey, make sure you keep a tub of your chosen wood stain or paint in the shed, so you can give the colour a boost whenever you need to. For a more long-lasting solution, you could sand down the wood to even out the colour, and reapply a layer of treatment.

 

Rotting 

Wood rot is a more major issue than fading, as it can cause your deck to literally fall apart. It is usually caused by water damage or just general deterioration over time, so be sure to do some investigating and suss out where any water is coming from around your deck. This could be a gap in the treatment, or perhaps an overhead gutter that is overflowing. Posts and pillars in your decking are also particularly vulnerable to wood rot, as dirt can settle around them and allow water to build up. 

It’s crucial that you catch wood rot early as, if the wood is already rotted, it can be near impossible to salvage (an early sign of wood rot is moss or mould, which we’ll get onto in the next section). If your deck is already rotting, you can check how bad the damage is by seeing how soft the wood has become. To do this, take a screwdriver and press it into the wood- the deeper it sinks without too much effort, the worse your rot is. 

Hopefully, the rot will be localised to just a couple of planks, which can be independently replaced. However, if it’s spread across the breadth of the timber, it could be time to invest in a new deck. With your new deck, ensure it’s been properly sealed with a quality sealant or wood preserver, and be hyperaware of any vulnerable areas, adding extra treatment to these spots.

 

Moss, mould and algae 

If your decking is suffering from a buildup of moss, mould or algae, you’ll know about it. It will be slippery underfoot and appear green or black in colour. As we just said, this is also a sign of future wood rot, so be sure to catch it early. 

Moss, mould or algae is essentially a variety of fungi forming on the timber planks, and your deck will be more vulnerable depending on the time of year and the amount of sun it gets. If your deck is south facing, it will be particularly fungi-friendly. Meanwhile, after a long, wet winter, the black slimy grime that tends to form is the perfect nutritious snack for fungi. Fungi needs a food source (pollen, dust or dirt), dampness and direct sunlight to thrive, all of which are quite common in British gardens. 

To clear the decks, you could either invest in fungicides to wash the boards down or simply scrub away using hot (decking friendly) soapy water- the more environmentally friendly option. A powerful jet washer will also do a sterling job, but be careful not to further damage the natural wood grain, particularly if it’s a few years old. In this case, stick to a stiff broom and a bucket.

 

Warping 

Warping, bowing and cracking are some of the more severe problems that your decking may encounter, with hardwood decking being particularly prone to these issues. If you haven’t properly treated your deck, or if the weather is particularly bad, you’ll notice that your decking boards start to change shape. This not only looks bad but can also make your deck dangerous; it can create trip hazards, form gaps between planks and also make your furniture sit at jaunty unstable angles. 

Depending on how bad the warping is, you can either replace the fasteners and drive new ones in to straighten up the planks or use a bar clamp to work new stops between the gaps and even things out. If neither of these options does the job, you may simply have to replace the boards entirely. If you notice your decking timber is shrinking and allowing large gaps to form, you should look into replacing your deck.

 

Five top tips for maintaining your decking 

Although these deck-related problems can take hold quickly, there are things that can be done to prevent them from happening. Here are our five top tips for maintaining your garden decking.

 

Prepare 

Decking maintenance begins before you’ve even installed your deck. To ensure a long and healthy life, ensure that your deck has been carefully designed, taking note of any vulnerable areas so you can plan ahead for problems. Whilst you can build a deck yourself, it’s usually best to hire professionals to do it for you- they’ll ensure it’s sturdy, stable and stands the test of time. They’ll prepare the ground to ensure structural stability, which could involve tasks such as tree stump removal and the levelling off of terrain.

 

Treat 

Once you’ve laid your deck, you’ll need to treat it with quality wood treatment, designed to protect, preserve, maintain and restore timber boards. The treatment you choose depends on the type and condition of your deck, either soft or hardwood, old or new planks. There are various treatment options, including preservers and restorers to stains, oils and paints, which will have an impact on the overall appearance of the decking, as well as the condition. Just remember, for a new deck, it’s a good idea to leave it to naturally weather for six months so that your treatment adheres properly.

 

Clean 

You should clean your decking at least once a year. As we mentioned earlier, investing in a quality jet washer is ideal, as this will wash away any dirt or grime buildup quickly- it’s also a very satisfying task! In the absence of a jet washer, a stiff broom, some hot soapy water and plenty of elbow grease will do the job. Remember to only use hot water with a specialist decking cleaner soap. And, remember to let your decking dry out for a couple of days before applying any stains or treatments.

 

Repair 

Be sure to keep an eye on any damaged areas of your deck and be prepared to carry out any minor DIY fixes. Remove and replace any nails that have popped out, and use the tips we mentioned earlier to fix gaps or trip hazards. Also, ensure that you replace any poor quality or damaged planks quickly that are suffering from the problems we listed above so that the issue doesn’t spread. For more elaborate repairs, it’s a good idea to find a reputable, local landscaping service to help you keep on top of things.

 

The perfect conditions for maintenance 

Before you carry out any maintenance work on your decking, you need to make sure you know when is a good time to do it. Whilst it’s important to assess the state of your decking and stay on top of issues, there are certain times of the year and specific weather conditions in which maintenance is much easier. You should carry out any treatment, cleaning or repair work during Spring, Summer or early Autumn when temperatures generally stay above 10 degrees. Plus, make sure the deck is dry before treating your deck too.

 

Paul Day Treecare: For all your garden maintenance needs 

Here at Paul Day Treecare, we offer comprehensive garden maintenance services, from tree surgery and landscaping to fencing, paving and decking installation. Our garden and landscaping experts know everything there is to know about outdoor spaces and have worked on both small residential projects and large commercial premises. 

We’re passionate about ensuring that your outdoor areas not only look beautiful, but also cultivate a healthy environment for both people and plants. Our deep knowledge of trees, hedges and plants enables us to look after them with ease so that they can be enjoyed for many years to come. 

Whether you need advice on how to look after your decking or you’re not sure what to do with an overgrown tree, we’re the company to call. Contact us on 01909 519675 today, or fill in a contact form on our website and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.