How To Maintain Timber Decking

Unlike living in an apartment in a residential building, living in a house means you probably have some outdoor space in front and/or behind your home. This also means you need to maintain this space regularly and invest some time, money and energy into it, especially if you want it to be visually appealing and practical. Having a timber deck in your back yard is one of the best ways to make the most of your outdoor area – this is the perfect space for spending time with your friends, hanging out with your coworkers, bonding with your family, or just taking a step back from your busy schedule and dedicating some time to yourself. So, how can you make sure your timber deck is in perfect shape, and what can you do to maintain it adequately?

Keep It Clutter-Free

This is the first thing you need to do if you want your deck to remain organized and attractive at all times. Decluttering it regularly is the only way to ensure it doesn’t turn into space where you store all your unnecessary possessions or an area for all the things you can’t fit into your indoor living space.

Although most people think this is a boring, tedious and exhausting process, decluttering your deck can be done in under 15 minutes, as long as you’re organized and know what you’re doing. Start by removing the things you don’t need – especially if they’re old, broken or dirty – and adding some new storage space, and then just keep repeating this process as often as you can.

Keep It Clean

Once you’ve decluttered your deck, it’s time to clean it. There are lots of techniques you can use to make sure your deck is shiny and sparkling, from doing it with a sponge to using a hose, so just pick an idea that works for you the most and add it to your list of weekly chores.

Of course, not all decks require cleaning every single week, so come up with the schedule on your own, depending on the amount of debris your deck has, the number of trees around it, and the overall weather conditions. What’s great about this process is that you don’t need any special equipment or knowledge to make your deck shine, and a simple broom and some power washer should do the trick.

Check the Quality

Maintaining your deck isn’t just about cleaning it regularly and making sure it’s not full of unnecessary items – it’s also about making sure it’s as safe, functional and reliable as possible. While installing it on your own might seem like a good idea at first, it’s actually much better to leave this job to professionals who have more experience and skills than you.

These people will install your deck properly and also keep checking up on it from time to time, just to make sure it’s still in the best shape it can be. Checking the quality of your deck is the only way to keep using it in the decades to come, so find a team of experts you can rely on to do this for you.

Protect the Furniture

If you’re an outdoorsy type of person and love spending time in the open, having a deck is the perfect way for you to pass your time and utilize your outdoor area to the fullest. However, this means you need to find some outdoor furniture that will provide you comfort and help you enjoy your deck on a much higher level.

This furniture needs some attention as well, and you should try to maintain it regularly. Cleaning it with a wet cloth, vacuuming it and covering it with a protecting cover may sound like boring tasks, but these will surely help your furniture stay new, so don’t be afraid to invest some time in them.

Oiling and Staining the Deck

These are two of the most complex DIY processes you could invest your time into, but they are also the best ways to protect your deck for a longer period of time. Covering it with a protective layer of oil, for instance, will help your deck resist harmful sun rays that cause cracks and other damage to the wooden surface, drying it and making it less visually appealing and safe than before.

If you opt for staining, though, you will give your deck a more polished look and accentuate all the patterns and colors of your timber, while also protecting it against UV rays. Whichever idea you go for, you’ll do your deck a favor and extend its lifespan.

As you can see, maintaining a timber deck isn’t hard at all – all you need is some free time, a few useful tips and a couple of experts who can help you protect your deck on a more professional level.