How to help your decking come clean as summer finally shows its face

Summer’s (almost) here and the time is right...for sprucing up the decking.

With the sun finally showing its face after what seems like a lifetime of rain, barbecues across Sunderland will be roaring into life this weekend.

But after a long winter of rain, winds, and neglect, your once-gleaming decking can start to look more than a little worse for wear.

Never fear - garden design expert Oliver Johnson at HomeAdviceGuide.com has advice to help get the most downcast decking looking shipshape and Bristol fashion.

If your woodwork just needs a bit of a spruce up, a hose and brush should be all you need to get the job done:

Begin by clearing everything from the surface of your decking. Remove all of the things that may get in the way including plants and garden furniture.

Get a broom and sweep the entire area. Brush away all of the leaves and debris, paying particular attention to smaller nooks and crannies where debris may collect.

Use your garden hose to loosen and rinse all of the dirt and grime away, aiming directly at any heavily soiled areas to remove as much of the stain as possible and spraying in between all of the decking boards to rinse away any remaining debris.

Create a gentle cleaning solution to prevent damaging the deck by mixing warm water with liquid dish soap, then, saturate the surface of the deck and scrub with a sponge or stiff-bristled brush until the cleaning solution begins to lather.

Allow the solution to stand for around 5 – 10 minutes, then use your hose again to rinse away all of the cleaning solution before allowing the deck to dry.

The best way to clean unsightly mould and algae is with a concentrated disinfectant. Special disinfectants for decking are available, which will help to remove stubborn stains and protects your wood against algae and mould growth.

More persistent stains may require use of a pressure washer but extra care is essential to avoid causing damage.

Always choose the right setting and spray tip and use the lowest setting possible that works - the pressure level for soft woods such as pine or cedar should be around 500 – 600 psi.

Harder woods may be able to tolerate slightly higher pressures, but you should never go over 1200 psi. Use a 40 – 50 degree fan spread where possible. You can also use a rotating tip if you're careful.

Test the pressure in an inconspicuous area before you start cleaning the whole deck. Start with a 500 – 600 psi pressure and then gradually increase it until you find the right setting which allows you to clean the deck properly.

Hold the wand steady a few feet away from the surface of the deck and then engage the trigger. Slowly lower the wand closer to the deck. Try to avoid going any closer than six inches away from the surface, as this may cause some damage to the wood.

Clean in a sweeping motion and try your best to maintain a consistent distance. Feather the spray of water lengthwise, parallel with the decking boards, to work with the grain. Make sure to overlap each area slightly to maintain an even clean.

Remember, if you have a timber deck, pressure washing may cause some splintering or could cause some damage to the fibres. If the deck already has some splintering, you may cause further damage.

If you have a composite deck, pressure washing may scar the deck boards if you set the pressure too high. It could even chip the boards if the pressure is too intense.

As long as you know what you are doing and you are careful with the pressure, power washing won't cause any damage to your decking. However, it is important that you test it in an inconspicuous area before going ahead with the work to ensure the pressure levels are appropriate for your type of deck.

When it comes to cleaning weathered decking, you’ll want to take a gentle approach. Use the hose method as explained above.

If your decking is badly weathered, consider staining the deck and then resealing it.

Use a brush or small roller to coat the decking in sealant. Once the sealant is dry, look for any missed gaps or cracks. Fill these areas with caulk and then reseal these sections when the caulk is dried.

Good luck.