Maintaining a Deck: Keep It Looking Brand New!
Date: 17th June 2024
Categories: Barrettine, Products
Timber decking is often a huge financial investment, and it’s crucial to maintain your decking properly to keep it looking brand new. As well as regularly cleaning your decking to keep it free from debris and dirt, it’s also important to apply a water-repellent decking oil and an anti-slip top coat for safety and peace of mind.
The beauty of wood decking
It’s hard not to love the look and feel of a beautiful wooden deck – it extends living spaces outdoors, perfect for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying the sunshine.
But decks are exposed to the harsh realities of British weather, from scorching sunshine to hammering rain. This constant assault can take its toll, leaving a once-pristine deck looking tired and worn. The elements can also damage a deck’s structural integrity, and growth of algae, mould and moss can accelerate decay in the timber. If left for long periods of time, this can lead to rot in the decking boards.
Why maintaining a deck matters
Decking is a significant financial investment. Just like any valuable possession, it makes perfect sense to take steps to protect it with regular maintenance.
Here's the good news: with a little effort and the right products, maintaining a deck is easy. By taking some preventative measures, you can ensure your investment retains its beauty and functionality for years to come.
Cleaning your decking: using a deck cleaner
Just like any outdoor space, decks accumulate dirt, grime, and algae over time. This build-up can not only make a deck look dull and tired, but it can also trap moisture and create the perfect breeding ground for mould and mildew. This makes regular cleaning an essential starting point for maintaining a deck.
To keep a deck surface looking like brand new for years to come, it's important to regularly brush off dead leaves, moss, debris and loose dirt off the surface of your deck with a stiff-bristled broom.
Barrettine's Super Concentrated Decking Cleaner is a great option for removing dirt, but if you have any mould or mildew build-up you’ll need a cleaning solution with a biocide included. Barrettine Knockout Driveway, Decking and Patio Cleaner contains a surface biocide to kill mould and algae growth and reduce future growth.
The Barrettine two-step solution for beautiful timber decking
Once your deck is clean and free from dirt, it’s important to treat it. At Barrettine, we are experts in woodcare, and we’ve developed a two-step system to keep your wood deck looking beautiful and safe to use.
Step one: Barrettine Decking Oil All-In-One-Treatment
In order to protect decking from the elements and keep it in good condition, you’ll need a protective coating with water repellence.
At Barrettine, our Decking Oil All In One Treatment is specifically formulated to further protect pressure treated and preservative impregnated timber. If your decking contains unpreserved or untreated timber, you’ll first need to treat it using Barrettine Universal Preserver Primer first.
Our All-In-One Treatment’s water-repellent properties help prevent timber from splitting and cracking, keeping it structurally sound. Available in a variety of colours, including, Natural Oak, Dark Oak and Light Oak to name a few, this oil contains UV-resistant pigments to shield against colour fading. Our All-In-One treatment is harmless to beneficial insects and plants when dry.
This oil’s versatility extends beyond decks, offering excellent protection for other exterior timber features like summerhouses, sheds, and fencing.
Applying Decking Oil All-In-One Treatment
As with any product, we always recommend carrying out a small inconspicuous test patch first on your decking to make sure you are satisfied with the finished result. This is especially important for this product as the final colour can vary depending on the age, type and condition of your wooden decking.
Applying the Barrettine Decking Oil All-In-One-Treatment is straightforward, but achieving the perfect finish requires a little preparation. It’s best to wait for a day when the weather is optimal – dry and still is key.
Apply the oil using a brush or a sprayer. Two coats are recommended for complete protection, but it’s important to allow the first coat to dry for 24-48 hours before applying the second.
After you're finished, clean your equipment with Barrettine Brush Cleaner, White Spirit, or Bio Spirit.
Step two: Barrettine Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat
After applying the Decking Oil, an anti-slip top coat is advisable for areas where this can become slippery, making sure your decking is safe to use.
Our award-winning Barrettine Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat is a premium oil containing anti-slip technology, significantly improving grip on decking surfaces, handrails and wooden steps. This clear top coat also boasts a beautiful low-sheen finish with UV stabilisers to slow greying and keep your deck looking its best.
The formula is built to last, resisting flaking, cracking, and water ingress with excellent water beading. It even provides additional protection for the wood, as the film biocide deters mould growth. Best of all, it's harmless to beneficial insects and plants once dry, and achieves a "Low Slip Risk" rating according to the British Standard BS 7976-2.
Applying Barrettine Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat
For best results, use a wide-bristle brush to apply a liberal, even coat to the decking.
Remember to brush in the direction of the wood grain for a seamless finish. Typically, one coat is sufficient, but for extra protection, a second coat can be applied after 12-24 hours. Before allowing foot traffic on the treated area, ensure the top coat is completely dry, which can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours depending on conditions.
It’s important to note that the benefits of the anti-slip top coat will be reduced in the event of dirt build-up or surface mould, so we recommend regularly cleaning your decking.
How often do I have to reapply the anti-slip top coat to my timber deck?
How long the top coat will last will vary depending on foot traffic and weather conditions. Generally, it’s best to reapply the Anti-Slip Top Coat after around 6 months, but if you’ve noticed that the anti-slip properties have been reduced then it’s wise to apply another coat.
Maintaining a deck: professional products from Barrettine
For more information on Barrettine's deck maintenance solutions, including the Decking Oil All-In-One Treatment, Decking Oil Anti-Slip Top Coat and Super Concentrated Decking Cleaner, please browse our range of decking treatments. You can also click here to find your nearest stockist of our products.
If you have any questions or queries, please get in touch with our expert team today. We're always happy to help!
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