Even the best decking supplies experience some challenges. If your decking is blackened, slippery, dirty, faded, marred or warped by ugly gaps, all is not lost. There are a few ways you can revive it.
Here are some tips to deal with some of the most common decking problems.
Blackened decking
Whether you have gone for cheap decks or something longer-lasting and sturdier, blackening is a big risk, especially after a wet winter. When fungus meets wet wood, the tannin in the wood reacts and forms a horrible back stain. It is a sign you are heading for a rotten deck. This is something you need to stop in its tracks before it even damages your timber beyond repair.
It is, therefore, important to find tips on how to fight wood rot and get rid of the black stuff, using mould and mildew cleaner, a great industrial strength fungicidal wash created to kill mould, fungi, algae and mildew. It also removes nasty black slime and it is perfect for use on exterior timber doors, garden sheds, windows, fences and garden decks.
Faded decking
A lot of people like the silvery sheen timber gets when it is worn and faded. But the colour change signals water and UV damage to the surface of the wood and although it is okay to leave it to fade, your deck will last longer if you treat the damage to bring back the glorious natural colour of the wood. If your deck or decking tiles fade, there are products that you can use to treat silvery decking boards or tiles. There is a wide range of restorers designed to restore the lovely natural look and colour of your deck.
They do this with oxalic acid that will reverse the chemical damage done to the timber by water and sun. The application and use can vary from one product to the next so you should always read and follow the instructions from the manufacturer. In case you apply the product using a stiff brush, you should exercise some patience for around 20 minutes and remove it with water and a hard bristled brush.
If the silvering of your deck is severe then it can take extra grease and multiple applications. But it is well worth the effort as the natural colour of the wood will be restored within two days. It is recommended that once the colour has returned a clear timber preserver then a good exterior timber oil or deck oil is used to protect the wood against further damage.
Warped decking
If you have left your deck maintenance for a long time then you might find that the boards have warped and this is something that happens when your deck has not been weather treated properly. It can also happen when the weather has been bad. Whatever the cause, when the best decking supplies begin to warp, you should take the necessary action to restore your deck. If straightening the deck doesn’t fix the issue, you might have to replace your boards.
