How to refresh 5 year-old deck?

bm

Hello 

we have a verandah where we have decking. Deck was installed over 5 years ago and we thinking of giving it a refresh. 

Please can you advise if there is any quick refresh options. 

I have attached some pics. hoping to get an idea on the color  to be used. 

Please suggest. 

MitchellMc

Hi @bm,

Thanks for sharing your photos. Your deck doesn’t look too seriously deteriorated, which is great news. Once a deck has weathered for several years without maintenance, you usually move from simple refreshing into full restoration territory, but yours looks like it might just need a good clean before re-oiling.

When it comes to deck maintenance, "quick" refreshes are typically something you’d do yearly — a clean and a fresh coat of decking oil to keep it protected. Once you leave it for a few years, you often end up needing to do a bit more work. I’d recommend starting with a deck clean using a proper deck cleaning product to lift out any built-up grime and restore the timber’s appearance. After that, have a look — if the colour is fairly even, you can go ahead and recoat it with an exterior decking oil. If you notice patchiness or uneven discolouration after cleaning, some light sanding might be needed to get a more consistent finish before oiling.

As for colours, it really depends on the look you’re after. Natural and lightly pigmented oils will enhance the existing timber tones, while darker stains can re-colour faded timber and help hide minor imperfections. Once you clean the deck, you’ll get a better idea of how the raw timber is looking and what colours might suit. 

Here's a helpful guide: How to oil your deck.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell