How to restore old decking?

julienf

Hi folks,

We have this small "deck" behind our house, which is just used to access the fuse box and under the house. It's not protected and exposed to weather. I don't need it to be pretty as it's out of sight but I want it to last for as long as possible and not be a hazard (It has become slippery)

I can't tell the type of wood.. 

What would you the best approach? Sanding and oiling/painting? Any specific treatment to be applied?

Cheers

Julien

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EricL

Hello @julienf 

It appears that the deck is still in sound condition. I suggest giving the deck a good clean and removing all the vegetation that has started to grow on it. Once the deck is clean, I recommend sanding the surface back to remove all the old timber fibres on the surface. Give the surface one more wash to remove all the sanding dust and let the surface fully dry off. Once it is totally dry you can then oil or stain the surface to your preferred colour.

Here are some handy step-by-step guides that will help you with your project:

• How to clean a deck
   
• How to sand a deck
   
• Choosing the right finish for your deck
   
• How to oil your deck

If you need further assistance, please let me know.

Eric