What is the best treatment for old decking?

Stains are best if your decking is a couple of years old and the colour is fading. Paint is best for older decking that needs a TLC and has the added bonus of an injection of healthy colour. And finally, oil is best if your decking is greying and needs nourishing.

How do you extend the life of an old deck?

How do you care for an old wood deck?

Clean the deck by spraying a biodegradable outdoor cleaner that removes mildew. Scrub with a stiff bristle brush, using an extension handle, if necessary. Then rinse the deck with a garden hose. Pressure washing is an option, but follow instructions to avoid damaging the wood.

Should you stain an old deck?

Clear finishes and transparent stains are fine for new wood, but for older decks, Starling recommends using a semitransparent stain. ”The grain still shows through, but the pigment gives the old wood a clean, uniform color and helps the new wood blend in,” he says.

Is it better to paint or stain a deck?

Paint allows you more color options, as where stain is limited to shades of brown. Because paint fills gaps and cracks, it hides the flaws of a weathered or old deck much better than stain does. It's easier to clean a painted deck rather than a stained one.

How to Rescue your Old Decking

How do you prepare a weathered deck for staining?

Before you apply stain, make sure the surface is clean (no dust, dirt, wood fibers or grease), dry and free from mildew. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling. Confirm no rain for 24-48 hours. Thoroughly sweep the deck to remove all leaves and other debris.

How do you treat old wood?

But, you can bring old wood back to life by using boiled linseed oil and prepare it for a few more decades of service life. Don't let grey, weathered wood convince you to replace it when all it needs is a little TLC. Other than rot or physical damage, boiled linseed oil is a great treatment for old dried out wood.

How can I restore my decking color?

Should I pressure wash my deck?

If you have timber deck boards, a power washer's pressure may cause splintering and damage to the timber fibers. If the timber surface already has some splintering, pressure washing will only exacerbate the issue.

Why You Should Never paint a deck?

To get the most out of a wood deck it needs to be protected from the environment and harsh weather conditions. Harmful UV rays and moisture can lessen the longevity of a wood deck in no time.

Do I need to sand my old deck before staining?

If you plan to stain the deck, sand the surface before application to make the wood better absorb the coating. Use an orbital sander to remove any old gloss and smooth out any rough areas on decking boards.

Can you stain weathered wood?

Using clear or translucent stains on weathered wood will result in a splotchy, uneven look. Instead, the best deck stain for weathered wood will have at least some pigment. A semi-transparent stain will impart a little color to the deck wood while still allowing the grain to show through.

What type of stain is best for an old deck?

How do you restore GREY weathered wood?

What is the best oil to use on wood?

Linseed Oil

Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, is one of the most popular wood finishes in the world. Like other hand-rubbed oil finishes, linseed oil saturates deep into the wood grain to protect against scratches and changes in humidity.

When should I use linseed oil on wood?

It is important to apply this finishing oil only on bare or previously oiled wood, since any other finish such as paint, varnish or wax will prevent the penetration of the oil. Painted, varnished or waxed wood will therefore need to be cleaned and/or stripped to bare wood before proceeding with linseed oil application.