While the homeowner is saving pennies for a new deck, a proper cleaning of the old deck will suffice.

Last week’s cookout was a great success. The grill was on, the food was fresh, and the company was enjoyable. Even the weather was forgiving. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the deck. While a deck may be in good condition structurally, it often shows its age through severe discoloration and wear caused by the elements. There are only two options at this point. Redesign and build a new deck or clean it up and re-stain it.

While replacing an entire deck for most homeowners isn’t the most viable option, for those few planning to install a new deck, there couldn’t be a better time. Obviously, most people would choose to clean their existing deck and re-stain it, but this requires more than a hose, a can of stain, and a brush to revitalize a deck. Staining a deck correctly is still considered a DIY project, but it will take several days and a lot of effort.

The first step for any outdoor project is to prepare with safety in mind. Many homeowners already have a pair of gloves and safety glasses for working around the house or using power tools. If this basic safety equipment is missing, the cost of cleaning a deck will increase by a margin. Other equipment and supplies needed to clean a deck include a pump sprayer, bucket, biodegradable wood cleaner, bollard, stiff bristle deck brush, drill with paint mixing attachment, and hose. As you can see, quite a bit of equipment is required to properly clean and prepare an existing wood deck for staining.

While most “pros” will just resort to using a pressure washer to remove the dirt, most pressure washers are too powerful and will actually cause more damage to the deck. The reason pressure washers are a popular choice is because it’s so much easier than scrubbing the surface and it saves time in the short run. Pressure washers will actually create small tears and openings in the wood fibers of your deck planks, allowing more moisture to enter and degrade the wood at a faster rate. Where regions of the country receive a variety of different types of weather, from sunshine to freezing ice, such as North Carolina, it is especially important to maintain the integrity of the wood.

The key to any painting or staining job is to properly clean and prepare the surface. After hosing down the deck surface to remove any loose debris, fill the pump sprayer with a 1:1 ratio of wood cleaner to water. After spraying the deck boards and steps, begin vigorously scrubbing the surface with the deck brush. This will loosen and remove embedded dirt from the deck. After a 10-15 minute break, hose down the deck again. Rinse the pump sprayer as well. What remains will be a dirt-free cover.

The next step is to remove any algae that is a common problem on decks across the country. In a clean bucket, mix a 1:5 ratio of Borade with water. Thorough mixing with a mixing paddle and drill will be necessary to prevent debris from clogging the spray pump. Fill the pump sprayer with the borate solution and spray the entire deck. Do not hose down the cover. Once again, the purpose of the borade solution is to kill the algae. Now clean and allow the borade solution to soak into the platform and dry for two to three days.

Upon returning to the deck, inspect the deck for any loose boards or railings. After making the necessary repairs, the next steps are to apply the stain. Before long, that worn-out old deck will reflect the novelty that the homeowner can enjoy for several cookouts and for years to come.