A deck that’s gone grey and splintery looks finished, but it usually isn’t. Timber silvers on the surface long before the structure gives up. Nine times out of ten, the bones are fine and the deck just needs taking back and re-finished.
Here’s how we approach a restoration — and how you can too, if you’re handy and patient.
Start by being honest about the deck
Before you buy a single litre of oil, get down and look. Press on suspect boards. Check the joists and bearers underneath for soft spots, and the posts where they meet the ground. If the structure’s sound, you’re in restoration territory. If it’s moving or rotten, that’s a different (bigger) job.
Rule of thumb: surface weathering is cosmetic, structural rot is not. Don’t oil over a problem.
Clean before you sand
A wash with a proper deck cleaner lifts grime, mould and the dead grey fibres sitting on top. It also shows you the real condition of the timber underneath. Let it dry properly — sanding damp timber is a waste of a belt sander.
Repair, then sand
Swap out any boards that are past saving, sort the fixings, and make the surface solid. Then sand along the grain until you hit clean, even timber. This is the step people rush and regret.
Finish it for the climate
On the Central Coast a deck cops salt air and hard sun, so the finish matters. Pick an oil or stain suited to your timber, and don’t skimp on coats. A good finish is what makes the whole effort last.
If that sounds like more weekend than you’ve got, that’s what we’re for. Either way, once it’s done, keep on top of it — a light re-oil every so often saves the big job down the track.
Thinking about your own deck? See our decking services or get a free quote.