washing and repairing a deck

Has your deck seen better days? Maybe it's time to spruce it back up in time for patio season with these tips.

• A power washer may seem like the perfect tool for deck cleaning, but in inexperienced hands it can do more harm than good. Too much water pressure or the wrong spray angle can end up disturbing wood fibres and raising the grain, making for a fuzzy surface that doesn't wear or weather well.
• In most cases, a standard garden hose with an adjustable nozzle (in conjunction with a deck-cleaning solution) is a much better tool for the job.

• Don't place outdoor rugs on deck surfaces because they'll collect rot-inducing debris and moisture. If you must have a mat or a rug on your deck, remove it regularly to clean and air the underlying surface, and don't replace it until the surface is completely dry.
• Elevate planters on rolling plant stands instead of placing them directly on your deck. Placing a saucer underneath a planter isn't enough, because the saucer can leave stains.
• Move furniture pieces often to clean underneath them, especially if they have closed-weave or otherwise solid constructions.
• Over time, nails used in the construction of your deck can pop out, creating safety hazards and possibly leaving rust stains. If the nail head is just barely above the surface of the wood, hammer it back in. If the nail has worked itself loose, pull it out and instead of driving a replacement nail, use a stainless-steel decking screw. It will bite more deeply and securely into the wood; it's also rust resistant and won't stain wood decking.

• To see if your deck needs resealing, splash a glass of water on the deck boards. If the water beads up, the surface is still water-repellent; if it soaks in, it's time to reseal.
• Gear up for a resealing job with rubber boots, eye protection and rubber gloves, and select an overcast day to tackle it. Warm, sunny weather will cause your deck-cleaning solution to dry before it has a chance to de-gunk the surface.
• Remove furnishings and planters from the deck and trim or tie back any branches that are touching its surface. Also moisten and cover any nearby foliage that might come in contact with the cleaning solution.
• Mix a ready-made deck-cleaning solution following the manufacturer's directions. Unless your deck is badly stained, use a bleach-free formulation.
• In general, use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub all parts of the deck (railings, steps, and floorboards) with the solution. For best results, start at the top of the railings and work your way down to the floorboards. To make washing floorboards easier on your back and knees, use a long-handled floor brush.
• Allow the cleaning solution to sit on the wood surface for about 15 minutes, then rinse away all residue with a garden hose. Also rinse nearby plants that have been splashed with cleaning solution. Let the deck dry completely (usually three to four days) before replacing furnishings and planters.
• If you also need to reseal your deck, sweep it thoroughly once it's dry, and apply a clear or staining wood sealer. Use a roller attached to a pole for the deck boards and a natural-bristle brush for the railings and anyplace else the roller can't reach; or use a pump-style garden sprayer.
• Treat the entire surface of the wood (top, sides, and bottom), and pay extra attention to the ends of the deck boards, as they're the easiest entry points for damaging moisture.