How to clean, oil and maintain a wooden deck
Maintaining a wooden deck is not as complicated, as many assume. It only requires the work to be done right from the start. In that way, the durability of the wood is considerably prolonged and no do-overs are required.
Extend the life of your wooden deck with proper wood treatment and maintenance.
The surface of wooden decking gets weather beaten over time. The surface turns grey and cracks, and eventually, it becomes slippery and unprotected from dirt and green growth. Especially green growth can hold moisture, which is damaging to the wood in the long run as the risk of fungus and decay increases. Therefore, proper wood treatment and maintenance is required in order to keep the wooden deck beautiful and long lasting.
However, maintaining a wooden deck is not just a matter of applying some wood oil to the surface. That would be equivalent to building a house directly on the lawn. The key to a beautiful and durable result is to clean the wooden deck thoroughly before applying any kind of wood oil. If a wood cleaning is not done, the oil will not be able to penetrate deeply into the wood, but instead create a new layer of oil on top of the dirt and former hardened oil. This will cause the newly applied oil to peel off, it is almost inevitable and the wooden deck will need to be surface-treated once again.
Clean your wooden deck thoroughly and avoid do-overs
Never use high-pressure cleaners, chlorine, algae remover etc. for the actual cleaning of the wooden deck. These methods can cause more damage than good. We recommend using WOCA Exterior Cleaner instead, as this product is specially developed to remove moss and algae growth without damaging the oil applied to the wood.
Also keep in mind that the wood must be completely dry after the cleaning, before applying any wood oil, as a moist surface will prevent the oil from penetrating into the wood.
Your wooden deck will benefit from a high-quality wood oil
As soon as the wooden deck is clean and completely dry, the WOCA Exterior Oil can be applied. Make the application in dry weather only (at temperatures between 15-25°C) and avoid direct sunlight. WOCA Exterior Oil, which is recommended for the actual oiling, is a wood oil with two unique properties: it contains a UV-filter to protect against bleaching and discoloration from the sun, and the special consistency makes it very easy to work with. Besides this, WOCA Exterior Oil provides the wooden deck with a very hard-wearing and water-repellent surface, which in this way prevents mildew. When the work is done right from the start, and the right products have been used, you will be able to enjoy a wooden deck with:
- A well-protected, hard-wearing and water-repellent surface
- A beautiful and natural look
- A superior durability
- An easy cleaning and maintenance
How to...
1. Cleaning
Soak the wood. If possible, use a garden hose. Mix WOCA Exterior Cleaner with water in the ratio 1:2 and apply it with WOCA Silicum Cleaning brush (or regular stiff nylon brush).
Scrub the soaked wood along the wood grain until the wood appears clean. Repeat the cleaning if necessary. Carefully wash down the surface with water and remove any loose crisps with a stiff brush. Leave the wood to dry for approx. 24 hours. The wood must be completely dry before an oil treatment. Remove rising fibers with sandpaper if necessary.
Tip: In case of extreme dirt, the Exterior Cleaner may be used undiluted.
2. Application
Stir the WOCA Exterior Oil thoroughly before use. Apply an even thin coat of oil with the WOCA Oil Applicator or a brush. Treat the end grain wood first.
The oil is cream-colored, when it is wet. It may take a few minutes, until the wood gets an oily appearance, as the water has to evaporate first.
Make the application in dry weather only. Avoid direct sunlight and high temperatures.
3. Final polishing
If necessary, wipe off any excess oil with clean cotton cloths after no more than 5 minutes. It is important to remove excess oil from joints and grooves. Repeat the process in case the wood does not appear saturated.
When the wood is dry, it may be polished with a polishing pad or polishing machine to ensure an extra hard-wearing surface. It takes 24 to 48 hours for the oil to harden completely, depending on weather conditions and outdoor temperature.