You recently had your deck stained to revitalize its appearance and make sure it remains an asset in your outdoor living space. Now that you’ve gone through the staining process, you want to make sure the deck stain you had us apply lasts for as long as possible. To keep your deck stain looking great throughout the year and for years to come, we recommend the following:
- Using a putty knife, remove the debris between your deck boards. Pay extra attention to the areas where the joists cross the deck boards.
- Thoroughly sweep the deck on a weekly basis to prevent debris from settling into your deck and harming the deck stain.
- Invest in a deck cleaner and clean your deck every time it looks like it could use it. When you do clean your deck, choose a day when it’s cloudy. This way, the sun won’t evaporate the cleaner as you try to clean your deck.
- Keep in mind that in order to protect your deck’s wood, you’re going to need to re-stain it semi-regularly. Generally speaking, we suggest staining your deck every other year for the best results.
- Keep nearby trees and bushes trimmed away from the deck. To slow the growth of mold and rot on your deck, any plants should be at least 12 inches away from the deck’s surface.
- Prevent the stain from discoloring by moving around planters, patio furniture, and other features every few weeks.