Last week’s cookout was a huge success. The grill was on, the food was fresh, and the company was nice. 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 and re-stain it.

While replacing an entire deck isn’t the most viable option for most homeowners, for those few planning to install a new deck, there couldn’t be a better time. Obviously, most people would opt to clean their existing deck and re-stain it, but this requires more than a hose, a can of dye, and a brush to revitalize a deck. Staining a platform 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 materials needed to clean a deck include a pump sprayer, a bucket, a biodegradable, bored-out wood cleaner, a stiff-bristle deck brush, a drill with a paint mixing attachment, and a 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 only resort to using a pressure washer to remove 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 surface scrubbing and saves time in the short term. Pressure washers will actually create small tears and openings in the wood fibers of your deck boards, 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 sun to icy cold, like North Carolina, it is especially important to maintain the integrity of the wood.

The key to any paint or stain job is to properly clean and prepare the surface. After hosing down the decking surface to remove any loose debris, fill the pump sprayer with a 1:1 ratio of wood cleaner and 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 cover free of dirt.

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 borada to water. Thorough mixing will be required with a mixing paddle and drill 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. Again, the purpose of the borada solution is to kill the algae. Now clean and let the borade solution soak into the deck and dry for two to three days.

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