Is It Too Late to Restore My Deck?
Keeping up with the annual maintenance of a wooden deck is not only expensive but also time-consuming and yet there are easier and affordable solutions that you can use.
06/09/2023
I always say that adding a deck to your outdoor area is a great way to add extra living space to a home and I agree with this. Having built a deck myself way back in 2010 (shown below), I have enjoyed this extra outdoor area over the years. I have also spent a fortune in maintaining my deck, including spending days every year having to clean, sand and re-applying exterior sealer. It took a while, but I have come to realise that it was just too much and for the past 4 to 5 years I have not done any maintenance on the deck. I made the decision to let it age naturally and see what happened.
What did I expect? If you don't do annual maintenance on any wood product the wood eventually dries out and becomes brittle. Or worse, it gets destroyed by ants or rotten with mould. But there has to be an easier way to maintain a deck than having to spend so much money on exterior sealers and spend hours and hours sanding and re-applying. I also came to the conclusion that even those exterior wood sealers that are water-based or water-bourne still contain a fair amount of hazardous chemicals. They have to, because if they don't they will fail at their purpose which is to protect the wood from damage caused by UV, moisture or insects. If that is the case, why do we have to pay more for some products more than others?
This is how my deck looks today after leaving it without any maintenance for 4 to 5 years. While the surface of the wood looks dry, it is still safe to walk on the deck which means that the wood still has some life left in it.
Gripseal Everwood exterior sealers have no added solvents and contain 100% natural renewal oils that provide excellent weatherability and are easy to maintain.
Gripseal, available at Builders, offer a large selection of products for treating a variety of surfaces, including exterior wood fittings and accessories. Like many other exterior solutions for wood, their products penetrate deep into the wood to provide a coating that protects against UV rays and moisture to enhance wood fittings, fixtures, and accessories whilst also offering protection at a price most of us can afford. But what surprised me the most is that, Gripseal requires minimal preparation if the timber is in good condition and is quick and easy to apply. Add to that the fact that Gripseal products offer coverage better than most other exterior sealers.
Did you know that the Gripseal Everwood range of exterior sealers is low VOC and non-toxic, making these products environmentally friendly in accordance with international coating standards?
REVIVING MY DECK
Step 1 - Assess the damage
As mentioned above, I was lucky that the decking was still in fairly good condition. All the planks were still attached and no screws sticking up, the surface was smooth and did not require any sanding. If any of these faults apply to your decking, fix them before you continue.
Step 2 - Clean the decking
Cleaning the deck with a high-pressure spray is a must. The spray removes dirt and debris as well as stains on top of the wood.
Gripseal Everwood cost R498 per 5 litre compared to R1,200 per 5 litre of the usual exterior sealer that I used previously.
Step 3 - Apply Gripseal Everwood Sealer
This was the easiest step, especially when considering the work that had to be put into applying exterior sealers in the past. Shake the can well and apply the product to the decking with a paintbrush. Don't use a paint roller as you need to apply product to the edges of the decking planks.
DIY TIP
Start in the farthest corner so that you don't paint yourself in!
It took a total of 3 hours, with coffee breaks, to paint this section of the deck. You need to apply 2 coats for complete coverage but need to allow drying time between coats. Follow the recommended guidelines for successful application.
How the deck looks after applying Gripseal Everwood exterior sealer.
Additional work to be done...
There is still a small area of deck that needs to be repaired. This is where the gas grill is located and has had to withstand a lot of foot traffic, resulting in damage to the decking planks. These will have to be removed and replaced... as soon as I can afford it!
