How to restore decking?
If you plan to give the decking a freshen-up, follow our steps to make the process as quick and easy as possible.
Start by removing any plant pots, furniture or parasols to leave you with a clear deck. Give the surface a wash down using a hose and brush away any debris.
Next, we recommend you use the Osmo Decking Cleaner or Osmo Power Gel to give the wooden decking a thorough clean. Both products will bring your decking back to life and revive it after a long winter but which one to choose depends on a couple of different factors so we’ve outlined below some key points to help you decide.
Osmo Decking Cleaner | Osmo Wood Reviver Gel | |
Oiled Wood | ✓ | x |
Untreated Wood | ✓ | ✓ |
Grey Patina/Weathered | x | ✓ |
Quick turnaround | x | ✓ |
Perfect Products for Cleaning Decking?
The Osmo Decking Cleaner is perfect for untreated or oiled decking. Dilute with clean water and apply liberally using a brush. Leave it for 48 hours to work and fully dry before washing it down and using a brush to clean it off completely. Once it’s dry, it should be looking good as new but if you feel it needs another coat, repeat the process once and it should be sparkling.
If your decking is untreated and is looking grey and weathered, we recommend using the Osmo Wood Reviver Gel which comes with a free brush on all 2.5L tubs making it even easier to apply and clean off. Simply dampen the surface with clean water, apply generously and leave it to work for a couple of hours before thoroughly rinsing with fresh water and cleaning use the brush provided and allow it to fully dry.
It’s not required to follow on with an oil or an opaque stain to decking, it can be left as is and regularly cleaned to keep it looking its best but we do recommend applying a topcoat of some kind it to prevent fungal degradation and weathering over time. If you’d like to learn more about what are the best decking stains and oils to use, read our blog on the subject and decide for yourself.
How to Treat Wooden Decking
Decking Oils
If your decking is untreated, after a thorough clean you might want to apply a decking oil to protect the wood from UV rays, fungal attack and overall degradation. Make sure decking oil is right for you before you purchase and get started. Our recommendation would be to use Osmo Decking Oil, this is a translucent, satin finish oil that adds just a hint of colour. Creating a microporous finish, this decking oil allows the wood to breathe and reduces swelling and shrinkage. Water repellent, extremely weatherproof and UV stable, it will not crack, peel, flake or blister and you can simply recoat without sanding or priming. If an anti-slip finish is required, we recommend applying the Osmo Anti-Slip Decking Oil afterwards too.
Looking to Add Colour to your Decking?
If you want to add an opaque colour to your wooden decking, we recommend using the Osmo Country Shades which is made with natural and renewable plant oils. It offers high levels of protection from the elements and is Osmo's highest UV protection product for exterior wood. With no primer or sanding needed, its microporous finish resists shrinking and swelling of the wood which leads to cracking and flaking paint.
It’s not required to use an oil or an opaque stain to decking, it can be left as is and regularly cleaned to keep it looking its best but we do recommend treating it to prevent fungal degradation and weathering over time.