Decks can last far longer if you follow a good maintenance schedule. When you first build your deck it will will be solid and sound and hopefully everything you want in a deck. Over time the wood will shrink and the color will not be the same as it originally was. A maintenance program can help bring your deck back to its original look as well as prolong the decks life.
As part of maintaining your deck you will need to clean it. Cleaning your deck will remove the grim and mildew from your deck as well as get any crud out from between the surface boards Start by getting a good deck soap and applying it to your deck. Some soaps require scrubbing while others simply require that the soap sit on your deck for a certain amount of time. After the soap you will need to wash your deck. The best way to do this is with a pressure washer. Make sure to clean all parts of the handrail and get between the surface boards.
Many salesmen will tell you that a composite or vinyl deck is a no maintenance deck. In reality there is no such thing as a no maintenance deck. The best you will get is a low maintenance deck. Vinyl and composite decks still need to be cleaned but they do not need to be stained or painted.
After cleaning your (wood) deck you will probably need to paint or stain it. There are many choices for deck paint and stain. Your local weather and type of wood will play a role in the type of stain you purchase. If you live in a rainy area you should look at getting a stain with more water protection. If you are in a dry sunny area then you should look into a stain that offers UV protection. If you built your deck with treated lumber you will need to stain it dark enough to cover the original color of the wood. In some cases this will be very dark. Other woods such as cedar or ipe can be stained so that the grain of the wood is enhanced and not covered.
While you are cleaning your deck you can inspected it. Some of the things you should look for are loose nails or screws, Mold or mildew, loose handrails, and rusty brackets. If you find any of these things fix them immediately. Many of these problems can be simple fixes if you catch them early. A loose screw can lead to a loose board, mold can lead to rot, A loose handrail and rusty brackets can lead to deck failure and that is something no one wants to see happen.
The above recommendations should be done every couple of years and should take a couple of days to do. A good deck should last 20 years. A good maintenance program should extend the life of your deck.
