What to expect when cleaning a deck after flooding

After floodwaters have receded, your timber deck is likely to have swelled with water and to be contaminated with debris. In other words, your deck will be dirty and very, very wet.

What you can do about it

Wait for the water to subside.

Decks are made to be durable through extreme weather so there is no need to worry about your deck before you can see it and safely access it again.

Wash your deck.

Using CUTEK^® Quickclean, or any household detergent with water, wash your deck with a soft broom. This will remove any debris and minimise the chances of fungal growth or other contaminants from settling into the timber.

Rinse thoroughly.

After washing, use your garden hose to rinse the deck thoroughly. Ensure all soap and debris is gone from the surface of the deck.

Allow the deck to dry.

Depending on how long your deck was submerged, the type of timber, and the upcoming weather forecast it could take a several days or weeks to dry.

Once your deck is thoroughly dry, you may decide to touch it up with a fresh coat of CUTEK^®. Ensure the deck is completely dry before applying any product to it to ensure the best results.

If you need assistance or advice about maintaining your CUTEK^® after flood, call 1300 CUTEK or send us a message to find out more.

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Exposure to sun, wind, salt, sand and ocean moisture can cause significant damage and result in premature failure of wooden decking boards.

With a close proximity to the sea, decking will need a high level of protection from the harsh elements to ensure longevity.

Removal of salt from the wood

Moist salt air can be a challenge for oceanside decking. Once salt finds its way into timber via cracks, salt crystals can form and grow. Over time they push the fibres of the timber out making it appear fuzzy.

Prevention includes frequent power rinsing to wash the salt off. Using CUTEK® Restore will ensure that all traces of salt are removed.

Seal regularly for longevity

After removing salt particles from the wood, the next step is to apply a protective coating.

Most coatings, deck stains and oils trap moisture and can be the cause of premature wood failure through rot and decay. CUTEK® Extreme CD50 penetrates the wood to protect from within and keep moisture out, including the salt air and sea-spray of a beachside location.

CUTEK® coatings never peel or flake but will need more regular recoats in a marine setting.

The professional’s choice

Architects, designers and engineers continue to use timber for coastal structures, including resorts and beachside clubs. They turn to CUTEK® Extreme CD50 for professional hard-wearing protection of installations against the elements.

Deck care is important. Regular cleaning, staining and coating with quality products will give oceanside decks the protection they need to withstand their harsh environment.

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Follow these 3 insider tips for installing long-lasting timber.

1. Use professional wood cleaning products

Surface preparation is essential to enable oils to diffuse deeply into the timber and achieve long-lasting results. Anything that is likely to prevent penetration must be removed with a professional grade wood restoration product.

New and pre-treated wood may be ready for oil without preparation. However, timber that is pre-treated with other oils or is significantly weathered will require thorough cleaning first with CUTEK® Restore, the natural wood cleaner

If stripping is required to remove any previous film or coating, CUTEK® Wood Stripper will do the job. This process can be followed by a treatment with CUTEK® Restore.

Seal and protect the timber

Using CUTEK® Wood Preservative wood treatment oil will give strong resistance to damage caused by moisture, fungal decay, mould and termites.

CUTEK®’s Extreme CD50 oil gives long-term protection from the effects of moisture, minimises warping, cupping and splitting, ensuring that exterior wood (even in extreme climates) lasts longer. The high protection wood oil works to control moisture from the inside out.

Use a colourtone

CUTEK® oils enhance the colour of the timber. Mixing a colourtone into CUTEK® oils before use will ensure the wood finish will lighten or silver off less over time.

CUTEK®’s 16 colourtones are wood stains that have been specifically developed to closely match popular wood species. Selecting a Colourtone close to the natural shade of the timber species will give the most enduring result.

Follow these professional steps to ensure that timber installations are protected from the inside out to endure the elements and stand the test of time.

Call us to discuss how CUTEK®’s range of high quality products can help you to ensure that your timber looks great and is long lasting.

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1. Inspect and rectify

Replace any loose boards and fix protruding nails. If you have potplants on your deck, check the wood underneath – and make sure they’re placed on top of blocks so they don’t trap dirt or moisture on the deck’s surface.

2. Time for a clean slate

Summer sun, spills, barbecues, and foot traffic all leave their mark on your deck. And soon it will face winter chills and rain. (Not to mention year-round bird droppings, which look terrible as well as being acidic: bad news for your timber deck surface.)

It’s important to give your deck a deep clean once a year – and winter is a great window. CUTEK®’s range of powerful wood cleaning products will restore timber to look like new, while being incredibly easy to use for swimming pool areas, timber cladding, fences and verandas. Safe and easy to use, CUTEK® cleaners and strippers work magic on stains, oxidisation, grime and grey timber.

3. A winter coat (or recoat)

Decks are particularly vulnerable to the elements – and the dreaded splitting and warping of boards. A vital ingredient for deck care, high-quality oil protection helps your timber decking maintain its great looks, stability and longevity.

CUTEK® oils penetrate deep into the wood core upon application, protecting it from the damaging effects of water and significantly increasing the life of your deck. You can allow the wood to age gracefully into a beautiful silver patina on exposure to sunlight. Or you can add a Colourtone to the clear oil, choosing from 16 options. A winter deck makeover perhaps?

4. Know your stuff

Before cleaning and oiling your deck, do your homework so you do it right. While it can be tempting to launch right in, making sure you use the right products for your wood – and follow the right process – can save time and heartache while getting the best results. The CUTEK® website makes it easy with ‘how to’ videos to guide you every step of the way.

Talk to us more about how CUTEK® oil can protect and revive your deck this winter.

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