How to restore an old deck

​Clean the Deck 
Whether you have an old deck or are moving into a new home with and existing deck it may need sealing, or it's just about that time that you restain your old deck, then this is one way that you can make it look brand new again: If your deck is structurally sound, the next step is to clean it thoroughly. Using a pressure or power washer will open up gaps in the wood and generate a lot of dangerous splinters. Look the deck over and carefully inspect it for visual evidence of rot, decay, or termites. Walk around on it, listen for creaks or groans, catch the boards, and inspect columns and pull on them to make sure there are no loose pieces. 

Stain Your Deck
You can then use a wood stain to renew the appearance of the weathered wood and open this up for deeper penetration when you're ready to stain. Rinse the deck planks really well to wash out any compounds after it has been cleaned and treated. Staining a deck is boring, dull work. You will most likely be tempted to rush. Don't give in. Be patient and go at your own pace. At a minimum, a wood deck has to be thoroughly cleaned using a deck scrubber and deck cleaning compounds once a year, and every so often, they'll even need to be restained to touch up fading and keep them looking fresh. When you go to buy the stain, make sure you've done your research and know that the more you invest, the better quality that the stain will be and the longer it will last. For most products spending more doesn't necessarily mean you get a better product. The stain is not one of these products--you'll get exactly what you pay for. Read the instructions on the label carefully, as each stain is a little different. The best method to use is with a paintbrush, which will truly increase absorption and operate the blot deep into the wood's pores. 

Pressure Washer
Typically we do not recommend using a pressure washer to clean your deck.The high pressure gets into the gaps and will expose more of the wood to sunlight, water, and ice, aging it faster. The natural oils will be eliminated from the wood by the pressure washer, and the wood will warp, split, cup, and also loosen around nails. Rather use a deck scrubber and a gentle cleaning compound, specially made deck cleaning solution to clean your deck correctly. As soon as it is dry, you'll be prepared to restain it. Lightly tap with a rubber mallet to see if any pieces are loose. If your own deck's structural soundness is in question, then it might need more than the usual cleanup and restain.