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Your deck is at the mercy of all the outside elements all year round. Sun , rain and snow will all have certain effect on the wood of your patio. Cleaning your deck regularly is only the first step towards having patio wood that will last for a long time.

For the basic deck cleaning, you must have the proper tools like:

• proper protective gear - safety mask/goggles/glasses, shoes ( no sandals)
• broom
• sandpaper
• hose
• deck cleaner and applicator like a paint roller, garden sprayer or a stiff-bristled broom

Aside from cleaning your deck, periodic stripping and sealing the patio wood will guarantee that you will have a nice patio for a long time. The first thing to do is to prepare the deck for cleaning by removing all the deck furnitures. Then check carefully all the boards, hammer any loose nails and replace damaged boards. next sweep thoroughly with a stiff broom, making sure that the cracks between boards are clean.

Next step is cleaning the deck with a deck cleaning solution. Be sure to follow accurately the instructions on your deck cleaning solution. Before applying the solution, test a small inconspicuous spot first. After cleaning the deck, make sure that you rinse it carefully. Never allow the cleaner to dry on your deck because it could damage the wood. Dry the surface thoroughly afterwards.

After cleaning the deck, check if the wood needs resealing. To do this, drop a few drops of water on different parts of the deck. If the water droplets are not absorbed by the wood, then reselling is not necessary but if the wood absorbs the water droplets immediately, then it is time to apply a wood sealant.

To make sure that the new sealant will adhere to the wood properly, the old layer of sealant must be stripped first. Stripping will be especially important if you plan to change the color of your deck. Use a stripper that is formulated to remove the type of sealant that that is currently on your deck. Again, following the instructions to the letter will give you an excellent result. After stripping, clean any leftover residues.

There are many types of sealants and those that fully penetrate the wood will last longest and provide the most protection. The most common types are clear, wood-toned, semi-transparent and opaque. But take note that no matter what kind of sealant you used, a careful application of it will give you a good result.

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