Rustins Composite Decking Cleaner 4L, Deck Cleaner, Decking Wash, Patio & Outdoor Surface Cleaner, Composite Board Cleaning Solution

Decking finishes protect timber decks from the weather and bring back their colour. Despite the name, this category covers more than oil: decking oils, decking stains, quick-drying stains, decking paints for an opaque colour, and decking and patio cleaners for preparing the surface.

Oil, stain or paint

• Decking oil: soaks into the wood and feeds it, leaving a natural, lightly tinted finish. Top it up with a fresh coat as needed to keep the deck protected.
• Decking stain: gives a richer colour and a little more protection than oil.
• Decking paint: an opaque colour that hides the grain, useful for reviving tired or patchy decking. Some are made with a slip-resistant finish.

A stain will not take properly over a deck that has been oiled or painted before; it may need stripping back to bare wood first, so check the tin before changing products.

Preparation and application

Sweep the deck, scrub off algae, moss and mildew with a decking cleaner, and leave it to dry thoroughly. New decking can resist finishes at first: let it weather for a period, or clean it and check that water soaks in, before you treat it; new hardwood decking usually needs to weather too, so follow the decking maker's advice. Try the colour on a small, hidden area first. Choose a dry day within the temperature range on the tin, with no rain forecast. Start in the far corner and brush along the full length of the boards, working on a few boards at a time to avoid overlap marks. Most products need two coats; allow the drying time between them and before you put furniture back. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and safety data.

For other exterior wood finishes, see wood care; for brushes and rollers, see decorating tools and sundries.