{"id":2161,"date":"2018-04-26T09:32:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-26T08:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/?p=2161"},"modified":"2024-02-07T16:32:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T16:32:37","slug":"checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Checklist To Prepare Your Decking For Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Can you believe it, April is almost over! Spring is really zipping by us, and while it\u2019s proving to be a bit unpredictable in terms of weather so far, summer\u2019s not far behind. Hopefully, you may have even had the chance to enjoy your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/decking.html\">decking<\/a> on the occasional sunny day already. If so, you\u2019ll already have got a great idea of how lovely it\u2019ll be come summer. At Savoy Timber, we think it\u2019s always best to prepare early \u2013 so here\u2019s how!<\/p>\n<p>Our essential checklist includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clear your decking<\/li>\n<li>Inspect its structure<\/li>\n<li>Check the railings<\/li>\n<li>Finally \u2013 finish off your decking!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Clear Your Decking Area<\/h2>\n<p>Fairly obvious place to start, but still worth saying! You can\u2019t clean your carpet if your sofa\u2019s still in the way \u2013 and by the same token, you can\u2019t repair or clean your decking properly if you\u2019ve still got furniture or storage in the way. Relocate it all for now. While you\u2019re at it, it\u2019s always worth thinking about whether you actually want to keep all of it, too. Once your decking boards are cleared, you should have a completely unobstructed view of all the boards and structure. Then use a stiff brush to clear all those piles of leaves, moss and dirt.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img-responsive alignnone wp-image-2163 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/dead-leaves-on-decking-compressed.png\" alt=\"dead leaves on decking\" width=\"730\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/dead-leaves-on-decking-compressed.png 730w, https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/dead-leaves-on-decking-compressed-300x123.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Inspect Its Structure For Safety<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s no secret that being made of wood means decking is vulnerable to the harsher weather elements we get here in good old Blighty. Rotting wood is a particular menace \u2013 in the best case scenario it becomes a trip hazard, and at worst someone might even put their foot through it and send their plate flying at a barbecue. Dangerous, and potentially a waste of good beef. Check each board and make sure that it\u2019s solid \u2013 there may be a little bit of give when you press down, but not too much. Really, common sense will tell you whether or not a board is safe enough to walk on. If you wouldn\u2019t feel comfortable putting your own weight on it, it\u2019s definitely time to think about getting some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/decking\/decking-boards.html\">replacement decking boards<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Handy tip \u2013 if you do notice a board that\u2019s especially soft, you might want to consider digging into it with a screwdriver or key. If the whole board turns out to be rotted, you\u2019ll want to get it replaced tout suite.<\/p>\n<h2>Check The Handrails<\/h2>\n<p>This really comes under inspecting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/decking\/framing-timber.html\">structure of your decking<\/a>, but it\u2019s such a crucial step we thought it was worth flagging up on its own. Remember, your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/decking\/handrails-spindles-and-panels.html\">handrails<\/a> are where people \u2013 whether guests or your own family \u2013 will put their weight when they\u2019re relaxing, so they need to be able to take the strain. In fact, they shouldn\u2019t be moving at all. Keep an eye out for loose screws, too. Tighten any that are loose, and replace any that are starting to rust.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img-responsive alignnone wp-image-2162 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/decking-railing-compressed.png\" alt=\"decking railing\" width=\"730\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/decking-railing-compressed.png 730w, https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/decking-railing-compressed-300x123.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Finish Your Decking<\/h2>\n<p>Finally, it\u2019s a case of making sure your decking looks tip-top in the sunny weather. It\u2019ll need a proper clean first; we\u2019ve illustrated the <a href=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/how-to-clean-your-decking\/\">best way to do that in a previous blog<\/a>. Once it\u2019s spick and span, you might want to consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/decking\/fixings-and-accessories\/liberon-decking-oil.html\">oiling or staining your decking<\/a>. Make sure you know the difference \u2013 oiling your decking is basically concerned with enhancing its existing colour, while staining your decking is focused on changing it to a different (usually richer) shade. Keep an eye out for rain, as it can really take the edge off your hard work at this stage!<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s all there is to it! All that\u2019s left to do is put back your garden furniture (or your brand-new equivalents), kick back, and wait for the clouds to clear. Shouldn\u2019t be long now! Plus, if you need anything to put the finishing touches on your decking area, we\u2019ll have exactly what you need in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/decking\/fixings-and-accessories.html\">fixing and accessories<\/a> section. If you feel like popping by any of our superstores in Preston, Wigan or Blackpool, one of our friendly members of staff will be only too happy to help you with any questions you might have!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can you believe it, April is almost over! Spring is really zipping by us, and while it\u2019s proving to be a bit unpredictable in terms of weather so far, summer\u2019s not far behind. Hopefully, you may have even had the chance to enjoy your decking on the occasional sunny day already. If so, you\u2019ll already [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Essential Checklist To Prepare Your Decking For The Summer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you&#039;re lucky, the odd sunny day already this spring might have given you a great opportunity to enjoy some sunny weather on your deck already. Don&#039;t despair at the cloudier days though - summer is well on the way, which makes it a great time to get organised early ready for spending summertime on your decking!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Essential Checklist To Prepare Your Decking For The Summer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you&#039;re lucky, the odd sunny day already this spring might have given you a great opportunity to enjoy some sunny weather on your deck already. Don&#039;t despair at the cloudier days though - summer is well on the way, which makes it a great time to get organised early ready for spending summertime on your decking!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Savoy Timber\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SavoyTimberDIY\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-04-26T08:32:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-07T16:32:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/summer-decking-compressed.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"730\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"300\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Anthony Royle\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@savoytimber\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@savoytimber\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Anthony Royle\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Anthony Royle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/#\/schema\/person\/62f7a40a68f298120b5c3e2ea93b0013\"},\"headline\":\"Essential Checklist To Prepare Your Decking For Summer\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-04-26T08:32:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-07T16:32:37+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/\"},\"wordCount\":705,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Garden\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/checklist-to-prepare-decking-for-summer\/\",\"name\":\"Essential Checklist To Prepare Your Decking For The Summer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2018-04-26T08:32:19+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-07T16:32:37+00:00\",\"description\":\"If you're lucky, the odd sunny day already this spring might have given you a great opportunity to enjoy some sunny weather on your deck already. 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