Decks and rails made of wood require a lot of maintenance. So far, there has not been a deck stain/finish created that can withstand the wear and tear of foot traffic, the UV damaging sun rays, the constant bombardment of rain, snow, hail, bird droppings, mold and pollen and everything else without needing to be recoated rather frequently. Even high quality finishes need to be re-coated usually every 2 years or so. But, here are a few tips to help keep your deck and rails looking their best.
First of all, do not make the mistake of putting a finish designed for log walls on your deck. Although there are a few finishes available that are labeled for both, most finishes designed for walls are not intended for the heavier traffic and weather that the deck and rails see. We often observe decks/rails that have been treated with a multi-coat finish that looks beautiful initially, but as it weathers, it begins to crack and allow moisture to penetrate beneath the surface thus causing the finish to peel and flake. Once this occurs, it must be removed prior to recoating which is typically rather expensive and labor intensive. A good deck stain is typically a thin one or two coat penetrating finish that will slowly wear away rather than crack and flake.
Secondly, decks/rails need to be cleaned regularly. Since decks are horizontal, they collect everything (kinda like my desk) from dirt, mold and pollen spores to leaves and bird droppings. Cleaning regularly will limit the damaging effects of these unwanted environmental additives.
Be sure to shovel off your deck before the spring thaw! Often people underestimate the damaging effects of snow upon their deck’s finish. During the cold harsh winter, snow tends to pile up on decks and is often neglected. While it remains frozen, it doesn’t do a great deal of damage. However, as spring rolls around and the snow slowly melts and the decks and rails remain saturated for days and even weeks, then re-freezing and thawing again, the finish is being damaged. Shoveling off heavy snow can keep this from happening and help the finish hold up longer. Be sure to use a plastic shovel and be careful as not to scratch off any of the finish.
Finally, expect to re-coat approximately every other year to keep your decks/rails looking their best and protecting them for years to come.