Is Your Decking Surviving Or Thriving? Three Signs You Might Need To Renovate Your Decking

Posted on: 9 July 2021

Decking is a prized feature in many houses across the country because it extends the liveable space of the house while also adding a nice extra aesthetic feature to the exterior of your home. It is a classic and very sought after look, but it is also one that can be eroded quickly if you are not careful. Decking is, after all, made almost entirely of wood, and without proper maintenance, decking will falter and crumble. Here are a couple of warning signs that you should be on the lookout for that indicate that you need to upgrade or renovate your decking.

Discolouration

Decking should be a fairly even colour from start to finish, but if you see big splotches of black or grey, then that is a pretty good sign that the exterior sealant has been compromised to some degree. This could be a number of things, from mud and grime to more sinister growths, like mould. In any case, you should always call for a decking expert to come and have a look when you notice large discolouration on the timber, as they will be able to give a personalised diagnosis that will let you know whether you can keep the decking or if it needs to be replaced.

Sagging

When wood ages and gets affected by rain, then it often begins to lose its internal strength. The fibres weaken and, as a result, the whole structure can begin to sag. This might start in small areas, but it can affect the entire decking if it is completely out in the open and exposed to rain. Sagging timber is never a good sign and it is one that should be dealt with as soon as possible, as it may not be safe to actually walk out on the decking for much longer. Sometimes, only a few planks need to be repaired, but it is not unheard of for a sagging deck to be condemned and need to be fully replaced.

Smell

Often your nose is a better indicator of whether the decking is in poor condition than your eyes. Wood is a natural substance that gets affected by decay just like anything else. When these processes begin, they create a lot of noxious gases which, in turn, is what you smell. If your deck smells bad, then chances are this has already begun, and you need to act quickly to try and save the parts of your deck that you can. 

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