Deck Maintenance Tips

The best way to protect outdoor wood furniture is with regular cleaning, proper staining, and sealing. We use linseed oil-based stains that penetrate deep into the wood, preventing moisture damage, UV fading, and mould growth. Keeping furniture indoors, or under a purpose made cover, when not in use can also extend its lifespan.

Yes, in many cases, cracked or splintered wood can be restored. This may require additional time for extensive sanding and gluing. However, if the damage is severe, we may recommend replacing certain parts of the furniture for a more durable result.

To keep your patio furniture looking great, we recommend refinishing it every 12 to 24 months, depending on the level of exposure to sun and rain. Regular maintenance, such as cleaning and applying protective oil or stain, will extend the life of your furniture and prevent cracking, fading, and rot.

In order to answer this it is important to understand the differences between paint, waterbased stain, and oil stain. Paint and waterbased stains are effectively the same thing - topical coatings that seal the surface of the timber. Waterbased stains are just thinned down acrylic paint that allow the grain of the timber to show through but they block up the pores of the timber the same as paint. Oil stain is a penetrating product that needs to soak into the surface of the timber to provide nourishment.

It is not possible to apply oil stain over paint (or water based stain) unless all of the exiting coating is fully removed. This is because the oil will not be able to penetrate through the coating. The only way to remove the paint or waterbased stain is to use paint stripper (or mechanical sanding if the deck allows that). Both of these processes are time consuming and expensive, and may not remove all of the existing coating.

The result of this is that the new oil stain may be patchy, and may not last as long as on bare timber. Our recommendation is usually to recoat the deck with the same product that was previously applied. In the case of water based stain, this can also result in a patchy finish as the fully stripped timber will soak up more product than those areas that still have some residual product on it.

We can only do our best in this situation. The only other option is to replace the deck boards with new.

We strongly recommend staining over painting when it comes to protecting your deck. Decks are exposed to harsh conditions year-round, from intense summer sun to long periods of standing water in winter. They also endure constant wear from foot traffic, furniture movement, and general use. Paint simply isn’t designed to withstand these factors and will start peeling or chipping quickly.

Once a deck is painted, it’s nearly impossible to switch to stain later. Paint prevents stains from properly penetrating the timber, meaning your only option for maintenance is continuous repainting. Instead, we recommend using a high-quality linseed oil-based stain with UV protection to safeguard your deck from the elements. Without this protection, timber will turn grey within six months and become prone to mould growth.

New outdoor timber generally has a high moisture content, so it is recommend not to coat it with stain or paint for a few months to allow it to dry out. If it is coated too early the product may not penetrate or bond very well. Typically we say leave it 3-6 months.

Cedar is a very soft and porous timber and is susceptible to mould and mildew. We usually see the lower half of the door turn darker in colour due to exposure to the elements. Our restoration process strips away the damaged layer so that the timber is even over the entire door, and our linseed oil stain protects the timber from future damage. An annual recoat of stain will keep the door as new for ever.

Great question. Most of the services The ProGroup offers require no formal qualifications, but every franchisee undergoes full training in the services they provide. Ongoing experience and a fantastic support network within the group mean that each of our team members is a true specialist at what they do.

Some of our team also offer services outside of the core ProGroup range, and some of them do require certification or specialist qualifications. In that situation, they will have the relevant recognised qualifications. For example, we have LBP builders, plumbers, stonemasons, and gasfitters on the team.

These vary depending on the service.

Typically lower value work requires full payment on completion. Product heavy work may require a deposit at time of quote acceptance, while longer term projects may require an initial deposit and progress payments along the way.

The terms of your particular situation will be discussed at time of the quote so there will be no hidden surprises.

Our specialists are all independently owned franchisees who live in your local community. Most are sole operators, who will quote the job and do the work themselves, while others may have an employee or two to help with the workload. Either way, everyone is well trained in the services they offer.

You can expect prompt, courteous, knowledgeable trades people to help with your enquiries. And all live and work within your local area.

This really comes down to your budget. Pine is by far the cheapest and most common option and is treated against rotting. It can be stained to look like kwila or another shade of your choice.

Hardwoods such as Kwila, Garapa, and Vitex are not treated and will deteriorate quickly if they are not protected by some sort of preservative.

All timbers will turn grey within about 6 months if they are not regularly treated with a UV resistance product.

Composite decking has become more prevalent and uses compressed timber fibres and synthetic resins. These are usually made in specific colours and should not fade or deteriorate for many years - making them as close to maintenance-free as possible.

Yes - we offer a “Buy Now, Pay Later” option through our partners at Latitude Financial (Gem Visa). We offer interest free payment terms of 6 or 12 months (some fees, terms and conditions apply).

Water based deck stain is effectively very thin acrylic paint, so thin you can see though it. The problem with it is that it clogs up the pores of the timber making it extremely difficult to maintain because the old residue is virtually impossible to remove. We use superior quality oil based wood stain that nourishes the timber and can be recoated time and time again.

Kwila is a tropical hardwood that thrives in humid climates, where the natural moisture helps prevent splintering. However, New Zealand’s harsh sun and dry conditions can cause it to dry out quickly and splinter over time.

To keep your Kwila deck in top shape, we recommend:

• Annual applications of linseed oil stain to keep the timber nourished
• Regular cleaning to remove debris and prevent further drying
• Avoid harsh deck cleaners that strip natural oils

If your Kwila deck has already dried out and splintered, board replacement may be the only long-term fix. This is why many homeowners are opting for Vitex or Garapa hardwoods, which are more resistant to New Zealand’s climate.

We use a specialist eco-friendly solution to loosen dirt, contaminants, and dead timber cells followed by a controlled pressure wash to sluice this residue away. Our team are very skilled at this process.

Over the years we have seen many DIY deck cleans, where the homeowner has used a waterblaster on its own without any specialist cleaning solution, and with poor technique. The result can vary from stop/start marks in the timber that cannot be removed, to chunks of timber being blasted away.

There are products available that claim you simply apply them and then brush the deck clean. We know that there is a lot of elbow grease required, and many of our customers come to use having given up on these products. Like most things in life, there is no easy way to get a professional result.

A wood stain generally requires a top-up coat every 12-18 months to replenish the nourishing oils and UV blockers. We can arrange an ongoing maintenance schedule with you following the restoration process that will include a light clean followed by a recoat of the wood stain.

In between scheduled maintenance, a mild detergent is all that is needed to remove any bird droppings or spills, and a spray with a moss and lichen inhibitor during winter can also help. It is important not to use harsh deck cleaning agents that may remove the oils contained in the stain. Painted surfaces generally last longer than stained ones but are more susceptible to abrasion.