Bringing your deck back to life through renovation

Barry asks: “How do we go about renovating our back deck?”

The first thing to do is take everything off the deck until you’re down to bare boards. Now you need to decide if there’s some repair work necessary or your deck needs a bit of a sand and stain/paint. 

Wash everything down with a pressure washer, but be careful to keep the stream moving otherwise you can damage the wood. Replace any raised nails and any damaged boards. Don’t forget the railings and steps, if appropriate, as there’s no point in just fixing part of the deck, when some elements still look sad. Perhaps you want to replace the boards with something a little snazzier – this is totally up to you and your hip pocket.

If you want to keep small children with you on the deck, a childproof gate across the deck entrance can be very handy, but make sure the railings are climb-proof and unbreachable. This option allows you to have the kids or grandkids in the open air with you while keeping a close eye on them.

Staining and sealing protects the timber from moisture and UV damage. And don’t forget to maintain the deck once you’ve got it sparkling again. A clean and reseal every couple of years can preserve the timber, and bring out the colour and grain.

Now you have a spruced up “outdoor room”, you can get creative. If you have a barbecue set up, place a comfy table and chairs nearby and finish off with a large garden umbrella or shade wing to keep the hot sun off the diners.

If the deck is covered, install some mood lighting, a fan and/or an outdoor gas heater. If you’re a sun lover, provide a deckchair with a handy side table for a book and a drink. A porch swing is a romantic touch, or try a hammock or swing chair. Another option is to construct timber bench seating – these box-type benches have a lid top that accesses handy storage space within.

If you want to bring the garden to your deck, think about grouping pot plants. A wisteria or jasmine vine will look great against the natural timber of a deck and offers a little more shelter from the elements. An alternative idea is to construct timber garden boxes out of the same timber as your deck and install them at the perimeter of the area (just check they meet regulations regarding balustrade heights etc). 

Renovating the back deck can be a really cheap and easy project, or an elaborate one. This depends on what you want from your outdoor space and how complex the changes will be. One thing’s for sure, once you’ve renovated this outdoor living space, it will get some serious use.

Jane Eyles-Bennett is an interior designer and renovation consultant. She’s the creator and driving force behind Hotspace Consultants and has consulted on more than 550 property renovations.