5 Simple Habits That Are Sneakily Ruining Your Deck, According to Pros

You finally got the new deck you’ve been dreaming about after months of planning, budgeting, and of course, installation. And just when you’re beginning to enjoy it in the hot summer months, you might notice that the wood is fading faster than you’d like, or maybe that new designer deck chair you bought left a gnarly scratch as you were arranging your furniture. 

Either way, once you get your dream deck installed, you have to make sure you’re maintaining it and protecting it. For first-time homeowners, that can be tricky. You might not know all of the little things that could be harming the lifespan of your deck. Even worse, you might actually be doing some of these things that are harming it without even realizing it. 

To make sure that your deck stands the test of time, I reached out to a few home experts who shared their tips of little known bad habits that could be causing serious harm to your deck. Here are the top things they say you should quit right now.

“It seems harmless, but over time it scuffs and scrapes the deck surface, especially if it’s wood,” explains Joe Marchionni, owner at Amity Home Maintenance Solutions. Instead, he says lifting furniture to create your ideal deck layout is always better.

If lifting isn’t an option, add protective pads under the feet of the items. “It does depend a little bit on the type of furniture,” he adds. “Wicker furniture typically isn’t as bad, or those table chairs with the round rings on the bottom. However, metal chairs with four legs will often do a number on scratching the wood.”

Have you ever left a potted plant on your deck for too long and noticed there’s a spot underneath that won’t come off? This is a common mistake people make in their decks. Mitch Coluzzi, head of construction at SoldFast, says rugs, furniture covers, and even leaves and debris can cause moisture to trap on your deck. “It’s essential not to let water or dampness accumulate on the deck,” Coluzzi says. “It will lead to uneven wear, staining, or paint peeling.”

For potted plants specifically, “using plant stands or trays that allow airflow underneath helps avoid that problem,” Marchionni adds.

Most people think pressure or power washing is essential for a deck’s maintenance, but it can actually cause more harm than it helps. “Be extremely cautious when using a pressure washer,” Coluzzi says. “You want a wide spray and low PSI to avoid cutting lines into the deck or finish. You might be better off using a garden hose, deck cleaner, and an outdoor broom to scrub.”

“As the weather gets warmer, grilling or eating outdoors may become more frequent,” says Joe Raboine, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG. “When grease, oil and food residue stain your deck, use a household degreasing agent, such as dishwashing liquid, to remove food-grade oil and grease stains from composite decking as soon as the stain is noticed.” He says all you have to do is “apply warm water and gently scrub the area with a nylon brush, then rinse.”

However, be aware of mats that are placed underneath grills to collect residue, Marchionni says. People “think it is a great idea to put a 5’x7′ rubber mat to protect the wood from grease splatters, but, in fact, it is just trapping moisture and blocking out sunlight to cause color variances across the deck,” he says (remember to allow airflow!).

Make sure you remember what materials your deck is actually made out of, so you can continue upkeep that is tailored to yours. “A coat of paint might be the perfect update for your wood deck, but it can cause damage to composite decking,” Raboine says. “Modern composite boards are designed with protective capping that resists scratches, stains, and harsh weather conditions, ensuring a long-lasting, low-maintenance surface. Painting over this protective layer not only compromises its performance but may also void the fade and stain warranty, depending on the brand.”

All that to say: Maintenance isn’t one-size-fits-all, so make sure to do your research before doing any work.