A few different types of decking treatments are available to restore a deck. And the one you choose will depend on the kind of wood the decking is made from and your preference.

Brand new decking usually comes pre-treated and should be left to weather naturally for around six months before any additional treatment is applied. However, the exposed, cut ends of new decking need to be sealed as it's installed. So, the best treatment for new decking is an end grain protector. It stops moisture from seeping into the wood to ensure it doesn't warp or split. 

European softwoods (e.g., Scots pine, Norway spruce or maritime pine) are sensitive to the elements, so they must be treated regularly. You can use any of the treatments available, depending on your preference.

European hardwoods (e.g., oak, chestnut and black locust) are more robust against the weather, but they contain tannins that will rise to the surface and spoil their look if they aren't treated regularly. They can also be treated with any of the treatments, depending on your preference.

Exotic woods (e.g., Ipe, teak and mahogany) are very dense and naturally oily, making them rot-proof and insect repelling. But they fade quickly, so they do still need to be treated. However, their natural oil content makes it hard for decking stain and paint to adhere to the surface, and it can make some decking oils hard to apply. So, exotic wooden decking must be treated with a penetrating wood oil specifically designed for that type of wood.

Best decking treatment options

• Oil treatment options
  Decking oil soaks into timber deck boards to protect them from the inside, providing a dirt and waterproof barrier. The oil is specifically designed to prevent decay and delay the deterioration of the timber. Protecting against drying, splitting, warping, swelling and fading. It also leaves the deck less slippery than other decking treatments.
  Decking oil comes in various natural wood colours designed to subtly enhance the beauty of the wood. It's also available in clear. It can be used on any type of wooden decking, although some oils can be too thick to penetrate exotic woods. So, for exotic woods, you'll need to use a penetrating wood oil specifically designed for that type of wood.
  Another thing to note about decking oil is that it can't be stained or painted over. So, if staining or painting is ever wanted in future, the oil will have to be stripped off first.

• Paint options
  Decking paint sits on the surface of decking to form a dirt and waterproof barrier that protects the wood from the elements and stops it from deteriorating. It also provides colour, fills small cracks, smooths rough surfaces and covers grey wood, providing a durable finish.
  Decking paint comes in various colours, including natural wood colours and colours like green and grey. It completely covers the wood with a uniform finish, leaving none of its natural graining visible. It can be used on most types of wooden decking, except exotic woods.

• Stain treatment options

Decking stain is similar to decking paint because it also provides colour. The difference is that the colour is opaque, so it allows the wood grain to show through. It sits on the surface of decking and forms a waterproof barrier that protects the wood from the elements and prevents it from ageing.

Decking stain comes in various natural wood colours and clear. It can be used on most types of wooden decking, except exotic woods.

• Decking protector
  Decking protector is designed to seal decking. It provides a clear and protective barrier that repels moisture and protects the timber from water damage, UV light and foot traffic while allowing the wood to breathe and weather naturally.
  Decking protector is translucent, so it won’t change the appearance of the wood. It’s suitable for most types of wooden decking, except exotic woods.

Decking treatment equipment

In addition to the deck rejuvenation products above, you'll need some other tools and equipment to complete the project.

Here’s a handy list of all the things you may need.

Personal protective equipment:

• Gloves: the best gloves to wear while applying the treatment is heavy-duty rubber gloves

• Overalls or old clothing

• Dust mask and safety goggles: wear while you’re using a sprayer to apply the decking treatment

• Knee pads: if you apply decking treatment with a brush, knee pads will make the job more comfortable 

Tools to apply the decking treatment:

• Paint brush: you can use a paint brush to apply any of the decking treatments, but it will take longer than the other methods. But, if you use another tool for the bulk of the work, a paint brush is still needed for fiddly areas, such as between expansion gaps or tight corners. The best brush for oiling decking or applying stain or paint is a soft paint brush that's around 3 inches wide. 
• Roller: you can use a roller to apply any of the decking treatment options on smooth deck boards. Rollers cover large areas quickly compared to using a brush, but they are prone to splashing, so always use plastic dust sheets to protect surrounding areas. The best roller for applying decking treatment is a short-piled roller attached to an extension pole.
• Paint pad: you can use a paint pad to apply any of the decking treatment options on smooth and grooved deck boards. Like rollers, they also allow you to cover large areas quickly, but they don’t cause splashes as rollers do. Paint pads usually come on a long pole so you can treat the decking from a standing position.
• ​​​​​​​Paint sprayer: you can use a paint sprayer to apply any of the decking treatment options on smooth and groove deck boards. Paint sprayers help you get the job done quickly and use less treatment than other application methods. But you need to be careful not to spray other objects, so always use plastic dust sheets to protect surrounding areas.

How to apply decking oil

Before applying decking oil, the deck should be cleaned and stripped of any old oil, stain or paint before you start. See the sections on how to clean decking and decking treatment preparation above

First, work out how much oil you'll need. To do this, work out the area of the decking in square metres by multiplying the width by the depth. Then check the square metre coverage of the decking stain you plan to buy. The coverage is a good guide, but it's worth noting that some decking may be more 'thirsty' than other decking (i.e., if it's particularly dry). Therefore, it will soak up more oil. 

Give the oil a good shake before using it to ensure you get a consistent colour. If you need more than one tin of oil, mix the oil from two tins together in a bucket.

A paint brush or paint pad is the best way to apply decking oil to grooved decking and smooth decking. But be careful not to overload them with the product. Start in the back corner of the deck and work your way forward, painting in the direction of the grain, focussing on four boards at a time to prevent overlap marks. If you're using a paint pad, push or pull it in long strokes. Take care not to paint yourself into a corner to avoid walking on the oil while it's wet.

Wait for four hours, then apply a second coat following the same method. Most decking oils then take 24 hours to fully dry.

Best way to repaint a deck

The method needed to repaint a deck is much like oiling a deck described above. The decking should be cleaned and stripped to prepare it beforehand. And you can work out how much paint you need by finding the deck's surface area and checking the coverage of the paint you're buying. Decking paint sits on the deck's surface, but because it's thicker than oil or stains, its coverage is usually a lot lower. 

As well as the paint brush and paint pad methods of applying decking treatment, as described for decking oil above, you can also apply decking paint with a roller or sprayer.

To apply decking paint with a roller, stir it to ensure you get a consistent colour, then pour the paint into a tray. Load the roller up but be careful not to overload it. Start in the back corner of the deck and work your way forward, focussing on four boards at a time, turning the roller as you apply the paint. Go over the boards again to achieve a consistent finish and prevent the paint pooling. 

To apply decking paint with a sprayer, start from the top, paint railings first, and work your way down. Then spray the deck boards, working on one board at a time. Keep the sprayer moving as you spray, otherwise, you'll have heavy spots, drips and runs. Always keep a paint brush handy, so if you do get heavy spots or drips, they can be brushed in.  

Wait for four hours, then apply a second coat following the same method. The amount of time decking paint takes to dry varies, so check the tin to ensure the deck doesn’t get used until it’s completely dry.

Applying decking stain

Decking stain can be applied using a paint brush or paint pad (using the same method as applying oil). Or using a roller or sprayer (using the same method as applying paint). When applying decking stain with a roller or sprayer, the only difference is that you should roll or spray the paint in the same direction as the wood grain. You should also avoid overlapping layers and take care that you only apply as much decking stain as the wood can absorb. Then, if there are splits or cracks, you can use more stain to help fill them in. A second coat can be applied after four hours.