Building a new deck is a significant financial investment. When we install them at Joe's Fencing & Landscaping, clients often ask, "How long will this last?"
The honest answer is: it depends on you. A well-maintained softwood deck can easily last 15–20 years, while a neglected one might start rotting in seven. The enemy isn't the wood itself—it's trapped moisture. Here is how to fight back and double the life of your deck.
1. The "Pot Foot" Rule
This is the number one cause of localized rot we see in Bristol gardens. Homeowners love placing heavy terracotta pots directly onto the deck. The problem is that moisture gets trapped under the pot, and the wood never gets a chance to dry out. After a year, you lift the pot and find a perfect black ring of decaying timber.
The Fix: Always use pot feet or wheeled caddies to raise planters off the ground. This creates an air gap, allowing the wood underneath to breathe and dry.
2. Don't Feed the Algae
Decks often sit under trees or large shrubs. In autumn, leaves pile up in the corners and between the gaps in the boards. As these leaves decompose, they turn into a wet, acidic mulch that creates the perfect breeding ground for fungal rot.
The Fix: Treat your deck like your living room floor. Sweep it regularly, especially in the corners where air doesn't circulate. If the gaps between boards get clogged with dirt, run a blunt knife or a specialized "decking groove tool" through them to restore drainage.
3. Feed the Wood (The Water Test)
Pressure treatment protects the inside of the wood, but the surface needs help to stop cracking and splintering under the sun.
The Fix: Perform the "Splash Test" once a year. Pour a glass of water on the boards. If it beads up: Great, your oil seal is intact. If it soaks in dark: The wood is thirsty. Apply a high-quality clear decking oil (not paint!) immediately. Oil penetrates the grain to replace lost natural resins, whereas paint often flakes and traps water underneath.
4. Check the Ventilation
Rot often attacks from below. If you have blocked off the sides of your deck completely with solid panels or piled soil up against the sub-frame, the damp air underneath has nowhere to go.
The Fix: Ensure you have lattice or gaps in the skirting to allow a cross-breeze under the structure. If you are storing things under a raised deck, make sure they aren't blocking the airflow.
Small Effort, Huge Savings
Replacing a rotten deck is expensive and messy. Spending one hour a season sweeping and checking your timber is the cheapest insurance policy you can buy.
Featured Image Image * [Close up shot of terracotta plant pots sitting on small ceramic 'feet' on a wooden deck, showing the clear air gap underneath] Image Alt Text * Using pot feet to prevent deck rot and extend lifespan Tags Select Tags * Deck Maintenance, Wood Care, Garden Tips, DIY Advice, Bristol SEO Settings Meta Title * How to Extend the Life of Your Deck Meta Description * Want your deck to last 20 years? We reveal 4 simple maintenance hacks to prevent rot, improve airflow, and protect your timber from the Bristol weather.