Beautifully stained hardwood decking

Your Guide to Protecting & Maintaining Your New DeckTec Wood Deck (Years 1-5)

Published On: March 4th, 2025

Enjoy Your Deck for Decades to Come Congratulations on your new DeckTec real wood deck! You’ve invested in a beautiful outdoor space, and with the right care, it can last 30-40 years—aging gracefully and retaining its character for decades. But just like a car, your deck needs regular maintenance to stay in peak condition. We […]

Enjoy Your Deck for Decades to Come

Congratulations on your new DeckTec real wood deck! You’ve invested in a beautiful outdoor space, and with the right care, it can last 30-40 years—aging gracefully and retaining its character for decades. But just like a car, your deck needs regular maintenance to stay in peak condition.

We know deck maintenance can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry—that’s why we’re here. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to protect and preserve your deck, so you can enjoy it for years to come.

And if you ever have questions, our Deck Service Team is always ready to help. Just give us a call, and we’ll personally walk you through what’s best for your deck.

What You Need to Know About Deck Maintenance

Weather & Timing: When Can Maintenance Happen?

DeckTec’s expert service crews can clean and stain decks year-round in most conditions:

  • As low as 40-45°F in colder months
  • As high as 90-95°F in warmer months

However, deck exposure matters:

  • Northern exposure decks take longer to dry in winter, limiting service options.
  • Southern & western exposure decks typically dry faster, allowing for more flexibility.

The oil-based transparent stain we use is durable and sets in 20-30 minutes, so rain or snow shortly after application won’t affect it. Plus, overnight temperatures won’t impact the final look.

Protecting Your Deck from UV & Moisture Damage

The Power of Stain

Staining your deck isn’t just about looks—it’s your first line of defense against Colorado’s intense UV rays, which are among the harshest in the country. The transparent oil-based stain we use:

  • Blocks harmful UV rays to prevent wood breakdown
  • Repels water (though moisture alone doesn’t cause decay—UV does!)

Why We Don’t Seal Decks

Sealing a deck can trap moisture inside the wood, leading to rot. Instead, we allow the wood to breathe naturally—absorbing and shedding moisture as needed.

Paint vs. Stain: Making the Right Choice

Want a painted look? Here’s how to do it without damaging your deck:

Avoid solid paint or paint-stain on deck floors and top rails—these trap moisture and lead to dry rot.

  • Instead, use paint on vertical surfaces only (rails, pickets, posts, and skirting).
  • Use a transparent oil-based stain on walking surfaces and top caps for durability.

This combination gives you a distinctive, polished look without compromising the longevity of your deck.

We’re Here to Help

At DeckTec, we don’t just build decks—we help you care for them so they last. If you ever have questions about maintenance, refinishing, or anything else, our team is here for you. Give us a call, and we’ll personally guide you through the best solutions for your deck.

Enjoy your deck—and let’s keep it beautiful for years to come!

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If the market value of your home is important to you – as it is for many – adding a custom deck can increase your house value.

If you’re considering adding a custom deck to your home, reach out to HFS Financial for all of your home improvement financing needs. HFS makes it easy to fund your project with minimal documentation requirements, no equity or appraisal needed, and direct-to-consumer funding.

Adding or improving an existing deck can add a number of beneficial features to your home. Not only can a new deck improve the value of your property, but it can also make your home more enjoyable for you and your family.

HFS Financial also offers 120% financing, allowing you some financial wiggle room for those unexpected hiccups that you may find along the way of your deck-building journey. All funds are paid directly to you, the consumer, so there’s no need to coordinate contractor work with payout schedules. Handle your project your way.

Once we’ve received your information through our 60-Second Loan Application, you will be notified of possible loan options quickly to discuss and review your loan terms and the home improvement project you have in mind.

My husband Matt and I [...] have moved away from the home where we had the beautiful deck and outdoor living space you created.  We will forever remember fondly that beautiful deck, and the hard work you did during a very bad economic time to fix problems around the foundation of our home.  Steve, Keith, and all of your workers were fabulous and we sent several of our friends your way with referrals.  We are sure that your deck helped us get a wonderful offer on our home.

Nancy & Matt, Lakewood

We just wanted to tell you how much we enjoy the decks DeckTec constructed at our home. Their use is a constant joy. We continually receive compliments on the design and quality of your work. We look forward to many years of use.

Eric & Gloria, Arvada

DeckTec are absolute pros. They just finished a big deck and roof cover project at my house. The total experience from working with Steve in Design and Sales, Keith in Project Management, and Charlie, Josh, and Hank in Construction was nothing but 6 star service. 100% on time and on budget with craftsmanship and quality. Skip the “Hammer and Nails” contractors and go with DeckTec if you want an “Outdoor Living Space”. Call these people – you will not be disappointed.

Dave & Sheila, Centennial

I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the work Decktec completed refinishing my deck. It hasn’t looked this good since it was new sixteen years ago. Decktec was very professional, polite and willing to work with me to get the exact color of stain I wanted. I would recommend Decktec to anyone who wants a complete job from the great construction work starting the job, to its thorough cleanup. I’m happy my neighbor referred me to Decktec. You are the fourth company I’ve had refinish my deck and will now be the only company I use going forward.

Rob, Littleton