Natural wood adds timeless beauty to any home — contemporary abodes embrace horizontal lines with long, narrow, cedar decks, while traditional exteriors are enhanced by elaborate verandas brimming with outdoor rugs, planters and comfortable furniture.

However, natural wood isn’t exactly maintenance free. Over time, it can be bleached by the sun, warped by the rain and dented and dinged by day-to-day life.

That’s why we asked the experts: How can I make sure my natural wood remains beautiful into the future?

“One of the key things is to protect against water and sun damage,” says wood care expert Ralph Swan.

“What happens when wood absorbs moisture is, it expands the fibres and shrinks them as it dries out, so over time that process can cause warping or cupping. UV also breaks down wood fibres on the surface. It kills the fibres, which is why the deck goes to that black or grey effect and doesn’t look esthetically pleasing.”

And that can happen in just a few years, which is why it’s important to care for natural wood from day one.

But rather than pressure washing the deck each year, which Swan says can “tear away wood fibres,” homeowners should hose the deck down, scrubbing dirty spots with a brush, and then coat the entire surface in a high-quality sealant that also offers mold, mildew and UV protection.

“Water sealants can come in sheer colours as well, so you can add colour, water repellence, protection against mold and mildew, and UV protection all in one application,” he says.

“If you have a cedar or redwood deck, however, you’d use a cleaner/brightener product because cedar and redwood have tannins in them, which are natural oils in the wood.”

Regular cleaners can darken these types of woods, but a brightening agent “brings back that natural colour,” Swan says.

“The biggest thing I could tell anybody to do is to protect your deck against water and UV damage. After that, the biggest point is to clean your deck before putting the protective coating on it. This type of maintenance extends the life of your deck.”

Keeping the deck or patio strong and attractive is important to homeowners today, adds Debbie Zimmer of the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute, because summer is the season for entertaining outside.

“Decks are the living and entertaining space of choice for many homeowners,” she says. “However, before homeowners pull out that table and umbrella, they should consider re-energizing this space with a fresh coat of paint or stain. Not only will this step enhance this often-used exterior ‘room,’ but it can also protect the actual wood surface allowing the deck to last longer.”

She recommends a coat of semi-transparent stain, as it quickly spruces up a wooden deck with a hint of colour that allows wood grain to show through.

Those who don’t care to see the wood grain can use an opaque stain instead. Oil- or latex-based, opaque stains typically last longer than their semi-transparent counterparts.

Lasting even longer than stains, however, are porch and deck enamels.

hile they require a coat of primer, meaning a little bit more elbow grease, enamels cover both the grain and texture of the wood and last much longer than stains.

As for colour selection, Zimmer says neutrals remain popular.

“While browns and grey continue to be favourite colour selections when painting or staining a deck, homeowners are increasingly choosing combinations that suit their home or decorating style,” she says.

“If you’re not ready to add multiple hues to the entire space, add a punch of colour by incorporating complementary colours onto planter boxes, built-in benches or even deck trellises.”