We recently gave a wedding shower for our cousin's son. Because the theme was a luau, we thought holding the event outdoors would be ideal. We worked in the yard for weeks, pulling weeds, pruning, planting spring flowers and tilling soil. We wanted everything to be just right. Unfortunately, as the yard became spectacular, our decks looked really shabby by contrast. It became apparent that it was time to perform a little serious deck maintenance. Actually, our wood structures are not all decks per say. One is a deck, one a bridge and the other a porch. All redwood. All natural.

The bridge was in pretty good shape. All it needed was a pressure washing and a very light coat of wood preservative.

The freestanding deck wasn't shot, but it was close. After being used for several television segments, it was hurting. One section of the top had been pressure-washed so many times that its surface looked like a lake in a windstorm. It required a full sanding before it could be oiled. First, we set the nails (so the heads wouldn't be sanded off) and then we used a rented floor sander to make the surface look new again. A coat of fine oil finished the job.

The porch simply wasn't repairable. The decking was rotted when we moved in, and it took a garden party to convince us that the boards should be completely replaced. In no time the decking came up and new boards went down. We even rebuilt the steps. The handrails were painted, and in pretty good condition. However, they did need some caulking and touch-painting.

Chances are, if you have a deck, it needs some sort of maintenance. What we have found is that decks that are maintained once every 12 months to 18 months are comparatively easy to bring back to life. When things get tough is after several years of neglect or when rot sets in.

When we study a deck to determine the extent of repair needed, we follow several steps:

• We look for cracked boards. Such boards are weak and can be dangerous. Too much weight or pressure and you can end up falling through what used to be a floor.
• Nail pops are next. They are unsightly and can damage little feet.
• Can't forget wood rot. It can go unnoticed until one day what used to be wood no longer is.
• Whether it's a handrail or a deck board, twisted, bowed and cupped lumber can make things look terrible.
• Finally, horrendous gaps at joints and connections can make your wood deck look as though amateurs built it.

Split pieces of lumber and those that are cupped or twisted usually need to be replaced. We find that cutting the bad piece in half or thirds makes it easier to remove. Simply reverse the removal process to add in a new piece. Be sure to take a sample with you to the lumberyard so that you get the same kind of wood. It will be noticeable when first installed, but later, it should blend in quite nicely with the surrounding material. Try to install the new piece without cutting it into pieces.

Nail pops are a constant menace in a wood deck. They frequently must be reset. Use a hinge pin as a nail punch. If you replace your deck or build a new one, we suggest that you use construction screws instead of nails. They take longer, but hold better.

To find out if you have rot, poke a small penknife into the surface of the wood. Soft spots are easy to detect and can be an early warning that harmful fungi exist. Rotted boards should be replaced. A fungicide can be applied to the new material to increase its longevity. Copper Green is a product that contains copper napthanate (a pesticide/fungicide), and is available in spray cans. Caution: follow directions for use and wear a breathing mask.

At hand and stair rails, gaps at joints should be caulked, primed and painted to prevent moisture attack. Remember: irrigation and sprinkler water can be just as damaging to wood as is winter rain. Be sure that the wood is dry before repairing the joint.

Dirt particles, oil and other sticky substances constantly fall out of the air onto your wood deck. This constant cycle creates a layer of dirt and debris that must be removed before you can begin to gauge what maintenance must actually be performed. We always use a pressure washer to clean things up first. Then we can decide exactly what process must be followed to preserve and beautify our wood decks. A quick wash on the deck that we thought needed boards replaced revealed that only a sanding was needed. The wood was otherwise in good condition.