How to Care for Wood and Metal Railing
One of the most brilliant ways to accentuate the look of your home's backyard living space while maintaining the soft, natural feel of the outdoors is to install and maintain wood and metal railing along your deck, porch, and patio.
Innovative new deck railing lines such as Vista Wood Deck Railing kits and Wild Hog Railing Panels allow DIY deck builders and homeowners to blend modern, metal railing infill between wooden deck posts and deck rails.
How to Clean Wood & Metal Railing
But once installation of a wood and metal railing system is complete, there is still a bit of annual upkeep home and deck owners will want to complete to keep their outdoor space looking its best. Read more below to find out 5 easy tips on how to maintain wood and metal railing!
Keep Your Wood and Metal Railing Clean and Strong
5 Steps to Clean Wood and Metal Deck Railings
1. Brush Off the Railing
Remove any planters, furniture, or rugs near the wood/metal deck railing and set them aside. Use your household broom, not a shop or garage broom, and gently brush away all dirt, cobwebs, pollen, or debris on the rail system.
2. Clean the Wood Rails and Posts
You can use a wood deck cleaner to wash wood railings and balusters. Follow the directions on your product – some require the deck to be dry while some wood deck cleaners say to wash a wet deck. If the wood has to be wet, spray the railing with a garden hose at a gentle spray. You can gently use a scrub brush to clean your railing.
3. Clean the Metal Balusters
Wipe aluminum deck railings with a damp cloth. Add mild detergent to warm water and use the mixture to wash the rail. Rinse it off with your garden hose and towel dry to avoid any spots left on the metal rails.
4. Apply a Penetrating Wood Oil
Staining or sealing your wood deck rails and posts can look nice initially, however, will take a toll in the long-term requiring annual maintenance. Instead, choose a rich, penetrating wood oil such as Penofin or DeckWise.
Penetrating wood oils soak deep into the fibers of the wooden railing to prevent moisture and UV rays from harming the wood from the inside out. Once applied, allow penetrating wood oils to seep into the wood for around 15-20 minutes, then wipe down the wood vigorously with a clean rag. This oil need not be reapplied every year and will not crack or peel over time.
5. Apply Touch-Up Paint
Thoroughly inspect all powder-coated metal balusters, brackets, and hardware for any nicks or scratches that may have occurred throughout the seasons. If any spots are noticed, cover them with coordinating touch-up paint. This will prevent corrosion from appearing, protect the piece from further damage, and conceal the scratch for a more attractive wood and metal railing.
