What is my decking made of and how do I restore it?

[NoraKay]

Hi. I bought a house in October with some decking that is in need of attention. It has gone silver/grey and there is a small amount of green algae or mould on it.

I would like to restore it and stain it a more natural wood colour. This is my first house and I don't know what I am doing, so I have a few questions:

1) How do I find out what kind of wood my decking is made out of? I am guessing that it is a softwood, but I don't know for sure. Is there a way for me to find out?

2) How do I go about restoring and staining it? Are there any good resources that talk about maintenance and treatment?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Tigercubrider]

See what a pressure wash does

 

[JohnD]

yes, a pressure washer will strip it clean, if you hold the nozzle close. It will also raise the grain a bit.

But wait until dry weather. After a couple of sunny days you can re-treat it successfully before it has the chance to get damp again.