Your Ultimate Guide To Pine Maintenance in NZ

Pine has been crowned as one of New Zealand’s favourite decking materials because of its affordability, durability and warm yellow colour. Because it’s sustainably grown right here in NZ, pine is readily available and, therefore, highly cost-effective when compared to other decking timbers like Kwila.

While pine is a great quality timber, it still needs regular maintenance to stay in prime condition. This is especially true when it comes to pine decking because it’s constantly exposed to New Zealand’s harsh sun, humidity, rain and snow.

So, without proper care, your pine decking will eventually start to degrade and become discoloured or warped. But the good news is, you can stop this or slow it down, and we’re here to show you how with this ultimate guide to pine deck maintenance.

You’ll discover the ins and outs of pine maintenance in New Zealand, which will include:

Why pine needs maintenance
A timeline of pine maintenance around the home and what products to use
Pine decking – How and when to do maintenance
Is it better to oil or stain pine

So, at the end of this guide, you’ll have the confidence to properly maintain your pine decking and keep it looking beautiful for years to come.

Why Pine Needs Maintenance

Pine, or Radiata Pine, which is the type that’s grown here in New Zealand, is a fantastic softwood that, when treated, becomes durable, long-lasting and resistant to decay, wood-boring insects and fungi.

But pine isn’t immune to the elements. Without regular maintenance, your pine decking will eventually:

Fade away – NZ’s harsh UV rays can bleach your decking, resulting in a dull grey or silver colouring.
Become discoloured – The humid climate of New Zealand encourages mould and mildew growth, which can discolour your pine decking.
It can suffer from warping, cupping, and splitting.

That’s why we recommend having a regular maintenance schedule for your pine decking because if it’s treated and properly cared for, the lifespan of your pine deck will be greatly extended.

A Timeline Of Pine Maintenance Around The Home

New pine decking: Clean with Dryden LiquidTimberClean. Then, apply a high-quality decking oil like Dryden OilStain, which is a clear, water-repellant, deeply penetrating oil that helps protect the timber from the inside out.

If you want to add colour to your pine decking, add Dryden Colourtone+, which would also give it enhanced UV protection.

Every six months: We highly recommend giving your pine deck a soft wash and inspection at this stage. Clean off dirt and grime using a garden hose or soft brush (such as a car washing brush). You can use a mild detergent solution to remove stubborn contaminants.

Ongoing maintenance: Reapply Dryden WoodOil when the softwood decking boards have lost their water resistance and water is soaking into the timber.

Conduct routine maintenance inspections every six months to ensure the timber is still protected from water or as frequently as necessary to retain the preferred appearance.

How To Carry Out Maintenance For Your Pine Decking Using Dryden Products

How To Clean Your Pine Decking

For Standard Cleaning

Give a soft wash: The standard way to clean your pine decking is with a soft wash; just clean with water using a garden hose or soft brush (such as a car washing brush). A mild detergent can be used to remove stubborn contaminants.

Remember to avoid water blasters when cleaning the deck. Only use a gentle garden hose because it’s difficult to get the deck an even colour again after using a water blaster.

To Remove Stains And Cosmetic Marks On Your Pine Decking

What to use: Dryden LiquidTimberClean

How does it work? Dryden LiquidTimberClean lightens or removes marks and brightens dull pine.

How to use:

Mix Dryden LiquidTimberClean 50/50 with water
Apply directly to the entire deck
Keep wet and active until marks are acceptable or gone
Blend total area with 50/50 mix once marks are gone or timber is brightened
Rinse with clean water until soapiness is gone, especially in grooves and joints
Re-oil timbers for protection after drying
The process applies to general or targeted cleaning

How To Coat Your Pine Decking

What to use: Dryden OilStain

How does it maintain your pine decking? As a deeply penetrating oil with water-repelling properties, Dryden OilStain helps prevent water absorption, which, in turn, reduces warping, cupping, and splitting.

How to use:

Apply with a wide bristle brush or a speed pad: For dressed pine, use a wide bristle brush or a speed pad – just avoid the lambswool types. A medium-nap roller or airless spray system can also be used to apply the oil to your cladding.
Keep stirring the oil: Remember to regularly stir the oil throughout the application process to maintain consistency, especially when using Colourtone+. You don’t need to apply fresh oil to every part of the deck unless it needs it. But if you do start on any face, finish it off! This ensures a nice colour consistency across the deck
Don’t thin or dilute: Dryden OilStain should not be thinned or altered in any way – you simply apply it to the wood surface and wipe off any excess solution. After the initial 30-60 minute waiting period, allow the deck to dry before applying another coat – it’s as easy as that!

How To Stain Your Pine Decking

What to use: Dryden Colourtone+ added to Dryden OilStain

How does it maintain your deck? Dryden Colourtone+ provides UV protection and helps prevent the pine decks from silvering when maintained correctly.

How to use Dryden Colourtone+: Choose from over 37 colours and add the selected stain to Dryden OilStain. Then, carry out the same application method as OilStain.

To Restore Pine Decking Before Recoating

What to use: Dryden LiquidTimberClean

How does it work? Dryden LiquidTimberClean removes silvering, mould, dirt, grime, and mild watermarks from pine decking. You can apply it to restore your deck before recoating with Dryden OilStain.

How to use Dryden LiquidTimberClean:

Mix Dryden LiquidTimberClean with equal parts of clean water in a container.
Apply the mixture directly to the surface to be cleaned.
Saturate the surface to be cleaned, starting from the bottom and going to the top.
Leave the mixture on for 15 minutes, making sure to keep the surface wet with a spray mist.
After saturating, use a garden hose to wash off the mixture gently – do not use a water blaster, as it can remove the existing coating.
Recoat with Dryden OilStain!

Is It Better To Use Oil Or A Traditional Stain On A Pine Deck?

Short answer: Pine’s natural colour is yellow, and it will silver when clear products are used. If you like the silvered look, go for Dryden OilStain, which is a clear/transparent oil. If you want more colour and enhanced UV protection, add Dryden Colourtone+ to Dryden OilStain for a stained effect.

At Dryden, we often get asked whether it’s better to oil or stain pine decking, and it’s a tough question to answer.

Instead, let’s reframe it to be more specific: Should I use oil or a traditional stain on pine? In our terms, staining means adding colour. So, when you use a combo of Dryden OilStain and Colourtone+, you’re essentially staining the timber.

This is why it comes down to your preference for the look and finish you want on your pine decking.

Final Thoughts On Pine Decking Maintenance

Pine decks can last a long time with treatment and regular maintenance. So, have a solid pine deck maintenance schedule using Dryden OilStain, Colourtone+ and LiquidTimberClean, and you’ll have a beautiful deck to enjoy for years to come!

Here are a few key points to remember:

Regularly clean and apply Dryden OilStain with or without Dryden Colourtone+ every two to three years.
Clean your pine deck with a soft wash; clean with water using a garden hose or soft brush (such as a car washing brush). A mild detergent solution can be used to remove stubborn contaminants.
Silvering, fading, warping/splitting/cupping and growth of contaminants are signs that maintenance or restoration may be needed.
Should I Oil or stain my pine deck? – Use Dryden OilStain for a clear effect and Dryden OilStain and Colourtone+ for a stained effect.

We hope this guide has been helpful in giving you the essential information on how to maintain and restore your pine deck.

To discover more about pine maintenance, see our other helpful guides below:

Pine Maintenance Guides

3 Best Products for Pine Maintenance in New Zealand
Pine Decking Oil or Stain?
How To Restore Pine Decking
Protecting and Staining a New Pine Deck