keeping house.

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Deck (wood): maintenance schedule and lifespan

What your deck (wood) needs and how often, how long it usually lasts.

15โ€“20 yearstypical service life
2 jobsto keep on a schedule

The maintenance schedule

every 2 years

How often should you clean and reseal?

A typical schedule is every 2 years.

once a year

How often should you inspect fasteners and structural connections?

A typical schedule is once a year.

How long does your deck (wood) last?

Usually 15 to 20 years. Where yours sits in that range depends on when it went in and how it's been looked after, which is why the install year is the most useful thing to write down. Something past its typical life isn't due for replacing on that account: most things are run until they fail. It's a reason to put money aside, not to spend it.

Generic schedules start from the calendar. Yours should start from your house. Keeping House takes the year each system went in and works out what's due and when, sends the reminders, and keeps the history a buyer or insurer will ask for.

Start your home's record, freeSee a sample report

Related guides

Intervals and lifespans are typical figures for U.S. homes, in line with commonly cited industry ranges; costs are rough installed prices in 2026 dollars. Your manufacturer's manual and local conditions come first.