How to Preserve the Color of a Redwood Deck

Remove all objects from the surface of the redwood deck and sweep it thoroughly to remove dirt and debris.

Examine the deck surface closely to identify any rough or splintered areas. Sand these areas with a fine-grit sandpaper until smooth them. Sweep the deck again to remove sanding dust. If your redwood deck is new, sanding is typically not required.

Put on long sleeves, pants, rubber gloves and safety glasses. Pour a wood-deck cleaner into a bucket and add water to the bucket or deck as instructed on the bottle.

Insert a long-handled scrub brush into the mixture and scrub the entire surface of the redwood deck to clean off any algae or stains. Wait for 10 minutes. Rinse the deck with a garden hose to remove the cleaner and let it sit for 48 hours to dry.

Open a can of oil-based, clear wood preservative and pour it into a paint tray. Insert a paint roller, with an extension handle, into the preservative until saturated.

Roll the preservative over the redwood deck covering no more than three boards at a time. Move on to the next three boards and repeat the process until the entire redwood deck is sealed. Always begin at the farthest point of the deck and work toward a door or the stairs so you don't become trapped.

Wait until the deck is no longer sticky to the touch before walking on it or placing any furniture.