A deck or fence built right still needs some upkeep — how much depends entirely on the material. Here is what each one actually needs, material by material.
Cedar
Cedar needs the most regular attention of the materials we work with. Left unsealed, it will gray and weather within a season. To keep its color, plan on cleaning it annually and re-staining or re-sealing every couple of years, depending on sun exposure and foot traffic. Checking, splitting, and small color variation between boards are normal characteristics of real wood, not defects — they happen even with properly installed lumber as it moves with the weather.
Composite
Composite is built for low maintenance: no staining or sealing required. An occasional wash to clear off dirt, pollen, and leaf debris — especially anything trapped between boards or against railing posts — is usually all it needs to keep looking new.
Ipe hardwood
Left untreated, Ipe weathers naturally to a silvery gray, which some homeowners like on its own. If you want to keep its rich brown color, it needs periodic oiling — how often depends on sun exposure. Either way, Ipe's density means it holds up structurally for decades regardless of whether you oil it.
Cedar fencing
For cedar fencing specifically, we recommend an oil-based stain over water-based — it penetrates the wood rather than sitting on top of it, so it holds up better to direct sun and Northwest rain and doesn't peel the way a film-forming finish can. TimberPro is a Pacific Northwest brand we like and recommend. Beyond the finish, it is worth walking your fence line once a year to check that posts are still plumb and gate hardware is still tight — small issues are far easier to fix early than after a winter of wind has made them worse.
The maintenance you cannot skip, regardless of material
Keep plantings and irrigation from staying wet against posts and framing, and keep debris from building up between deck boards — trapped moisture is the single biggest cause of premature rot and finish failure, across every material.
Choosing a material with your actual maintenance appetite in mind up front makes this a lot easier — see our guide to choosing a decking material if you are still deciding.