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Deck Oil - Treatment of Decking
The fact that your
deck has been pressure treated in the manufacturing stage, does not mean
that it requires no further treatment to alleviate stains and grey-coloured
decks.
Ordinary deck stain,
simply colours the surface area of the timber. It does not fill up the
cells, so dirt is still able to fill the spaces! A Deck Sealer is required
to do the job - usually by way of a decking oil.
Close up of a grooved softwood deckboard
clearly showing the groove and also the grain direction.
Decking oil is a special
treatment/preserver that - whilst applied as a liquid - has a high
potential 'solids' content, so that when it dries it solidifies thereby
filling the pores/cells. Deck oil has high penetrating properties, so
that it can enter and then solidify in the individual cells. Some deck
stains simply coat the cells, still leaving room for the dirt to accumulate.
Penetrating oil finishes are much better
for deck maintenance than polyurethane or varnish type finishes. Oils do not
crack as the timber expands and contracts with the varying weather patterns.
Deck oil treatments actually improve the structure of the timber, for once
dry, the solids are stronger than the individual wood fibres that they bind
together. Decking oils actually replace the natural oils and resins that get
lost over time with deck timbers.
Decking oil should be applied after the deck
has been thoroughly
cleaned. We do not advocate the use of pressure
sprayers, for if used indiscriminately a pressure jet can ruin the surface
structure of the timber - leaving it with a 'wooly' feel - difficult to
clean.
Application
The oil should be applied in two coats using a
soft-haired paint brush. The soft-haired option will allow for even
spreading of the deck oil and also act as a sponge to mop up any surplus
deck oil, which can then be used further along the board.
A 5 litre |
The oil should be applied thinly and well
brushed out to ensure no puddles of surplus oil is left on the deck. This is
particularly the case with grooved deck boards, as surplus oil can linger in
the grooves, giving an unsightly appearance, and also taking a long time to
dry.
With a thin application, the first coat will
normally be touch dry in an hour in ideal weather conditions. A second coat
is necessary to further protect the timber and also to enhance the colour if
using a tinted oil.
The picture clearly shows the difference a
second coat will make. The lighter section has received just one application
of deck oil. 4 hours later, the second coat of oil was applied.
The colour used here is Natural Cedar. If you
decide to opt for a coloured oil - and it really does add impact to your
deck - then always choose a lighter colour if you are uncertain. It is easy
to 'darken' a lighter colour by oiling with the darker colour subsequently.
It is virtually impossible to 'lighten' the colour after using a darker
coloured oil.
We have never experienced any problems when
treating boards that are slightly damp. The spirit carrier within the
decking oil still ensures good coverage and penetration of the oil. |
A 5 litre can of oil normally covers around 50
sq metres of deck with 2 coats.
Here it is possible to see that the deck board
to the left has been over-applied with deck oil. This will result in filling
of the grooves, and also a build-up of thick oil on top of the board, which
will result in a long drying period, and a stick feel to the deck.
In the images below, 2 methods of application
are shown. We prefer to apply the deck oil along the whole length of a
couple of boards for a more even application. The left hand image method of
application can result in 'over-painting' of some areas, leading to a patchy
finish. The whole board length method also ensures good long brush strokes
to spread the deck oil evenly.
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