"Lawrence" wrote in message
ups.com...
| On Apr 3, 8:20 pm, Wayne Whitney wrote:
| Hello,
|
| I'm replacing the deck of my covered, open porch. The new deck is
5/4
| x 4 redwood v-notch T&G. [Obviously solid boards with a gap would
| provide better drainage, but IMHO that is too informal for a covered
| porch.] A couple questions on finishing:
|
| 1) I do want to finish the redwood, as otherwise it will tend to get
a
| bit grungy from foot traffic. My instinct is to use a
penetrating
| oil finish, rather than a film finish, because when a film finish
| fails it will flake off and require sanding to remove it. I'm
| leaning towards Penofin red label. Anything I'm missing here?


Cabot Australian Timber oil is what I prefer.


|
| Nope. If your preference is a penetrating finishes then thats fine.
| It will not be as durable or cleanable as a polyeurathane but it is
| indeed easier to apply and maintain. This is why poly is usually used
| indoors and penetrating oils mostly for outdoor porches.
|
| 2) Is it useful to prefinish the underside before installation?
What
| about the tongue and groove? The porch deck is 3.5' - 4' above
| open soil, with the region underneath enclosed but vented.
|
| Woodworking tradition is that the underneath not have finish. Just
| too much trouble and too little payoff. I have to say that it is
| useful since it further protects the boards and will reduce and
| expanding and contracting that occurs with all wood. Having said
| that, almost no one would go what is a significant amount of trouble
| to finish a surface that no one ever sees or uses.
|