Having just read an earlier post about building a deck,I realised that
it's time I did something about mine. It's 3 or 4 years since I built
it, so it's looking a bit weathered now.

At risk of getting a bunch of replies telling me to burn it and build
a patio, what's the best treatment? My brother has treated his
decking with a few things, most of which seem to peel off in short
order. My understanding (which I told him but he wouldn't listen) was
that treating new decking is a bad idea, which was why I left mine
(good excuse huh?).

I don't really want any fancy-pancy finish, just a freshen up: If it
looked like it does when I have just pressure washed it, that would be
just fine. Any useful advice gratefully received.

On 07/04/2011 23:07, GMM wrote:
Having just read an earlier post about building a deck,I realised that
it's time I did something about mine. It's 3 or 4 years since I built
it, so it's looking a bit weathered now.

At risk of getting a bunch of replies telling me to burn it and build
a patio, what's the best treatment? My brother has treated his
decking with a few things, most of which seem to peel off in short
order. My understanding (which I told him but he wouldn't listen) was
that treating new decking is a bad idea, which was why I left mine
(good excuse huh?).

I don't really want any fancy-pancy finish, just a freshen up: If it
looked like it does when I have just pressure washed it, that would be
just fine. Any useful advice gratefully received.

Clean it & apply Decking Oil. It soaks into the wood rather than
forming a surface coating that peels off later. Stops any splintering etc.

Dead easy to apply, dead easy to re apply in the future.

I'd never use anything else.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 8/04/2011 10:51 a.m., The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 07/04/2011 23:07, GMM wrote:
Having just read an earlier post about building a deck,I realised that
it's time I did something about mine. It's 3 or 4 years since I built
it, so it's looking a bit weathered now.

At risk of getting a bunch of replies telling me to burn it and build
a patio, what's the best treatment? My brother has treated his
decking with a few things, most of which seem to peel off in short
order. My understanding (which I told him but he wouldn't listen) was
that treating new decking is a bad idea, which was why I left mine
(good excuse huh?).

I don't really want any fancy-pancy finish, just a freshen up: If it
looked like it does when I have just pressure washed it, that would be
just fine. Any useful advice gratefully received.

Clean it & apply Decking Oil. It soaks into the wood rather than forming a
surface coating that peels off later. Stops any splintering etc.

Dead easy to apply, dead easy to re apply in the future.

I'd never use anything else.


Out of interest, what is in Decking Oil?

On 08/04/2011 00:03, Gib Bogle wrote:
On 8/04/2011 10:51 a.m., The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 07/04/2011 23:07, GMM wrote:
Having just read an earlier post about building a deck,I realised that
it's time I did something about mine. It's 3 or 4 years since I built
it, so it's looking a bit weathered now.

At risk of getting a bunch of replies telling me to burn it and build
a patio, what's the best treatment? My brother has treated his
decking with a few things, most of which seem to peel off in short
order. My understanding (which I told him but he wouldn't listen) was
that treating new decking is a bad idea, which was why I left mine
(good excuse huh?).

I don't really want any fancy-pancy finish, just a freshen up: If it
looked like it does when I have just pressure washed it, that would be
just fine. Any useful advice gratefully received.

Clean it & apply Decking Oil. It soaks into the wood rather than
forming a
surface coating that peels off later. Stops any splintering etc.

Dead easy to apply, dead easy to re apply in the future.

I'd never use anything else.


Out of interest, what is in Decking Oil?

I'm not actually sure TBH, but I believe is a relative of tung oil - in
other words it hardens on exposure to air. I believe ut contains resins.

I base my comments on experience not knowledge.

I'd love to know what exactly was in it.



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 08/04/2011 00:37, The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 08/04/2011 00:03, Gib Bogle wrote:
On 8/04/2011 10:51 a.m., The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 07/04/2011 23:07, GMM wrote:
Having just read an earlier post about building a deck,I realised that
it's time I did something about mine. It's 3 or 4 years since I built
it, so it's looking a bit weathered now.

At risk of getting a bunch of replies telling me to burn it and build
a patio, what's the best treatment? My brother has treated his
decking with a few things, most of which seem to peel off in short
order. My understanding (which I told him but he wouldn't listen) was
that treating new decking is a bad idea, which was why I left mine
(good excuse huh?).

I don't really want any fancy-pancy finish, just a freshen up: If it
looked like it does when I have just pressure washed it, that would be
just fine. Any useful advice gratefully received.

Clean it & apply Decking Oil. It soaks into the wood rather than
forming a
surface coating that peels off later. Stops any splintering etc.

Dead easy to apply, dead easy to re apply in the future.

I'd never use anything else.


Out of interest, what is in Decking Oil?

I'm not actually sure TBH, but I believe is a relative of tung oil - in
other words it hardens on exposure to air. I believe ut contains resins.

I base my comments on experience not knowledge.

I'd love to know what exactly was in it.



Either tung or linseed I would think. AFAIK they are the only "drying
oils", but both go yellow/orange over time. Not usually an issue with
decking though

On 08/04/11 09:25, stuart noble wrote:
On 08/04/2011 00:37, The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 08/04/2011 00:03, Gib Bogle wrote:
On 8/04/2011 10:51 a.m., The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 07/04/2011 23:07, GMM wrote:
Having just read an earlier post about building a deck,I realised that
it's time I did something about mine. It's 3 or 4 years since I built
it, so it's looking a bit weathered now.

At risk of getting a bunch of replies telling me to burn it and build
a patio, what's the best treatment? My brother has treated his
decking with a few things, most of which seem to peel off in short
order. My understanding (which I told him but he wouldn't listen) was
that treating new decking is a bad idea, which was why I left mine
(good excuse huh?).

I don't really want any fancy-pancy finish, just a freshen up: If it
looked like it does when I have just pressure washed it, that would be
just fine. Any useful advice gratefully received.

Clean it & apply Decking Oil. It soaks into the wood rather than
forming a
surface coating that peels off later. Stops any splintering etc.

Dead easy to apply, dead easy to re apply in the future.

I'd never use anything else.


Out of interest, what is in Decking Oil?

I'm not actually sure TBH, but I believe is a relative of tung oil - in
other words it hardens on exposure to air. I believe ut contains resins.

I base my comments on experience not knowledge.

I'd love to know what exactly was in it.



Either tung or linseed I would think. AFAIK they are the only "drying
oils", but both go yellow/orange over time. Not usually an issue with
decking though

There are more (such as walnut oil), but tung and linseed are the main
ones used in such products... unless they have been replaced by alkyds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drying_oils

Pure tung oil can be thinned (to get better penetration) with turps.
This also helps (speeds) the drying process. Although tung oil is
supposed to create a waterproof finish, I've not used it in such a context.

Wood exposed to the weather will still go grey though.

On Apr 7, 11:51*pm, The Medway Handyman
wrote:
On 07/04/2011 23:07, GMM wrote:

Having just read an earlier post about building a deck,I realised that
it's time I did something about mine. *It's 3 or 4 years since I built
it, so it's looking a bit weathered now.

At risk of getting a bunch of replies telling me to burn it and build
a patio, what's the best treatment? *My brother has treated his
decking with a few things, most of which seem to peel off in short
order. *My understanding (which I told him but he wouldn't listen) was
that treating new decking is a bad idea, which was why I left mine
(good excuse huh?).

I don't really want any fancy-pancy finish, just a freshen up: *If it
looked like it does when I have just pressure washed it, that would be
just fine. *Any useful advice gratefully received.

Clean it & apply Decking Oil. *It soaks into the wood rather than
forming a surface coating that peels off later. *Stops any splintering etc.

Dead easy to apply, dead easy to re apply in the future.

I'd never use anything else.

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Thanks Dave: It seems that an oil would be better than a surface
treatment - I just got back from my brother's (hence not seeing your
response til tonight) and his treatment, on a deck he only built last
year is in a terrible state, scuffed off everywhere that anyone walks.

Mine always looks good when i have just washed it and if oil can keep
it like that, instead of going grey, it will do the job as far as I'm
concerned.

Now I just need a couple of consecutive dry days when I have
time.......