Permanent protecter/sealant for ironbark decking?

[Ed..]

Hi everyone, my missus has asked me to build a small patio out the back (3m x 3m x 2.3m) in the next 5-6 months, and I have a bought a heap of Ironbark (150mm x 25mm mainly red) for the floor that is now drying some more in my shed. So after I joint and thickness it, I would like to seal it with something that will help keep the reddish colour and protect it from fading to grey more or less permanently if possible. Redoing the floor every so often is not my idea of fun and I would like to do it once and then not have to worry about it (if that is possible). It will have a steel RHS frame and colour bond roof but will still get some exposure to light and rain.

Is there such a product (preferably glossy to highlight the grain and colour) out there that will do this?

Cheers

Ed.

[Master Splinter]

If you don't like maintenance, then you need pavers or concrete.

Wood solutions will all equal (roughly) one to two yearly maintenance. You can put it off a bit, but you'll then pay for that slackness in time and effort (up to and including punching nails and sanding) when you do get around to it!

See also:
http://www.renovateforum.com/f196/cleaning-oiling-your-deck-75429/

[BobL]

Hi everyone, my missus has asked me to build a small patio out the back (3m x 3m x 2.3m) in the next 5-6 months, and I have a bought a heap of Ironbark (150mm x 25mm mainly red) for the floor that is now drying some more in my shed. So after I joint and thickness it, I would like to seal it with something that will help keep the reddish colour and protect it from fading to grey more or less permanently if possible. . . . . . Is there such a product (preferably glossy to highlight the grain and colour) out there that will do this?


Enquiries like this come up every couple of months.
Unfortunately the short answer to your question is No.

If you want to retain colour in decking with some sort of a wood look without maintenance then Ekodeck (a composite of PET and Bamboo) is about it.
http://www.bunnings.com.au/ekodeck-88-x-23mm-5-4m-dark-brown-composite-decking-_p0120552

[artme]

Don't nail it down. Use screws!

[Ed..]

I wouldn't be using nails anyway as the decking will be fastened over 2.5mm thick RHS which the frame will be built out of, so it will be drill first, counter sink and then self tapping screws. I will have to do some tests to see whether stainless or galvanized should be used. Not sure if ironbark leaches out tannins or not or if it will effect either of those two types of screws.

Cheers


Ed.

[rod1949]

Although more expensive I'd go for SS screws. There is also a strip product called Polyflash that is placed on top of the joists before the decking material. Its to keep the top of the joist dry/clean thus helping to stop rot be it timber or steel. I've used it on my decking here's the link http://www.renovateforum.com/f196/my-deck-steel-composite-decking-76368/.