Best Finish for Deck

[maglite]

Gday All,

Just need a bit of advice on the best finish for a jarrah deck.
A good mate of mine suggested using Thompsons Waterseal on the deck rather using a standard deck oil.
Apparently thompsons doesnt have a UV inhibitor in it but i dont know wether the decking oil does have one or not.
Can someone tell me the difference between the 2 and perhaps suggest the best product to use.

Thanks in advance
Steve

[custos]

I used Feast Watson decking oil for my deck. A little more expensive than, say, Cabot's but excellent stuff. Easy to apply, looks great. http://www.feastwatson.com.au/DeckingDeckingOil.asp

[Bluegum]

I plan to build a deck at home next year. I was at a local hardware dealer who swears by boiled linseed oil and turps as the finish. I plan to use iron bark and the old bloke swears that his mixture will beat any other oil finish hands down.

[Ecc]

There have been a number of threads about this. I personally used Cabots natural decking oil for my blackbutt deck. It only lasts 6 months though before needing to freshen it up with Deckclean a power washer and a new coat. The lambswool applicators make it easy (although a bugger to clean with turps). Do a search. I don't think the linseed oil cuts it though.

[Bluegum]

Yes I tend to agree with you ecc on this, as this bloke was quite sure that his way was the only way. He showed me pictures of his work and yeah it looked good when it was first done, but I wonder what it looks like after a few months in the hotter parts of the year. I will be buying Cabbots myself and shelving his advice as just that.

[Trav]

I use the wattyl stuff and it si pretty good. Need to recoat every 6 months or so.

Trav

[Theremin]

See here for my comments on Sikkens oil and pics.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=15049&highlight=sikkens

The decks looks the same now as it does in the pics, which were taken 6 months ago.

[Dusty]

My favorite decking finish of late has been the FeastWatson product in the BLACK can. The beauty of this particular product is that the deck can get three coats in the one day, as each coat only takes around an hour to dry.

Here are some snaps of my own deck, which is out in the elements 24/7 it's been six months since i've done it and it still looks good, but I'm thinking i'll give it another coat or two soon. The first pic shows the deck unfinished. the second two show it coated.

[Ecc]

It probably makes a huge difference how exposed the deck is. Mine is totally uncovered with a north easterly aspect. Gets a lot of shade in the morning from trees, frosts in winter and a fair bit of rain this year. As I said six months under these conditions is tops (and wish I had done it a month ago as it is a bit darker now). This is a picture as it was.

[eemgee]

Steve,
I used a product called "Deck-n-Spa', bought it at Bunnings but had to wait for it to come in.
There is a web site for them, a bit dear but they reckon 8 years before you have to redo it, looks great and very easy to put on, beleive it or not you wet the deck down & then put it on, I'd reccommend it.

[maglite]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your many useful replies.
Most of the deck went up today, only have 1/2 a dozen boards and some tidying up tomorrow.
I forgot to mention that the deck is totally covered.
At the mo it is absolutely p****ing down, windy , stormy etc and we laid plastic to help protect it before i layed a finish on it.
NONE of the plastic is wet or even damp for that matter.

OK, this is what i want.
The BEST or MOST DESIRABLE product that can handle dog traffic,muddy workboots and general wear and tear with minimal maintenance.
I really dont want to be washing it down + recoating every 6 months so the hardest wearing finish that can be applied properly the first time will suit me fine.Time isnt really of the essence at theis stage.
It doesnt have to be oil....it could be poly. linseed and kero....anything!!!
That "Pool + Spa" sounds ok, can anyone offer any other suggestions, or alternatively if you were in my shoes....What would you use?

Cheers
Steve

[eemgee]

OK steve,
Before you go any further check the web site
www.floodaustralia.net (http://www.floodaustralia.net)
All the details are there even photos showing some of the applications
I've used it & can thoroughly recommend it
Wayne