Deck question

[Spyro]

Ok that was A LOT of sanding (there's a bunch more around the corner)
Before I sanded it bare it had multiple layers of... something that had turned a terrible orange/yellow and had started to peel everywhere.
Also I had to sand around hundreds of nails... don't ask.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Workshop/i-sR2mQWG/0/f686704e/X3/20190210_190802-X3.jpg

Anyway my question is, I don't want to sand it ever again if possible, how do I achieve that?

The plan now is to put two layers of this stain Feast Watson "grey mountain ash"

https://2ecffd01e1ab3e9383f0-07db7b9624bbdf022e3b5395236d5cf8.ssl.cf4.rackcdn.com/Product-800x800/571ef85a-5a65-414b-ad68-5032fcdab3bf.jpg

and then every 1-2 years to add another coat of something for protection, but what might that something be?

I want to avoid using the same stain because it will turn darker and darker until it's completely black and that is a look we had before and we want to avoid it.
Is there something clear I can put on that will penetrate, protect, and not change the colour?

The Feast and Watson stain contains:
60% liquid hydrocarbons
<1% Methyl ethyl ketoxime
<0.3% Ochtilinone
I have no idea what any of that means :U

Based on the instructions the recommended maintenance is to add another coat of the same, but it does say it will make the colour darker, which I'd like to avoid.

Any ideas?

Cheers
Spyro

[Chris Parks]

If you never want to sand it again don't put anything on it and just let it weather naturally.

[Chief Tiff]

Use a proprietary decking oil and recoat every year. Any areas that start to go silvery or grey can be rejuvenated with an oxalic acid deck restorer and some vigorous scrubbing before recoating.

The problem is that the timber is always going to flex and will create micro cracks in the surface. Varnishes etc will crack because they’re generally not flexible enough, nor do they soak into the surface. Only oils soak in and remain flexible BUT they simply don’t last very long and have to be regularly reapplied.

There is no easy fix unfortunately. When I built my deck (Aussie “Forest Red” mixed timbers) I coated it with Intergrain Ultradeck, because most of it is under shelter it survives ok but where it is exposed to the elements it shows it. Oxalic acid cleans it up and cuts away the grey and now I recoat it with oil.

[Fumbler]

I used cabots deck wash, scrubbed with stiff bristled broom, then Karchered. Let dry then used Cabots decking oil merbau tint. 2yrs, no probs. am just about to do the same again, scrub, pressure was, re-coat. simple.


luckily, I used Camo decking system so no visible nails to deal wit.h

[Spyro]

Thanks guys