The deck is nearing completion

[nabs]

Hi !!!First visit to this forum. Our deck... well it's been the January project and is 11 x 7 m.All the boards are laid and screwed down.
Lovely spotted gum with bloodwood posts for the rails etc .We are very pleased with our handiwork and are in the "what do we finish it with dilema "... Intergrain DWD was top of the list but after reading some more and scanning some of this sites forum we are thinking oil...Sounds like we need to leave it for a while, buy some napisan scrub it down ,wait a bit longer then finish it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[pawnhead]

Sorry, I can't really help you, but , well not really, but it would be nice to see your handiwork.

[nabs]

Here it is - a husband and wife work of art and we are still talking!!!!

[pawnhead]

Wow, that looks great! It's huge.

You've still got a bit of work in front of you, staircase, footings under that overhang? And if that drop is over a metre you should have a handrail as well.

[nabs]

Yes the hand rail is a definite - this photo was pre the posts being put on. With three children we definitely have rails!!! The stairs are still in the planning stage - sourcing the timber at the moment..all an adventure!!!

[jimj]

Dear Nabs,

Congratulations on what appears to be an outstanding deck construction and well done on staying happy with your other half. The decision on what protective coating should be used can be very controversial and confusing. We all want to achieve the best possible outcome with the least hassle. If you are swayed by all of the advertising hype it can drive you crazy. If you break it down your greatest challenge is to block the UV from the sun which is the cause of timber greying and the blocking of water damage. There are so many products on the shelf which will promise the world but every product will need to be reapplied and it is just a matter of time before each product has given up. I don't want to publicly list the products that I have examined and removed from decks but there are some that are much better than others.
You need to remember that no clear product that exixts can block the suns UV so the timber will start to grey off in several months. All of the coating companies are looking for that clear holy grail but it is still alluding them. You will need to allow the timber to just naturally weather for a good 3-6 months to allow the timbres natural oils and tannins to rise to the surface. Once this has taken place you can clean back the oils, tannins and dirt with 50 grams Napisan( active ingredient Sodium Percarbonate}/1 litre of warm water applied over a wet deck. Leave it for some 10-20 minutes and it wil draw out an amazing amount of oils and dirt. Make sure you rinse off thouroughly. After you have cleaned off the timbre I would follow up with a mixture of 10 % oxalic acid and water and coat the deck for another 10-20 minutes. After all of this you will be ready to coat.

I am using an 100% water based acyrilic product and achieving nice results. If you would like to see some before and after please go to my website www.restore-a-deck .com.au The first two befores and afters were both 5 month old new decks that just required cleaning with sodiun percarbonate. There are many products on the market and all have their good and bad points. It is a question of reading about and discovering which ones out perform the others.

Good luck,

Jim J

[mic-d]

Dear Nabs,

I am using an 100% water based acyrilic product and achieving nice results. If you would like to see some before and after please go to my website www.restore-a-deck .com.au The first two befores and afters were both 5 month old new decks that just required cleaning with sodiun percarbonate. There are many products on the market and all have their good and bad points. It is a question of reading about and discovering which ones out perform the others.

Good luck,

Jim J

Yep, Flood Spa-n-deck is what I've been trying to tell people here for a while is an excellent product. Have been using it for a few years now. Long wearing and easy/fast to apply.

Cheers
Michael

[John99]

Hi Nads

Thats a awesome deck cant wait to see some pics when its all finished, great work

[Bluegum]

Nabs, that looks awesome mate. Keep the pics coming there mate as it will be great to see the finished product.

[Dusty]

Hi Nads

Shouldn't that be "Go Nads" ??

[nabs]

Thanks for all the thoughts so far - I've been reading many other threads and have some specific Spa-n-deck questions
1> This product doesn't need sanding back at time of resealing?
2>Could this product peel as some others are reported to do?
3> Is this product slippery when wet? Half the deck is to be covered but the other will be in the elements

This is a great site to admin!!!! I'm learning a lot!!!

[namtrak]

Ive just finished my deck with Spa and Deck and it looks great (if I must say so myself). It wont peel, and where there are enough coats the water sits on top and is not slippery. Where there aren't enough coats the water penetrates a litter deeper and it does get slightly slippery, but nothing outstanding.

Cheers

[mic-d]

What Namtrak said, plus the first couple times it gets wet it might fell a bit slippery until the surfactants in it wash away.
doesn't need resanding
Cheers
Michael

[jimj]

Dear Nads,

Nice to see that you are researching the variou pros and cons of the coatings available for decking. The others are correct in the fact the Floods Spa & Deck will not peel, blister, bubble, crack up are go black.With three coats it will dry with a nice satin sheen. Over time of say 5 months this sheen just dulls. When you think it needs recoating no sanding is required. Just shift out of the way any furniture. Hose off any surface dirt and if needed give the more trafficked areras a gentle scrub and then just recoat. I have found a 9 inch pad applicator on a pole by Shurline available at most hardwares works great. It will be touch dry in 20-30 minutes. If it needs another coat it can be applied in 2-3 hours. I would think that you will get a good 18 months before anything needs to be done.

Good Luck,
Jim J

[UteMad]

Dear Nabs,

I would follow up with a mixture of 10 % oxalic acid and water and coat the deck for another 10-20 minutes. After all of this you will be ready to coat.

I am using an 100% water based acyrilic product and achieving nice results. If you would like to see some before and after please go to my website www.restore-a-deck .com.au The first two befores and afters were both 5 month old new decks that just required cleaning with sodiun percarbonate. There are many products on the market and all have their good and bad points. It is a question of reading about and discovering which ones out perform the others.

Good luck,

Jim J

Hi everyone .......new to this site!!

Jimj where are you sourcing neat oxalic acid??? and at what cost

Cheers Ute Mad