New Deck is created! (pics)

[WA_decker]

With the flooring it is tongue and groove Jarrah and yes I have read every post that has the above words mentioned and can see the benefit of real decking as opposed to flooring, but prefer the look, (and have already bought the decking) so am planning on ripping the tongue out of the first boards 500mm from the edge which is up to where the rain spray comes in (my boards run parallel to the house) and then every 5th board or so to allow for expansion. To make sure that the cupping and expansion/contraction is the same I also plan to precoat the underneath of the jarrah (and maybe the tongue and groove) with one coat of the Flood Deck n Spa. Then when I have finished I will give three coats of the stuff on top. That should make it look nice and last a while. It is new looking jarrah (not green, just no nail holes) so I am thinking that Natural finish should be OK, although read there is a new jarrah finish out for Deck n Spa, but wan't to see the natural look of the wood...but heard stains in the acrylic coat may reduce UV damage. we'll see...


WA_Decker.

Just wanted to see if anyone had anymore advice on Flood's Spa and Deck?
I have read these posts so far..

Deck n Spa - new jarrah colour
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...light=deck+spa

Spa n Deck samples and great advice by utemad and jimj
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...t=49270&page=2

which have been great. What I wanted to know though is that I am using new jarrah wood (fairly new I'd say, doesn't feel green though). And am going to do the top with Spa and deck, using a Napisan equivalent to take out the tanins and then buy Diggers Oxalic Acid powder from bunnings ($25) which should cut back the top layer and open up the pores of the wood for coating (thanks Jimj for that advice - heaps cheaper than the spa and deck prep and powerlift stuff ($46 and $50 repectively from Bunnings).

The thing that I want to do is this - I wanted to seal the underside of the boards before I lay them - that way if both sides are sealed then they will have more similar moisture absorbtion, and protection from the elements - and in turn I am hoping to limit cupping, etc in a few years time. So what would be an ok substitence to put on the underside that is cost effective as it won't be seem.

I rang Flood (Deck n Spa company) and they recommended using the prep, powerlift and deck and spa on the bottom as well - as a good company would. I just need something that will sit there and last.

Any ideas guys?

WA_Decker.

[Spelunx]

I rang Flood the other day, to confirm they have a Jarrah colour in their Deck'n'spa product.

They do indeed, however they can't send you a free sample, which is a bit of a bummer, but they did offer to finish some samples of my own, though. All I need to do is send them a sample of the wood I used, and they will put the requested finish on, then send it back.

I am planning to do this next week, they reckon it is about a fortnight turn-around.