Sikkens VS Oil

[SIMONLEWIS]

Hi Everyone,
I have just completed my Merbau deck its approx 10mx7m, so fairly big. I have just contacted a local floor sander for a price on sanding it all back - he basically said that its not worth sanding it back and its too hard to get an even sand.
My question is though.... I'm tossing up between oiling and using this Sikkens product that everyone talks about.
I want a glossy or shiny finish on my deck - but i'm told oil is no match for sikkens - I have no idea what sikkens is, just been told that it is about $500 for 20L.
I dont want ot use something that wont give me a shiny/gloss finish that will last. I'm aware that i will need to re coat every year, which doesn't bother me - just dont want to use the wrong stuff.

Please please help - as I want to get into finishing the deck in the next 2 weeks - its been down now for 2-3 weeks and been washed lightly 3 times with a hose and broomed off.

[Dusty]

G'Day, Simon.

That's fair size deck you've got going there.

Neither Sikkens or Oil will give you the gloss finish you desire for your deck.

For obvious reasons you can't use interior type Urethanes on exposed decking.

So, my best tip is to look into this product here called DEKS OLJE
This product will give you a gloss finish that might last a little longer than any other Marine type varnish.

These glossy Marine Varnish products are not really recommended for high traffic areas, so, if it's going to be a busy deck put some hard thought into it before you try it. Also, along with most things glossy it will be pretty slippery when wet.

Ohh, and by the way the deck can be sanded flat, and in fact should be for best results.

Good luck with this project, as it's a big area to fix up if it's not done right the first time 'round.

Dusty.

[SIMONLEWIS]

Hi Dusty,
Yeah your right it is big and i'm a firm believer of "do it right first time"
I'm not after a fully gloss look like enamel - just a bit of shine to it rather than dull looking timber. I'm not sure if I would be real good at applying that Deks Olje - and probably wouldnt have the budget for it either. This will be a fairly high traffic deck.
What will sikkens look like as a finish?
Cheers
Simon

[silentC]

Anything that would give you a semi gloss finish is going to be something that sits on the surface of the timber. Oil soaks in and gives you the colour but a flat finish. I imagine the Sikkens stuff would be the same, but have not used it myself.

Personally, I think that a flat finish is much better for this sort of application because it will not show up wear and tear anywhere near as much as a higher sheen finish would. There is a marine gloss from Norglass that is OK for high traffic areas but I wouldn't use it on a deck, it just wouldn't look right.

The other thing is I would leave it a bit longer if I was you. You might want to check one of the other recent threads here on the same topic where people have talked about what the tannin in Merbau will do to your finish if you put it on too soon. Mine has been down for nearly three months and it will be lucky if it sees any oil before Christmas.

[Dusty]

Sikkens will look fine.

In fact one of their products CETOL DECK comes in a Satin finish which is a fair step up from the normal Matt found in most decking oils.

Maybe this is the one your looking for?

Dusty.

[StuartN]

Hi, We've got a lot of hardwood timber decking around our place and I'm in the process of building an additional deck (around 100 Square Metres). We're probably after a similar finish to you but more importantly don't want to have to re-coat every 6 months which is what we found with oil finishes.

We researched this a bit and found a product called Intergrain DWD. This product is a 2 part finish - 1st one seals it then a hard finish. We've found it to wear extremely well and give a very natural timber look. This is probably a more glossy look than I would like but that sounds what you're looking for.

I've never heard of sikkens being used on decks, its generally a product used on Windows/doors and it a fantastic product - for that purpose.

[SIMONLEWIS]

Hi Stuart,
is this the stuff http://www.woodart.com.au/a_intergrain07.htm, approx how much for 1,5 or 10 Litres. Do you know where this can be purchased? Looks exately like what I'm after just judging from the pics on the link.

Cheers,
Simon

[jedi]

PLease what ever you do don't use Intergrain! I have seen many times this stuff failing. Looks great for the first 12 months but after that its an absulute mess. It peels straight off due to the weather extremes we have no control over. Use 2 pac marine exterior gloss. NB; no finish is perfet for outside but this your best chance. Also, Im a bit worried about you saying you washed the deck down. Make sure the timber is VERY DRY before coating.

[SIMONLEWIS]

This is all too confusing.... :confused: So after my final washdown leave for at least a week or two?
Well it gets to 43plus degrees here and overnight can get to as low as -2 so yes its very extreme - so you recommend a 2pac marine exterior gloss and definately not the Intergrain (Pitty coz I liked the look of that finish, but will want a lasting finish as well).what do you know about the CETOL DECK finish?

[jedi]

Sorry mate but I needed to warn you. I have heard though that sikkens is good.

[Dusty]

Sikkens can be found right here

Dusty

[SIMONLEWIS]

SORRY TO BE A PAIN BUT WOULD THIS BE SUITABLE?
http://www.floodco.com/Flood/Product...Product+Pg.htm
AND DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE AND WHAT ITS WORTH?

[Dusty]

There ya go.

Give that a run. Here is the australian distributor.

[Extracare]

SORRY TO BE A PAIN BUT WOULD THIS BE SUITABLE?
http://www.floodco.com/Flood/Product...Product+Pg.htm
AND DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE AND WHAT ITS WORTH?

Sounds like the same product as the Intergrain.

My research suggests that any coating is a problem as soon as the weather gets to it. I have seen Sikens look awful after just 6 months of sun and rain.

The only way around this is to use an oil. Not the best either because you need to re-coat every 6-12 months.

I have asked similar questions to yours and no-one seems to have a standard answer.

I have decided to allow my deck to leach tannin for 8 weeks, then a light sand with my Canterbury buffer and then 2-3 coats of Feast Watson's decking oil. This stuff looks magnificent on the steps I built.

[silentC]

Another thing to keep in mind: any hard finish is most likely going to need to be stripped back to bare timber if you need to replenish it. If it's the kind of finish that flakes as it breaks down, you wont be able to just recoat it. Oil is easy to recoat and easy to repair. If I was you I would sit down and have a long hard think about it. Weigh up the pros of oil vs. the cons of anything else, especially in regards to long term maintenance. Is a high sheen finish that important to you?