Steps
Step 1
The deck had greyed out and was starting to show its age. I thought it was best to kick my butt and get moving on restoring it.
The first three planks are always exposed to the weather, these get hit the hardest from pool water and rain.
This area had a drip above for years, It stood up to it but the cost is starting to show.
Another area that has a gap in the roofing above.
I started off with an orbital sander, it worked but the sandpaper would keep walking out of the base.
There was a lot of leaf/seeds and dust wedged between the boards which helped the timber retain water. I used a stainless metal ruler to run along and clear it out.
Really should do maintenance more often...Â
This board has sat on the pool wall since I built the deck, Its never been oiled or looked after. Shows the difference so I included it in this post 🙂
Step 2
I decided to use a belt sander over a drum sander as the area was not too large, approximatley 4.5m by 4.5m plus the privacy screen needed doing as well. The ozito comes with a years warranty and I figured if its will break doing the floor then I will replace it. It didnt break 🙂 It rocked!
Need a knee pad for sure!Â
Always take photos of consumables, ALWAYS 🙂 So much easier when you go and get some more.
Working my way along
You can see the only real issue was the heads of the screws. I had screwed them level with the boards when I installed the deck thinking that was the way to do it. Now I would screw them so they are a little lower. Yes they were countersunk holes 🙂
Tried removing one slat of the privacy screen as needed to get the belt sanders nose under it, The screws sheared off. No way was I replacing these.
10 years of dirt and grime under the boards. wonder what it will come up like?
Pretty nice actually.
Deck sanded!
Outside skirt sanded!
Skirt sanded
Liking the coluring tho I know the oil darkens it a lot.
Step 3
I had half a can of existing oil and needed some more.
Always take photos 🙂
I couldnt believe the change in colour!
I know it looks dark but its less so in real life.Â
I didnt touch the underlying structure. Still going strong 🙂
Here is my quote from when I installed it "After, I know it’s scary looking at the darker colour lol I expected it but still it’s a shock. It’s the lightest coloured oil I could get in the fanboys range. The more red pigment the less likely your timber will grey so easily so it’s a trade off"Â
Working my way across the floor in straight lines
First coat done! And it’s only 8:30am and that’s including a trip to Bunnings at 6:50am lol to get the lighter coloured oil
An hr later
4hrs later
5hrs 20mins, 4 hrs touch dry, 6 hrs recommended recoat
Looks a little grey/dirty bit in reality it does look nice. Not as light as the bare timber of course but very happy with it
Completed! Cheering. Now to wait and cross fingers no rain for 6ish hrs. I finished around 3:00pm so touch dry at 7pm and dry at 9pm  (not really fussed as it’s already dry now at 6:15pm )
Two days later we had a rain event (End of Nov 2023) 😀 Cheering!
A learning moment... three days after the rain I was out on the deck and noticed these black dots... I thought the rain had done something... nope but maybe..
They wernt over all the deck, just in some places..
Some places had none... I even asked the Bunnings community "what on earth is this?" But we couldnt figure it out. In the end I happened to mention to my local Bunnings guy In the timber section (interior) and he suggested that the metal filings from when I had sanded the heads of the screws had reacted with the oil after I had put the oil down.... Even tho I had swept the deck clean and nothing was left but yeah it makes sense. "Live and learn" 🙂Â
Good news is it dissapeared over time 🙂
Step 4
Now its time to do the privacy screen, I was umming and ahhing over should I do it or not.
I decided, yeah just do it!
Same process with the belt sander, I got to stand which was easier on the knees but wooo to my upper body workout.
Love those Telstra work horses 🙂
The Jarrah was realy coming up nicely
Same issue with the screw heads... Kicking myself...
Working my way through
Ready for oiling
The rear of the deck which I didnt sand tho I still oiled. It drank the oil like it hadnt been fed for years...
To show the difference, you can see the yellow gum skirt as well
Half way through
Done! And it looks pretty nice in real life.
Just to show the deck and screen together. Its not as stunning as it was when I first installed, but maybe 70% of what it was. Remember I didnt oil until after the final build and that would have been 6-9 months of timber being exposed to the weather with no roofing. I think it has stood the test of time nicely 🙂
