Hi all, I did oil my deck back in January as per the instructions on "Intergrain UltraDeck Timber Decking Oil" and did 3 coats if I remember correctly. Everything seemed fine for a while, but recently I started to realise some whitening occurs on bolt areas when it rains, undreneath the plant pots and various stuff that is sitting on the deck. It wasn't an issue previously when I used the Cabots one, so I don't know if that is the culprit. Some parts started to flake as well, and I believe it might need some sanding.
Anyone can guide me on how I can properly address these issue step by step.. Having a deck honestly became too big of a bother, and I started to hate it each passing day.
Hi @mmyagkiy,
I'm sorry to hear that you are having issues with your deck.
Can you advise what kind of preparation you did before reoiling your deck in January?
I ask because generally when you are going from one product to another, best practice is to sand back the deck to remove the original coating before applying the new one. This is because there can be compatibility issues between different products that can prevent the oil from properly soaking into the timber. I suspect the issues is that the Intergrain oil was blocked from soaking in, so it has formed a surface film, which is leading to two distinct issues.
Where objects are sitting on the deck, water is pooling beneath them without the ability to drain and dry out properly. This trapped moisture can cause the whitening you are seeing and start to break down the coating in those areas. The wear around the screws is because they are a low point where the inside of the timber is exposed, so water is able to find its way into the timber at those points. Once inside, it starts affecting the coating from underneath, which is why you see it breaking down or lifting around the screws first.
To fix this properly, you are likely looking at sanding the deck back to remove that surface film and allow the new coating to penetrate properly. Once sanded, give it a thorough clean, allow it to dry, and then reapply your decking oil.
Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/diy-skills/sanding/how-to-sand-a-deck?srsltid=AfmBOoqy1qI2zFeDMtIi1A_PK7Ew8TRdgkjp6HkZSn8ntfhyAN68fI-Z and https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/building-construction/decking/how-to-oil-your-deck for some guidance on the process.
Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Jacob
Hi Jacob,
Thanks for the help.
When I first moved here, I applied Cabot on top of Intergrain (which is what the previous owners used; they did left a can for me), and that turned out okay in the end. For the last one that is botched, I used Cabot's Deck Clean before using Intergrain. In general, the surface was smooth, so it didn't look like it required any sanding.
Does a belt sander really required or can I use tannin and oil remover instead? I already bought the Cabots deck sander, so I was thinking of doing it without any sort of electrical tool. In reality, how long does it take to do it from start to finish?
Hello @mmyagkiy
Your deck was previously sealed with Intergrain. It is like a protective cover over the deck and prevents it from getting damaged. It protects it from the dust, dirt and the weather. Anything placed over the current sealer will not adhere properly because the wood is not able to absorb the new sealer. The old sealer must be removed first before you apply a new sealer or cover.
I suggest hiring the https://www.bunnings.com.au/for-hire-orbital-floor-sander-24hr_p5470350 along with the https://www.bunnings.com.au/for-hire-floor-edger-24hr_p5470194 to sand your deck. Having a flat surface is only one part of the sanding process, the important part is to remove the old sealer or cover on the deck. Once the deck is back to bare timber you can then re-seal the decking boards. Depending on the size of your deck it could take half a day to a full day depending on how thick the current sealer is.
I suggest having a look at these discussions:
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Hi Eric,
Thanks for those.
Just to summarise,
Can i just apply the oil after sanding or have to do somehting else beforehand?
Cheers
Yes, I suggest one more step, please wash the sanded surface one more time to remove all the sanding dust on the surface of the deck. Please make sure that the surface is totally dry with no hidden water puddles in the screw holes. Once you are sure that its dry, you can then begin to oil your deck.
Any specific grit level that I should be using for sanding?
Use a medium grit like 60–80 to remove the old coating and get back to bare timber. Once the surface is stripped, follow up with a finer grit around 80–120 to smooth the timber and prepare it for oiling, as this helps the oil absorb evenly without sealing the surface too much. After sanding, make sure to thoroughly clean off all dust and allow the deck to dry completely, especially around screw holes, before applying the new decking oil.
Mitchell
