How to maintain splintering Blackbutt deck?

Question

Hi, I have a deck in my backyard that is starting to show signs of age.   The deck was built using BlackButt timber, and is mainly under a pergola (which provides it with sun and rain protection) - notwithstanding the ends of the deck that are exposed.  I have been maintaining my deck with Cabot's Aquadeck decking oil product - which has been good and refreshes the look.

On one of my lengths of timber, the wood is starting to split and there is a small piece of wood that has splintered.  I've attached two pictures of the splintered wood - FYI.

The question I have is, what is the best way to remedy this piece of timber, so I have good repair?  Should I sand off the splintered piece and replace what gap there is with a wood fill product (please advise on what would work, and do I need to color the fill), and then in spring when I do the annual maintenance on the deck (i.e. wash/oil) would that be sufficient (and blend in with the Blackbutt), or would you recommend a different approach to addressing this?  I don't really want to replace the entire plank as that seems an excessive fix.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Cheers!

Mark

Nailbag · Answer

Hi @Mark-notsohandy

Firstly the timber deck boards are not Blackbutt, they are Merbau with a stain. Any repair due to the age and condition will be obvious. I would avoid using a light coloured filler, and instead use one as close to the current shade like this one. It will still be obvious for a little while until it starts to weather.

Nailbag

Dave-1 · Answer

Good Evening @Mark-notsohandy

Pretty much the same steps as @EricL has stepped through tho I was thinking of giving the pollyfiller a miss. Mainly because it will show up as a different colour than your existing deck for a fair amount of time. Apart from that your deck looks in pretty good nick :)

Dave

EricL · Answer

Hello @Mark-notsohandy

Looking at the photos you've posted, it appears that the edge of the decking panel has lifted off due to something catching on it and was not repaired at the time. In order to fix this damage, I suggest lifting the splintered edge and sanding away the oil coating inside the crack and the bottom of the lifting piece. This will allow you to use

https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-320g-liquid-nails-construction-adhesive_p1233751

. Apply evenly so that you don't get a great deal of overflow when pushing the two pieces together. Place some heavy weights on top to keep the pieces together.

Once the adhesive cures, I suggest using

https://www.bunnings.com.au/polyfilla-450g-exterior-timber-filler_p1210571

on the surface crack. Please note that this timber filler is finished in a pine colour so it may take several coatings of your oil sealer to properly disguise it.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag, @Noyade and @DIY4Knuckleheds for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric