How to oil a new spotted gum deck?

[PennyH]

My deck was finished today and I believe I need to leave it to the elements for 4-6 weeks.

After that I know I need to oil it. Do I have to clean it first with something like Deck Clean or do I use new timber prep instead of that?

I watched the video but it was for a previously oiled deck just wanting to make sure I do the right steps for a new timber deck

[EricL]

Hello @PennyH 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your deck.

You are correct, the newly assembled deck must be left to season for around 4 - 6 weeks or sometimes longer depending on the weather. If you wish to skip the waiting period, I suggest using Cabot's 2L New Timber Prep. It is designed to remove tannins and oils from bare new timber surfaces to allow for immediate coating. Giving the surface of your deck a good wash before staining or oiling is always a prudent step and ensures that your deck surface is properly prepared.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[PennyH]

Thanks so much for the reply EricL

Is there any advantage / disadvantage to using new deck prep rather than waiting?

I am very new to all this and considering having a go on my own but perhaps need a tradesperson to assist. 

The other query I have is with the balustrade The balustrade seems to be made out of some kind on untreated or undressed pine? Its not particularly nice wood I would possibly look to stain it a similar colour to the deck would I need to sand it back before hand? The balustrade top

[JacobZ]

Hi @PennyH,

The main benefit of using Cabot's New Timber Prep is the reduction in time. It is designed to remove the natural oils in your timber, known as tannins. The natural oils will not blend nicely with the oil that is applied, so they must be removed before oiling. If you use the New Timber Prep, you don't need to wait for the natural weathering process, meaning you can install, clean and oil the deck all in one weekend. 

The balustrade looks like H3 Treated Pine, which is a rough framing timber that can be used outdoors. As pine is a light-coloured softwood, stains and oils will react differently than they will with your Spotted Gum decking, meaning it would be difficult to get a perfect match, but with some trial and error, you can certainly stain it to a similar colour. 

If you'd like to stain them, sanding is essential. Make sure you wear a mask, as this is a treated product. Start with a lower grit, such as 80, to remove the ridges and smooth the surface before moving up to a medium grit, such as 120-180. Check out How to choose the right sandpaper for the job for some further guidance.

Once the surface is prepared, start in a small section, applying light coats to see how the timber reacts. Take note of how many coats and how thick they are applied so you can transfer the process to the rest of the balustrade once you are happy with the colour.

Let me know what you think, and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Jacob

[PennyH]

Thanks so much this is very helpful