A raw timber deck.
Staining a New Deck
All timber needs to be weathered before you stain it. Darker coloured timbers or gum timbers in particular need to be left for about 4-6 weeks, so the excess tannin and gum can leach out. We have a variety of products to expedite this process, such as Wax, Oil, & Tannin Remover or Chlorite. We recommend diluting them 3:1 with water and washing down the timber. Lots of tannin and resin should wash out. It's worth scrubbing the deck to help drag out the deeper tannin and resin. Once you're happy with what's been removed, rinse the deck off with fresh water and allow to dry. In mould prone areas, we recommend treating the deck with Chlorite to reduce the chances of mould spores coming through.
To avoid cupping and flexing of timber, apply at least 1 coat to all sides of the timber. Apply 2 - 3 coats of Oil Acrylic or Deck ‘n Trim, depending on whether the deck will be partially covered or full weather. Allow 4 - 8 hours between coats, with warmer, dryer weather allowing the shorter recoat time. If extra protection or a higher lustre level are desired, apply 1 - 2 coats of Deck n’ Trim, then seal with 1 - 2 coats of Top Coat Clear. Available in Matte, Eggshell, and Satin, Top Coat Clear as the 3rd coat will improve the longevity better than just 3 coats of Oil Acrylic or Deck n’ Trim. Apply 2 coats of Rich Wood Oil, allowing 24 - 48 hours to dry between coats, though if possible, 1 week or so between coats is ideal. A colour will always out perform a clear; pigment will scatter UV light.
Another option for a weathered grey decking that is well protected is to follow the steps in the first paragraph, but apply 2 coats of Controlled Erosion Stain. Follow this up with a coat of Outdoor Furniture Oil or Rich Wood Oil, the former being better for a matte lustre level, the latter for better protection in moisture or splash rich areas.
A deck finished with Deck n’ Trim.
Deck n’ Trim showing its water repellency.
Recoating A Deck or Garden Furniture
If the deck or furniture is irregular in colour, with black and grey patches, it's best to use Grey Away or Grimes & Sons Timber Bleach. It should disinfect the timber and balance the colours. Soak for 5 minutes, scrub with a stiff bristled brush, then rinse with water. Soiled material should wash straight off, and try to avoid getting it on plants. Reapply with existing coating system. Precoat the raw or most weathered areas first. Apply heavier coats there, and thinner coats on the sheltered, protected areas.
White Patches
Sometimes after coating a deck with Oil Acrylic, Deck n’ Trim, or Top Coat Clear, a white blemish can occur during the curing process. This is when moisture or water has come into contact with the uncured product. It’s most likely to happen after experiencing rain within the first 48 hours after application, but can also be caused by dew overnight. It’ll most often appear as patches, spots, marks, etc., but sometimes large portions of the deck can have an event.
Thankfully, none of this is of serious consequence. The white patches do not affect the final product’s lifespan or hardiness. They will often self resolve when the sun hits as this moves on the trapped moisture under the coating/on the timber surface. All decking products may be dry within 48 hours, but always assume that a week (7 days) is required to fully cure.
Depending on the conditions present, white patches can last longer than a day after coating, though this is less common. If they seem to be persisting, a heat gun or hair dryer (yes, a hair dryer, we use one to dry our samples) would help move on the retained moisture. Do not apply heat directly to the surface, hold the heat source at least 15 cm away. With a little patience, this white should begin to fade/clear, leaving you with a clear/uniform coating/finish.