Revarnishing Decking

[EvianBaby]

Since a tumble the other day I think my decking could do with some TLC. I'm going to try and find a jet washer to borrow to clean it but its a bit grey and tired looking so was thinking of varnishing it.

Is it just a case of getting on my hands and knees with a tub of varnish and a paint brush or is there something else I need to do?

It's a rented house so I don't want to spend a fortune but I'd like it to look a decent job.

[RATTER15]

To be honest I wouldn't have thought varnishing wouldn't be a great idea, I think it would make it very slippery. I think decking is usually treated with a special decking preserver, but you will still need to clean it first.

If "The Builder" is around I'm sure he will give you the best advice.

[RATTER15]

To be honest I wouldn't have thought varnishing *would* be a great idea,

[EvianBaby]

Hhhmm, I know nothing about these things so assumed varnish was the answer (at least aesthetically). It will be getting a clean at the minimum though.

[RATTER15]

This looks good: Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[humbersloop]

Evian, give it a real blast with a power washer and use a wire decking brush to get all the grolly off and lift the wood grain a bit

Varnish will only make it more slippery and look bad once it starts to lift and flake with tread and weather. A penetrating deck oil with algaeicde is a better bet: Wickes, B&Q and Cuprinol all do one

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Ratter, I'd just been looking at normal wood varnish :/

That looks like it would freshen up the colour as well. Might pop to homebase so I can have a proper look at it :)

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Humber too. Imagine me thinking I could just buy ordinary blinkin varnish! Glad I asked here now. Just waiting for my brother to get back to me to see if he still has his power washer.

[humbersloop]

get the clear version EB, although even that darkens the wood a little initially

[theshedman]

Give it a clean with a power washer and see what it looks likes afterwards. Just be careful when you power wash not to have it on too strong a jet, try it on the lower which is usually the wider setting first as too powerful could damage the timber. Then if you think it needs something on it give it a coat or two of decking oil or preservative.

[EvianBaby]

Thanks peeps! Super helpful as always!

[Clanad]

You don't say whatkind of wood the deck is made from. Here, in the U.S., many decks are made from mountain cedar since redwood has gotten prohibitevily expensive. Cedar is a good, weather resistant wood, but has a couple of drawbacks. One, it does turn gray unless cleaned and treated every two yearr so. Secodly, it has an oil within it that lends to the the weatherproof qualities, but if you power wash it, using a wire brush or sander, you'll want to wait for a couple of weeks for the oil to leach out of the newly exposed surface.
If it is a cedar type wood, you can't go wrong with a good quality semi-transparent deck sealer. The semi-transparent has just enough coloration in it to brighten up the deck, but not so much that it looks like paint. Here, Behr brand is a good quality.
You might also look for Thompson's water sealer for decks.
BTW... these finishes will work even if the decking is not cedar...

[humbersloop]

think most of the decking in the uk is made from Scandinavian softwoods like spruce Clanad, and it's often pressure treated to death as well

[sandyRoe]

Is the Holystone no longer used of decking?

[tonyav]

often pressure treated to death as well



Mainly crap, doesn't last.

[EvianBaby]

Oh gawd, wood is wood to me. Soz!

[tonyav]

LOL @ Evian, not quite that simple I'm afraid Evian.

[humbersloop]

EB :)

no sandy, it wears out the deck and, like praying, it's hard on the knees.

[sandyRoe]

I suppose caulking with oakum is a thing of the past now, too?

when the praying gets to hard on the knees it's time to get a hassock

[humbersloop]

no, sandy, caulking with oakum is still done and I promise you it's the devil to pay ;)

[fbg40]

Evian
Recently given my decking a refresh : power washed first, left to dry overnight, then treated with Ronseal Decking Protector. This stuff is really good.
FBG40