Question

Cracking on with my decking. When it’s all done, what’s the best options to keep it looking good?  

Answer 1

The odd one is killing me

Comments

@inverson27486 fear not, you will notice the odd one is not screwed in. It was so I could find it easily  

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@victory20 why?  

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@dangle needed to still get access to the frame to hang the out rigger on the right hand side  

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The green bit

Answer 2

Is it oiling it?  

Comments

@victory20 it’s a mixture that contains linseed oil. Nourishes and protects the wood bringing out its natural colour.  

Answer 3

I would suggest putting decking oil on it, gives it a lovely finish and treats the wood too

Comments

@ontine9487 does this change the colour? Or do different oils change it?  

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@victory20 it will go a darker colour but it looks lovely and natural

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@victory20 I cant take a pic now as it's dark so found this one to give you an idea of how dark it will go, but it will depend on what you use. We used natural oak which is slightly darker than the natural

Answer 4

Is this just to see how many people notice the odd one  all the OCD people. It will drive them mad lol

Comments

@katheleenkatherin68 just temporary  

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@katheleenkatherin68 yeah it would drive me nut too  

Answer 5

Never use paint

Answer 6

This is Cuprinol Natural Oil on the decking. Planters are still original colour

Comments

@alialia5 where did you get your glass balustrade please?  

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@drucie0 Aztec glass. Inbox Neil Birtles and tell him I recommended him. Cheapest in the Uk

Answer 7

Stain . spent £900 on decking , painted it and within less than a year it looks shocking Use stain . I wish I had

Comments

@crosseyed oil is better than stain

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@toh945 too late for me . Aaagghhhh

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@crosseyed you can use paint stripper to take it back then decking restorer then apply oil or stain

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@toh945 . I tried . the pain stripper only covers a small amount and cost a fortune . I have 8 square meters to remove .  

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I'd love to get the paint off and start again . I'm gutted . I tried a jet wash too . It only takes off so much

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@crosseyed try bulk buying a less known brand like this  
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142594382305

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I had some stuff in the past to strip my car to bare metal only took 2 mins for my bonnet to go back to metal that was un branded stuff and better than nitromorce

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@toh945 . I'll give it a try . It can't get any worse . That's for sure

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@crosseyed I dont know what the stuff in the link is like but it should do the job

Answer 8

Oil based clear varnish

Answer 9

Where did you buy that odd decking board? Flat one. Look ok to me with one odd then 4 normal. ;)

Answer 10

Oil. Rye oil do a decking oil at a really good price and only needs to be done around 4 years. We just did ours

Answer 11

Decking oil , I used no nonsense decking oil from Screwfix.  

Comments

Same here and its spot on and the right price

Answer 12

Have you left enough of a gap between boards?  

Comments

@maltzman41 good question but yes, there’s a 5 mm spacing used everywhere

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@victory20 should be OK. Just look really tight together in the photo.  

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@maltzman41 everywhere I researched said 3-8mm spacing, so went middle of The road

Answer 13

Can I just ask what have you covered your ground with please I’ve had bin liners and mesh type covering down since before Xmas to stop anything growing only had a few weeds coming through ? I was told to take all the soil up and just put covering down

Comments

@huss4 yes of course, cleared all the base, then put down weed control meshing. So it lets water through. It just needs gravel, or bricks or rocks around to stop the wind blowing it up

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@victory20 thanks that’s where I’ve gone wrong just left all the soil down  

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@huss4 I did our decking over 8 years ago I got a very good quality weed fabric, I also put it over the frame as well before putting boards down then if anything like food or anything else as mine is high up, falls in the gaps it can be cleaned out Xx

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@titania270 thanks hun I’m Not doing it myself just tried to get the weeds gone from last year but didn’t think I needed to get rid of the soil first  

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@huss4 I didn’t get rid of soil or grass only where dig down to cement post into the ground

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@titania270  

Answer 14

Barrettine Clear Decking Oil from Palatine Paints.  

Answer 15

Never use pain also stain will give some protection but the best protection is oil only down side is oil doesn't come in any fancy colours

Answer 16

Pull it back up and use flags lol best way.  

Answer 17

Dont oil it for at least 6 months as the decking is already pre treated you need the pressure treatment yo wear off first for best results

Comments

@toh945 is they so? Good to know!  

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@victory20 yes I asked the same question on a wood working group a few weeks back. they all said use oil but leave the decking age a minimum of 6 weeks max of 6 months so the pressure treatment will wear off. The oil will penetrate better and deeper in to the wood as the fibers open

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Also it says on the back of the ronseal oil tin 6 months

Answer 18

Decking oil

Answer 19

Gap between a boards. stain it and enjoy!. am I right to think ones the wrong way? Xxx

Answer 20

Don't stain use oil. Stainer flakes and you can't remove the rest. Oil just disappear's into the wood and colour can be changed depending on darknes.  

Answer 21

Whys the 5th board up the wrong way round ?  

Comments

@planula so I could find it easily (for access to the base during construction)

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@victory20  looking well pal

Answer 22

A new pair of boots will do just the trick justin

Answer 23

Let the wife loose with paint but keep out of her way as she might paint you as well

Answer 24

Think you’ve put that middle board in upside down. just thought I’d say.  

Answer 25

We used osmo decking oil, brilliant stuff  

Answer 26

I’d have treated the base before I laid the decking. gonna be first to rot if no air circulated under there . Build your base , treat your base, build the decking , treat the decking.  

Comments

@reuven44 ide of treated all wood loose before starting so that the underside of the planks have also been treated. What's the point of treating one side of the plank and leaving the underside to start to rot.  

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Same principle

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And treat the cut ends

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You don’t need to treat any of it, it’s pressure treated‍♂️

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@umbria796 @holbein Buckley My decking rotted from the pressure treated timber. It’s been cut to suit the area it’s going in, if the ends aren’t treated it will rot taking decking with it.  

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@reuven44 must be a bad batch of decking, I’ve never seen it do that before. If you want to treat the ends and undersides that’s up to you but I think it’s an unnecessary job. How olds your decking?  

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It’s gone now , guys who constructed it didn’t know what they were doing. Wife got garden done as a surprise while I was working in Middle East. didn’t want to upset her so I put up with it. Water didn’t run off it . Gaps less than 2mm , fek I could go on all day . It was rubbish. gone now I tried to save it by replacing odd boards here and there . But underneath started rotting and it had to be demolished.  

Answer 27

This looks odd !  

Answer 28

Flashing tape on the joists.  

Answer 29

Definitely oil

Answer 30

Defo oil, everything thing else will either peel or wear off , even the expensive decking paint.  

Answer 31

DECKING OIL.  

Answer 32

Creosote! Wilkinson’s have a light brown which looks good

Answer 33

Oil. New decking is treated once painted it starts to ruin it.  

Answer 34

Paint twice, and then decking stain, same color as deck paint.  

Answer 35

Is The frame work treated timber? Looks like internal wood.  

Answer 36

Is it easy to do? Justin

Answer 37

I use linseed oil on mine

Answer 38

Is a mistake what is almost everyone made. All board is facing wrong side (expect 1) . The tiny lines in the board is for prevent for rotten when is raining and make quicker dry.  

Comments

Saved me saying it lol. Everyone saying one is upside down but really only one is right way up lol

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That's utter nonsense. Otherwise if you purchased anti slip decking boards they would be on the plane side. .  
https://www.homebase.co.uk/gripsure...cking

Answer 39

Try a flame

Answer 40

Oil don’t stain it!  

Answer 41

Is this one upside down?  

Comments

@assumption no that's the correct way, the rest are upside down

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@bouton44 ya learn something new everyday  

Answer 42

Definitely oil, do not paint

Answer 43

Oil dnt paint honestly

Answer 44

No nonsense decking oil at Screwfix, very reasonable and lasts  

Answer 45

Did you know that laying decking with the grooves up is the wrong way , I know its up to the individual which ways it goes but officially the grooves should go downwards.  

Comments

@ureter Muttock Ronnie Gibson

Answer 46

Decking oil

Answer 47

Decking oil. Don’t paint/stain as you will really regret it.  

Answer 48

Oil only

Answer 49

Teak oil

Answer 50

@wellknown2150 you’re right. I’ve watched a lot of garden shows and they put the deck upside down. They said the grooves is for the airflow.  

Comments

@culverin and also more easy to paint, and keep clean.  

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And also wrong unless you can walk upside down .  
https://www.homebase.co.uk/gripsure...cking

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@culverin correct it reduces rot too

Answer 51

Oil never use decking stain it'll crack and peel them a pain in the ass to remove

Answer 52

Looks good ignore the critics & defo oil

Answer 53

Decking oil

Answer 54

The grooves on the decking were designed to allow moisture to run off the wood, assuming it’s been laid with a slight tilt. Putting the grooves down for airflow to stop moisture build up, is also an option . I’d put it down to the area your putting decking and if it has been installed with the 5-8mm gaps all round , this will give airflow. so it’s up to individual.  

Answer 55

If these were decking boards this would be the correct way to do it instead I've used 3" * 2" pressure treated joints coated paint and glitter

Answer 56

Rye oil we use brilliant stuff and not costly

Comments

@uncle I'm being thick here. What rye oil do you use.  

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@arlyn  it’s allot cheaper than buying 5ltr
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272495408494

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@uncle thank you

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@arlyn Ive been using Rye oil on my decking for years too, these steps are over 15 years old and no repairs needed yet.  

Answer 57

I used clear decking stain.  

Answer 58

I use no nonsense decking sealer and protector from screw fix.  

Comments

@maratha same, I install decking for a living and swear by the nononsence

Answer 59

New shoes I think makes that lovely decking look tatty  

Answer 60

Did you put one of the boards upside down on purpose  

Answer 61

Oil rather than a stain

Answer 62

Oil feeds & protects the wood naturally & lasts longer. Paint & stains try to do so artificially & just doesn't last as long. You do get more colour choices though.  

Answer 63

I used decking oil and you do get it in colours I used barrentine decking oil in rosewood but left decking alone for a year before oiling .  

Answer 64

Oil it, they have choice of colour. Never paint it, it's a nightmare.  

Answer 65

Rope it off lol

Answer 66

Replace it with composite  

Comments

@cochineal okay till someone drops a lump hammer on it. Nice hole. Lol

Answer 67

Oil it rather that paint as it doesn’t weather well at all

Answer 68

Put a small gap between the boards they will swell and pop uk

Answer 69

Use teak oil not stain

Comments

@melodymeloid16 Yacht varnish . Put sand in mixture. Stops decking becoming slippy

Answer 70

You need some expansion gaps in that bud. You'll be amazed how much that stuff moves.  

Answer 71

Deffo natural oil do not use stain it's shite

Answer 72

Golden maple anti slip decking paint