Should you oil your decking?

Timber decking is precious, and decking oil is one of the best ways to keep it healthy, strong, and beautiful. We recommend that you oil a deck every 12 to 24 months, to keep it in good condition. But for maximum protection, you might want to consider having the process completed every 3 to 6 months.

What happens if you don't oil your deck?

If regular oiling and maintenance is not performed on your deck, there can be some unpleasant consequences. In most circumstances, it's just a case of natural deterioration over time resulting in fading, warping and weakening of the timber.

Does wood decking need oil?

If you have a hardwood deck, such as teak you should definitely oil it. As the oil soaks into the wood, it will also help preserve and maintain the wood, keeping it protected and nourished.

Is it better to stain or oil decking?

Whether you should oil or stain will come down to what you want from your deck. A stain will improve the appearance of the deck, but oil will better help preserve its condition.

Do I need to oil new decking?

Brand new decking needs to left alone to weather naturally so that all the pre-treatment has eroded, ready to be oiled. We recommend you wait around six months for it to be fully eroded. Once you've waited for the coating to erode, treat your new decking as normal with oil or stain.

How to Clean

How do I keep my decking looking good?

If you're happy with how your deck looks and just want to keep it from getting grey and weathered, try a decking protector. It'll protect your decking from sunlight and rain, as well as resisting damage from foot-traffic, and being translucent it won't change the appearance of the wood.

Do I have to treat my decking?

Although all softwood decking should have been pressure treated to ensure a long life, your deck will benefit from a little bit of TLC every few years or so. However, there's no need to paint decking if you don't want to – a clear oil or preservation treatment will do the job.

Should you oil both sides of decking?

Timber decking MUST BE PRE-OILED prior to installation. The boards need to be coated on all faces, edges and ends with a quality penetrating oil such as Cutek CD50. Be sure that all side and end grooves are well oiled. Any cuts made during installation need to be oiled while fixing.

What is the best treatment for wooden decking?

Should I use decking oil or protector?

Decking protector absorbs into the water, creating a translucent, water-proof layer. Decking stain, on the other hand, comes in a variety of colours, as well as weather-proofing the wood. Decking oils replaces the woods natural oils, while leaving a subtle colour.

How often should you treat decking?

Decks should be refinished every two to three years. Deck maintenance, and when you should do it, depends on variables such as the type of deck material, the current condition of the wood, and more.

How often should I oil my decking UK?

The short answer is you should oil your deck at least every 12 months… But sometimes it's not that simple. If your decking is undercover and protected from the harsh Melbourne weather then you could go a lot longer but here's the thing…

Why is my deck sticky after oiling?

What's the problem? If the decking oil you're applying has gone sticky and isn't being absorbed properly, your number one reason – assuming it's new decking – might be the type of wood the decking is made of. If it's a brand new deck, is it made from hardwood? If so, it might already be naturally oily.

Can you put too much oil on decking?

An excess of oil isn't going to damage your decking, so it's nothing to worry too much about. The thing with oils is that because of their ability to soak into the surface, it can be tricky to get them out of grooved decking.

When should I oil my timber deck?

For best results we recommend you oil your timber deck every six to 12 months. This will ensure longevity and keep your deck looking great. If you've just had your new timber deck installed it may be tempting to oil it straight away to give it that glistening shine, but you may need to let it weather beforehand.

How many coats of decking oil do I need?

Apply the oil in thin coats, as thick coats can't penetrate the wood as easily and takes ages to dry. It's much quicker and more effective to apply three thin coats than two thick ones. It doesn't take much effort either. Just move the oil around the wood until it has virtually all sunken into the grain.

Is oil based decking oil better than water based?

While there are water-based treatments that claim similar durability, oil-based treatments are recommended for decking exposed to harsh elements. An oil-based decking stain penetrates deeper into the timber, giving maximum resistance to abrasive impacts.

Can you leave hardwood decking untreated?

Weathering your deck

Leave your deck to weather or oil it straightaway? The professionals say that you should leave it exposed for three to six months as this will give the timber time for the tannins to leach, which will prevent staining caused by extractive runoff when you oil it.

How long after oiling a deck can you put furniture on it?

Decking oil drying time

The word “dry” in this context is also a little misleading, because a deck can take up to a week to fully dry/cure. But usually, you can walk on the deck about four hours after applying the oil, and replace the furniture after about 24 hours.

Can you oil decking when wet?

This is simple. Wet the deck with water. If the natural colour of the timber returns, it's not weathered. This is perfect as you can apply your decking oil without worrying about it blackening the timber.

How do you treat untreated decking?

How do I keep my deck boards from rotting?

Repair and reinforce any timber that is soft or discolored with wood hardener or rotted timber putty. Protect the bearers and joists. Before replacing the deck board, cover joists and bearers with butyl tape. If there are areas you cannot reach to apply tape, use a clear sealer to prevent further rotting.

Can I use Danish oil on my decking?

For decking it is recommended that the Danish Oil that you use has a look varnish content as this is what can cause a glossy and slippery finish to your decking. This finish is often desired in furniture or other exterior wood surfaces where in might be a more appropriate choice.