Rejuvenating decking.

Want to choose wisely, as some timber preserver has water repellent properties & a finish in their own right, & your then unable to apply any other finish like a decking oil.

 

Decking is the same as treated timber and where it can get wet and dry out, should give 25 years without significant decay. Some are also waxed. Any surface applications are unlikely to go as deep as the pressure treatments. Also you won't be able to treat the underside. So its often an expensive way to satisfy the idea of doing something worthy.

See if you can hire or borrow a karcher type cleaner and this will bring up the boards nicely, and you can see whats really there. If any show real decay then a localised treatment may be needed, or replacement.

 

Depending on the condition of the deck and how far you want to go with it,
I would clean it down with owatrol prepdeck, then do any repairs/ cosmetic work, and then use a SOLVENT/OIL BASED STAIN, cuprinol, ronseal and others do it, be careful to read the tin though, the water based looks identical.

Solvent based soaks in to the timber, whereas water based coats the surface and eventually flakes/scratches off.
I tend to use a creosote substitute for framework and a better quality cuprinol/ronseal for the decking.
You could experiment mixing some decking oil in to the solvent based stain.

As for application, spraying is messy and the mist covers everything, plants, windows, grass and you.
A roller can be good for large areas if your decking is smooth side up, but you still need to get between the gap with a brush.
A couple of good brushes at different sizes is the easiest way, or a mixture of a roller, and brush, and a sprayer to get any visible subframe, rags can be handy for staining any spindles or hard to get to areas.

 

Everbuild Wood perserver in clear can be used as a pre treatment. prior to overcoating.

http://www.transtools.co.uk/hand-to...build-lumberjack-wood-preserver-clear-5-litre

 

I probably did it wrong, but I gave mine 4 coats of oil and let that dry out for a week or 3 then gave it a couple of coats of our host's no nonsense decking sealant. It's reet stinky stuff but seems very effective.

Having installed the decking absolutely level the problem I have now is that when it rains the water just sits in lovely big bead clusters.

 

It looks gorgeous in the moonlight I must admit, but I wouldn't recommend it if you've got OCD.

I've had to buy a big swimming pool type squeegee to disperse all the gorgeousness

 

Decking finish is really tricky, too little protection it deteriorates too much and its more slippery than ice when wet

 

Anyway, and more importantly...which way up should decking be laid?

 

Right side up

 

It's amazing how many people still install it upside down