2XB Posted November 27, 2013 Hi all A friend of my wife needs help. She just had a uncovered deck built and needs to treat it.. She wants low maintenance as key componet! I just thought you oil it twice a year and all sweet... then she started taking about tannin and I knew I couldnt help.... Can anyone offer some advice I can pass on? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2XB Posted November 27, 2013 Oh yeah. Timber is merboo (spelling?) And heaps of sun Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alice Posted November 27, 2013 If she wants low maintenance, don't oil it. Just let the timber grey. Oiling looks great at first, but when it begins to weather, it looks shit. Then you are chained to the oiling cycle... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
space cadet swami Posted November 27, 2013 (edited) "merbau" also known as "kwila" is a hardwood, it is relatively cheap due to the fact it doesn't need curing like all other hardwoods. So the decking will still have a certain amount of tannins (resins in softwoods)in it...the timber will bleed for a while longer yet. I'd let it bleed for a few months, clean it with a deck cleaner & then oil it every 6mths...like you said above. Otherwise within 5yrs it will start to split, rot &/or warp. Alice is right regarding the oiling cycle...the other option is to put a roof over it. Edited November 27, 2013 by space cadet swami 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2XB Posted December 7, 2013 Thanks guys for your input. Some other advice I received from a carpenter was to use either intergrain or sikkens. And no way ever use cabbots. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brooa Posted December 7, 2013 yeah never use cabbots. havnt used it but have only heard great things about intergrain, and was planning to use it on a bar bench soon ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hypnotoad Posted December 7, 2013 I am a painter by trade, if your after low maintanence I'd go with a product called Sikkens Cetol. It's oil, sticks like shit to a blanket and you'll only have to redo it every other year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fydesvindico Posted December 7, 2013 http://youtu.be/E-bnhrFnVcY Share this post Link to post Share on other sites