A little while ago we received an email from a customer seeking advice for protecting their decking. They had a lot of questions about which products they needed to use and how much etc.
I appreciate it can be a little confusing to know what approach will be best and we know that you want a perfect finish that will last. So, I thought I’d share with you their questions and our advice. The following questions are taken from their email enquiry:
Hi, we are in the process of installing a new Balu deck, due to the recent wet weather in the UK the un-treated deck has gone slightly grey as it’s dried out from a few days of heavy rain. Can you advise me, as it’s only minor weathering shall I just apply Deks Olje D1 or will I need to clean with Net-Trol first?
Is Net-Trol necessary?
To achieve the best results we would always suggest that Net-Trol is used to restore colour to any greyed weathered wood without bleaching. The benefits being that it removes staining and traces of weathering, giving a superior finish. Although the customer says it is only minor weathering, it would still affect the finished look of the deck if not cleaned first. After cleaning with Net-Trol we would then recommend using Deks Olje D1 to saturate and protect the wood giving a silken matt finish.
I have a 45m2 deck, how much Deks Olje D1 do you think I will need?
How much do I need?
It is difficult to give an exact figure as each deck is different, with different properties depending on the wood. We suggest getting around 10 litres of Deks Olje D1 for a 45m² deck but this is just an approximation and the actual quantity required may be different. All our product pages now have a ‘How much do I need’ calculator to assist you with the quantity needed.
What is your stock availability like? Delivery times?
Stock and delivery
We keep both Net-Trol and Deks Olje D1 in stock and can offer next working day delivery if you order before 3pm.
How long will the deck need to dry out before application, will it require a number of days of dry weather after application?
Drying time
The deck will need to be dry before Deks Olje D1 can be applied. Then, application is ‘wet on wet’, so you should allow about 15-30 minutes for penetration between coats. Continue to apply until the wood is saturated (will accept no more oil). The deck will then need 24-48 hours to dry out afterwards and needs to remain dry during this time (i.e. dry weather is needed).
Happily, we can report that the customer was extremely pleased with the results and sent us this reply:
Thanks again Gary, your oil has transformed our decking – it’s beautiful see attached pic, wanted to share, thanks again – very very happy!
About Gary Coniam
Gary is the Managing Director of Owatrol UK Ltd and is in charge of the day to day marketing and sales for the company. You can reach Gary on Twitter or meet him in person at any of the many expos he attends.
