Following the success of both our Wood Care Guide and our Fencing Guide we have written a comprehensive Decking Guide.
This takes you through step by step from choosing the type of deck you are looking for to complete your project, to preparing your deck for finishing and even maintaining it for years to come.
We’ve also included some great ideas and inspiration if you’re struggling to find exactly what you want.
Use this guide summary to signpost you to the exact part of the guide you need.
If you’ve already installed your deck but you’ve left it untreated then you can skip to “preparing your deck for finishing” but if you’ve not installed your deck yet then start at the very beginning…it’s a very good place to start!
Part 1: Types of decking
This post explains three things;
- The different types of decking available on the market
- An indication of their relative costs
- Highlight some of the benefits and drawbacks to help you to decide which is right for you.
Read Part 1: Types of decking here.
Part 2: Protecting your new deck
In this part we discuss the difficulties with applying protective finishes directly onto new wood and explore the options for keeping your new deck safe whilst it settles in for its first year.
Read Part 2: Protecting your new deck here.
Part 3: Preparing your deck for a new finish
This post explains how to prepare your garden decking for applying a protective finish. Whether it’s a brand new deck, a weathered untreated deck, or if it’s been treated before and needs stripping, you’ll find the correct advice here.
Read Part 3: Preparing your deck for a new finish here.
Part 4: Protecting your deck with a finish
In this section we talk you through all the main options when applying a finish to your garden decking. Whether you want to maintain a natural look or you’d like to add a bit of colour we’ve got the right product for you.
Read Part 4: Protecting your deck with a finish here.
Part 5: Maintaining your garden deck
This post explains the maintenance process when using Owatrol products to protect your deck from the harmful effects of weathering and UV rays.
Thankfully, with our products this maintenance cycle requires minimal work and is not frequent.
However, please remember that if you have chosen to use products from other manufacturers then you will need to follow their maintenance instructions.
Read Part 5: Maintaining your garden deck here.
Part 6: Inspiration and ideas for your garden decking
This part is mainly for the oohs and aahs! Here’s a whole selection of inspirational ideas if you’re finding it hard to come up with exactly what you’re after.
We also have some interesting suggestions for taking your deck even further if you want to!
Read Part 6: Inspiration and ideas for your garden decking here.
Remember, we always welcome and value your feedback and are always open to new ideas for things you’d like us to write about in our news section so if there’s anything you’d particularly like help or advice about or a topic that you want to know more about then please do get in touch with us.
Image credit to Outhouse Design
About Owatrol Team
Our team are ready and willing to support you with your requirements whether it is protecting your newly laid deck or renovating a luxury yacht, whatever the application Owatrol has the solution you are looking for.
Love the new website,just in time.I’ve got a full pine lodge to ‘re coat and all the old decking,New additional untreated decking and spindles etc.really looking forward to working with you to solve all the issues of this great new project. Stand by for advice and orders a plenty!
Hi Andy,
Great to hear from you and we’d love to be of help with your projects. Do let us know if you need any assistance!
Thanks,
The Owatrol Team
Hi
I have solid wood decking which I would like to bring back to life. It was treated with oil approx. 4 years ago and was turning grey recently.
I have power washed it and it’s come up well.
Do I have to prepare it any further before applying Textrol?
Much Obliged
Hi Dawn,
Was your decking previously oiled with Textrol or a different product? If it’s been treated with Textrol already then simply cleaning it is enough and you can then apply Textrol following the directions for maintenance. However, if you had previously used a different product then you would need to remove that first before applying Textrol. If you were to apply Textrol straight on top of the other product then it may not be able to penetrate into the wood. Textrol protects the wood from within and as such either needs to be applied on top of itself or onto bare wood.
If you do need to remove a previous coating you can either use Aquanett for removing wood oils or a standard stripper such as Prepdeck. If you’re unsure how to do this, we have a guide demonstrating how to strip your decking to help.
If you need any further help please do let us know,
The Owatrol Team
Please could you advise on the correct decking oil to use on a weathered ceder deck.
Hi Marilyn,
If you’re looking for an oil then Textrol penetrating oil is perfect for cedar decking and it’s available in a range of colours including clear. To use it on weathered decking you should first clean your deck with Net-Trol to remove any built up dirt and restore its colour, leave it to dry and then apply Textrol wet-on-wet (meaning you don’t leave it to dry in between coats, you just keep applying it until the wood is completely saturated). Alternatively you could use Textrol HES which is a single-coat saturating oil so saves time in the application stage. You’d still prepare the wood with Net-Trol in the same way first. If you’re instead looking for a semi-transparent or opaque finish then let us know and we can advise accordingly.
Hope to have helped,
The Owatrol Team
My decking is about five years old. First year we gave it four coats of a well known brand and in the winter this lifted off in most places. Process was repeated two years ago, with the same result. I am now removing all the coating, using a wire brush and will be back to dry, bare wood.
Area, without spindles etc is approx sixteen sq. metres.
Please can you advise best way to proceed. I would like to apply 2-3 coats for good winter protection.
Regards
David
Hello David,
Thank you for your query.
You would need to use Prepdeck and Net-trol to ensure that all previous coatings are removed before using one of our finishes, otherwise the product will not penetrate.
Depending on the finish you would prefer would depend on the quantity needed. If you let me know which finish you are after, I can send you the specific technical data sheet, which supplies you with all the information you need.
All the very best,
The Owatrol Team
I have a 7m * 6m balau deck which was installed in mid july. I haven’t treated it yet . I have read that i need prep deck and net-rol. After that should I use d1 or can i go straight to textrol.
Hi Laurence,
Thank you for your query.
For new untreated wood we would recommend you finish with Deks Olje D1.
Textrol is made specifically for weathered wood, so if this is a look you would prefer to have, you would need to leave your wood to weather for 6 – 12 months prior to application.
As D1 can be used on either new wood or weathered wood, this is what we would recommend you to use.
Like you say, you would need to use Prepdeck and Net-trol to remove the mill glaze and then you can apply your finish of D1.
I hope this was helpful, please don’t hesitate to contact us again should you require further assistance.
All the best,
The Owatrol Team
We have just applied 2 coats of Owatrol’s green olive paint to our decking. Unfortunately we don’t like the colour now we’ve seen it over the large decking area and cannot find another suitable colour from your colour range. We have already tried four different Owatrol sample pots.
Is it possible to mix Owatrol decking paints to get the right colour, and can you suggest a method for doing this?
Hi Adrian,
Thank you for your query.
You can mix colours together but that would be the sole responsibility of the customer.
The only problem I can see is that there are 3 different bases the colours are made from, therefore we would not be able to offer any warranty.
If you have any further queries please give us a call on 01582 592707
All the best,
The Owatrol Team
Hi, I’m redoing external teak areas on a barge. All wood was previously done in D1 and D2. My question is, if I use Owatrol Marine Styripper to remove the old varnish, then wash as directed, can I then apply D1 or do I need to use Nterol then D1 please?
Hi there,
Once a finish has been removed from wood with any of our stripping products, the surface will need to be naturalised with Net-Trol. This is to stop the active ingredient in the stripper from continuing to work, as well as to clean and brighten the wood to allow for the best saturation of a new finish to gain the best possible finished result.
All the best,
The Owatrol Team
Decking has large area of coloured stain which we can’t remove. Don’t know if it’s decking oil or stain. Tried sanding to no avail as seams to have penetrated into wood. Please advise. Thanks
Hi Anthony,
This is a tricky one to advise on if you do not know what the previous finish is. We have two products that could assist you – One is called Aquanett which removes wood oil finishes and one called Prepdeck that removes stains and other types of finishes.
It may be beneficial to purchase a sample of each and conduct a test in a small area. You can find these products here:
Aquanett: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/aquanett/
Prepdeck: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/prepdeck/
All the best,
The Owatrol Team
We have painted our decking a couple of times and it flakes off after a year we would like to use your decking paint because it has good reviews Do we have to get the old paint off totally or can we just sandpaper it and clean it before painting it regards David Griffiths
Hi there David,
To achieve the best possible finish we recommend thoroughly removing all previous finishes with a stripping product followed by a cleaner/brightener and neutraliser before applying the Decking Paint.
Although it seems like a lot to do, this will ensure the best most premium finish and you will also be covered under the Owatrol International guarantee against peeling and flaking.
We would recommend using:
Dilunett: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/dilunett-gel/
OR
Prepdeck: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/prepdeck/
Then
Net-Trol: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/net-trol/
Then
Decking Paint: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/woodcare/decking-paint/
I hope this was helpful.
All the best,
The Owatrol Team
Hi – a few days ago I cleaned and when dry applied Textrol clear decking oil to a deck BUT ran out of oil part way through. I just received a further tin and applied to the remaining unoiled parts of the deck that included some planks that had been partially oiled in the first application. Several of these planks have taken the oil and darkened in colour as expected on the unoiled parts BUT seemingly have not taken the oil and have not darkened where there was only a small amount of oil (e.g. the final drops on the brush) from the first treatment. The effect is very noticeable. What can I do to get the light portion to darken down so that for each plank there is a continual colour as would be natural. Thanks. A
Hi there Andrew,
Sorry to hear that you have not achieved the results you were after with Textrol. A member of staff will be in contact shortly to discuss the matter further with you.
All the best,
The Owatrol Team