When it comes to restoring exterior timber, few projects are as striking as this recent transformation carried out by one of our professional clients in London’s iconic Battersea Power Station.
The property in question was a luxury penthouse suite with a large private deck made from thermo-ash hardwood – a material renowned for its stability, durability and beautiful rich tones.
However, after being left untreated for over five years, the timber had lost much of its original appeal. Weather exposure had left the surface looking grey, tired and lifeless – far from the premium finish you’d expect on such a high-end property!
Thankfully, with the right preparation and the trusted performance of Owatrol products, the deck was brought back to life.
Step 1 – Preparing the Wood with Prepdeck
Before applying any protective finish, proper preparation is essential. Our friends over at R&A Pressure Washing Services ltd. began by treating the thermo-ash deck with a very diluted mixture of Owatrol Prepdeck – a professional-grade wood stripper and cleaner.
Prepdeck effectively removed the ingrained and surface dirt, restoring the timber’s natural colour once again. This crucial stage ensured that the wood was ready to fully absorb the protective treatment to come.
Step 2 – Protecting and Enhancing with D1 Pro
Once the wood had been cleaned, rinsed and was completely dry, it was ready for finishing. Roger applied Owatrol D1 Pro – our deeply saturating oil designed specifically for dense hardwoods, such as thermo-ash, ipe and teak.
Unlike surface coatings that can peel or flake over time, D1 Pro penetrates deep into the timber, nourishing it from within. This provides long-lasting protection against moisture, UV damage and general weathering.
The results speak for themselves! The deck’s natural beauty and rich tones were restored, giving the penthouse suite’s outdoor living space the premium finish it deserved.
The Results – A Deck Reborn
After just two steps, the once weathered and neglected thermo-ash decking now looks vibrant and luxurious. Perfectly suited to its prestigious location overlooking the Thames.
Before: Faded, grey, weather-worn timber:
During: Deep cleaning with diluted Prepdeck:
After: Rich, even colour and enhanced natural grain with D1 Pro:
Why Choose Owatrol for Your Decking Project?
Whether you’re maintaining a penthouse deck in Battersea, or a property a little less prestigious elsewhere in the UK, Owatrol delivers reliable, professional results, every time.
✅ Diluted Prepdeck ensures that hardwoods are properly prepared, removing years of weathering quickly and easily.
✅ D1 Pro provides deep, penetrating protection designed to last in tough outdoor environments.
Together, they make the perfect system for restoring and protecting exterior timber, ensuring your deck remains a beautiful and durable feature for years to come.
Thanks again to our friend Roger of R&A Pressure Washing Services Ltd. for the trust in Owatrol.
We hope you found this post on a penthouse deck restoration at Battersea Power Station interesting! If you have any other advice or top tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. We love hearing from you!
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Hi, I have a small balcony where I laid smooth yellow balau decking 2 years ago. It has now weathered to grey and I wish to restore to its original colour. Approx size 20 sq m . Can you advise cleaning treatment and finish oil required. Regards Julian
Hi there Julian,
Thanks for reaching out to us.
If the deck has a finish already applied, this will first need to be removed with Prepdeck: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/prepdeck/ Then neutralised, cleaned and brightened with Net-Trol: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/net-trol/
After this, you can apply your chosen finish. Should you like to have the natural colour feature as much as possible, we would recommend using either Textrol in Clear: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/textrol/ Or alternatively, Aquadecks in the shade Honey: https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/aquadecks/
If you do not have a finish previously applied and it has just been left to weather naturally, you will not need to do Step 1 and can simply clean and brighten the wood with Net-Trol before applying your finish.
I hope this was helpful – do feel free to contact us directly at: sales@owatroluk.com or on: 01582 592707 if you should have any further queries, as we will be able to reply to you much sooner though these ways.
All the best,
The Owatrol Team