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Decking

PostPosted: 25 Oct 2019, 22:46
by MY63
Having almost finished my decking project I am interested in protecting it. It is pressure treated softwood any suggestions would be appreciated.

Image2019-10-25_10-43-46 by my0771, on Flickr

Millie and Zoe our springer spaniels have just been checking the quality of the work

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 26 Oct 2019, 10:26
by Malc2098
Looking good.

Me, too. I'd like recommendations, too.

Just finished the verandah roof over mine.

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 26 Oct 2019, 13:56
by Robert
Sorry to be a bit negative but I don't know anyone that has successfully kept softwood decking in good condition for a number of years.

Our close friends have a large decking area in their garden and have done for a quite a few years. They got fed up with replacing rotten planks and failed supports and had the whole thing replaced with composite decking.

They used to clean and treat the softwood at least once a year but couldn't stop it failing. The composite is a couple of years old now and still looks like new and no treating necessary.

The other decking I know of at my bro in laws is also failing but they haven't decided what to do about it yet.

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 26 Oct 2019, 20:50
by 9fingers
You might get some life out of it if you saturate it with real creosote which despite new rules, can be bought online.
It does pong for a bit but is effective. my workshop is clad with softwood feather edge board and is perfect from 2005/6 ish .

Bob

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 28 Oct 2019, 11:50
by RogerM
Robert wrote:Sorry to be a bit negative but I don't know anyone that has successfully kept softwood decking in good condition for a number of years.

Our close friends have a large decking area in their garden and have done for a quite a few years. They got fed up with replacing rotten planks and failed supports and had the whole thing replaced with composite decking.


That has been my experience as well, hence the new Replacement Composite Decking thread.

I built this in 2008 .......

DSC01917.jpg
(384.11 KiB)


..... and despite regular treatment, it had turned in to this by earlier this year. :cry:

IMG_20190731_182056 (1).jpg
(493.66 KiB)


It was so bad that we daren't walk on it for fear of going through it. That's why I've opted for composite decking this time. There are a number of different grades out there, but the solid stuff is guaranteed for 25 years. We used Millboard, which is only distinguishable from treated hardwood upon close inspection, and cheap it ain't, but anecdotally it doesn't fade or become slippery. Time will tell.

I hope you have better luck Michael. Our deck was in full sun, and had both wooden and ceramic planters on it which had to be kept watered, so probably ensured the deck was permanently damp underneath. The rot was less severe ( but still present) in areas away from the planters.

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 28 Oct 2019, 13:29
by Woodster
Ours rotted like that as well but not just the boards, the supporting timber underneath went as well. Some of them were absolutely sodden.

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 28 Oct 2019, 17:27
by will1983
I think the key to protecting all timber outside lies in ventilation and separation from the ground with a decent DPC.

Good airflow through the structure removes moisture laden air which in turn prevents the rot from setting in.

As far as treatment goes I think you're main concern should be for UV resistance. UV damage causes shakes and degradation of the timber into which the moisture sits and causes it to rot from the inside out.

I used the Barretine wood preserver for all my exterior timber and have been very impressed with its performance.

I came across it by accident as I wanted a black stain for my new fences and this was the only one I could find at the time. 4 years down the line and there's no sign of any degradation or rot.

It wasn't cheap as I had about 40 panels to spray, (two very generous coats on both sides) but I was of the mind that it was an investment in future maintenance which (thankfully) has turned out correct. I sprayed it on with one of those cheap 5l pump sprayers but it can be applied with roller or brush if you preferred.

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 28 Oct 2019, 18:25
by RogerS
I went into B&Q today and the bloke behind the counter asked if I wanted decking. I managed to get my punch in first. :D

Re: Decking

PostPosted: 28 Oct 2019, 18:34
by Coley
will1983 wrote:I used the Barretine wood preserver for all my exterior timber and have been very impressed with its performance.

I came across it by accident as I wanted a black stain for my new fences and this was the only one I could find at the time. 4 years down the line and there's no sign of any degradation or rot.



I wonder how well it would last on horizontal timbers ? I did an oak fence at my dads place around 8 years ago. The capping pieces had a 15 degree bevel and the osmo didn't last 2 years on that. The vertical boards still have most of osmo after 8+ years.



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Re: Decking

PostPosted: 29 Oct 2019, 05:05
by Jonathan
Any timber that is unseen and near the ground I find old engine oil bullet proof !
An old friend of mine done his fence with it, said as well as keeping the rot out it kept the nabours away

As for decking this stuff is good http://thermoarena.com/thermowood-lumber/
I used a similar product 15 odd years ago, it was guaranteed for 25 years.
Don't know if you get the same guarantees in northern Europe.... but then is uk part of Europe



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Re: Decking

PostPosted: 30 Oct 2019, 12:00
by will1983
Coley wrote:
will1983 wrote:I used the Barretine wood preserver for all my exterior timber and have been very impressed with its performance.

I came across it by accident as I wanted a black stain for my new fences and this was the only one I could find at the time. 4 years down the line and there's no sign of any degradation or rot.



I wonder how well it would last on horizontal timbers ? I did an oak fence at my dads place around 8 years ago. The capping pieces had a 15 degree bevel and the osmo didn't last 2 years on that. The vertical boards still have most of osmo after 8+ years.



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The panels are vertical featheredge so have three horizontal timbers on the reverse side. These are just sawn square with no bevel to the top sides. I've not seen any evidence of rot or decay on these yet.

I expect these to be the first to go so when I did the spraying I did these first, making sure to spray down the small gaps between the featheredge and the rails. As I was working on 6 panels at once it gave it a few minutes to soak in before coming back to do rest of the panels. The over spray from doing the main field of the panels meant that I actually went over them again. As the whole panels got two coats these rails actually received 4 each.