Oiling your deck will depend on its current state and your preferences. You may decide to leave your deck natural, but it may not last long as compared to when you physically oil it. We understand that everyone wishes to preserve their deck and make it more durable; so, is oiling an option?
So, should I oil my decking? It is necessary to frequently oil wood based decking, possibly, every six months or once a year. This is a remedy to ensure that decking can withstand any weather elements and remain attractive and durable for a long time. If the decking is newly installed, it can be left without oiling for a few months to enable the timber to dry enough and release its natural oil. However, oiling may not apply to composite decks because they are not purely wood but plastic-based.
You may wonder why your outdoor timber deck is not durable enough; oiling it or not doing it properly could be the reason.
Deck maintenance is almost synonymous with maintaining your lawn or even cleaning your pool. Therefore, in the same way, you should do it frequently so that you can sustain it. This process depends on the type of wood you used; you can oil the deck after every three or six months for softwoods, while hardwoods can go up to one year before oiling.
The number of times you oil your deck may also depend on its ability to absorb the decking oil. Therefore, before oiling, you can test the wood by patching decking oil to see whether it sinks or dries up fast.
Also, to determine whether your once oiled decking needs more oiling, you can pour water on the deck, and if it stagnates, your oil is still active. If it sinks, you can start making plans to add a new oil layer to the deck. Nevertheless, remember that the quality of oil you use for your deck can also determine how often you should oil your deck timber.
When you use appropriate decking oil, it will last on your wood and protect it from decay and deterioration. Moreover, using the right products is less costly than using cheap decking oil products, which you need to paint frequently. These cheap products are also responsible for leaving your deck vulnerable to destruction from the sun and moisture.
Failure to regularly oil your deck can cause dire consequences such as weakening the wood, fading, twists, and sometimes wearing and tearing the deck timber. Decks exposed to dampness can also suffer from fungi and mold invasion, which may destroy your deck and pose health problems to you and your entire family.
Can You Oil Your Decking?
Deck oiling is vital for every decking, especially the outdoor decking. You can try and put up with the oil smell and stickiness for just a few days, all for the sake of your deck. The stickiness will depend on your deck’s porosity since some timber can absorb the oil very fast, leaving your deck ready for use in a short while.
A deck may seem deteriorated and difficult to restore to its former glory; however, it can become as good as new with proper and adequate oiling. It will also prompt you to frequently oil your deck so that you can maintain this state.
Remember that before oiling, you need to clean (sand) the timber thoroughly. The filling may also be effective in case the timber peeled or suffered some twists.
What Is the Fastest Way To Oil a Deck?
For a good reason, the timber used to build indoor and outdoor structures should always appear attractive and well maintained. Here is where proper oiling comes in. Before oiling your deck, make sure to read and understand every precaution for the paint’s safe and effective use.
For instance, a newly installed deck cannot be treated the same way as an old one; new decks have a grace period to let them weather enough to absorb the decking oil. Moreover, instant oiling will destroy the oiling layer because the wood hasn’t released its tannins and naturals oils. However, there are chemical procedures that can enhance this leaching process.
For faster oiling, you will have to ensure that you have the best tools to make your work easier. A great option would be to use a pole and pad decking applicator, which automatically makes your deck oiling much easier. This gadget will make your oiling process faster and cheaper since it can oil many decks at once.
The pole-and-pad has lamb’s wool that is replaceable and has soft fibers to create a smooth and even touch. It would also be best if you sanded your deck to make it smooth, thereby easing the oiling process, then washing the deck properly to remove any lingering wood debris.
Using a reasonably wide brush and a roller can also hasten your oiling process. Start by using your brush on places that the roller cannot reach, then start painting from less accessible areas of the deck to more open areas. Next, pour the oil on the deck floor using the roller and evenly spread it over the deck.
Do not move to places you’ve already done, for this may leave patches; if there is oil left behind, the timber will absorb the oil. Once you finish the first coating, you can leave it to stand for a while as directed by the manufacturer. However, most oils can accept a second coat after at least twenty minutes.
Afterward, when applying the second coat, make the oil layer thinner than the initial coating. You will notice that using a lot of oil during a second coating will waste your time since the timber has already absorbed some oil in the first round. Also, using a lot of oil for the second coat will leave marks that will interfere with the deck’s appearance.
What Is the Essence of Oiling Your Deck?
However much it may be overlooked, oiling your deck has many advantages and is vital to its maintenance. It will make it more durable to serve you longer, to the tune of years. Caring for your decks will also enhance your compound’s appearance and lift its face, what a satisfying result, especially if your deck is for entertaining and relaxation.
Deck oiling will not only improve your timber’s aesthetics but will also protect it from wearing as a result of frequent movements on the deck. Oiling can also assist you in changing the color of your deck from one tint to another. Thus, you need not worry about your deck’s appearance since you can easily convert its color from one tint to another.
Lastly, it would help if you understood that the oiling would prevent the decking timber from aging and protect the wood from extreme weather. For instance, direct sunlight will deprive your deck of its color, but with oiling, you can maintain and restore it. On the other hand, wood oiling harbors water from penetrating the timber; since moisture can attract fungi causing the deck to rot.
Finally
We urge you to paint your deck as frequently as possible to make it look better and more durable. A well-oiled deck can serve you for many decades without you having to repair or replace it, which saves you time and money.
It’s advisable that you apply the oil once or twice a year for the best results. However, it depends on the type of wood and the paint you use. For newly-built decks, you should avoid oiling them immediately since it may destroy your paint. It is also necessary to know when your deck needs oiling and what type of oil is best.
