Forums

Forums
Sustainable Sidetra...
DIY
Decking varnish rec...
 
Notifications
Clear all

Decking varnish recommendation

 
DIY
Last Post by Mars 1 year ago
4 Posts
3 Users
2 Reactions
615 Views
RSS
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
17001 kWhs
Veteran
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 2339
Topic starter 28/01/2023 10:27 am  

Two years ago, we treated and painted the decks in our back garden using a Dulux decking paint - I think it was called Cuprinol. The paint has weather, chipped and looks awful. This spring/summer, we're going to sand the decks down and wanted to know if anyone can recommend a high quality decking varnish that we can use.

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU

Follow our sustainability journey at My Home Farm: https://myhomefarm.co.uk


   
Quote
Dunlorn
 Dunlorn
(@dunlorn)
Estimable Member Member
1647 kWhs
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 74
28/01/2023 10:39 am  

A window restorer recommended Demidekk products to me a while back. I've used it on some exterior woodwork and a timber shed. It goes on a treat and looks good but it's not been on long enough yet to draw too much of a conclusion. Worth investigating. 

2 x 12kW Samsung Gen6 ASHP, 5.6kW solar PV ground mounted c/w 10kWh Puredrive battery & Solis inverter.


   
Mars reacted
ReplyQuote
Majordennisbloodnok
 Majordennisbloodnok
(@majordennisbloodnok)
Noble Member Contributor
4104 kWhs
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 366
28/01/2023 11:31 am  

Ultimately, @editor, I wouldn't use a paint or varnish at all on decking. The concept of paint or varnish is a thin fairly flexible barrier to protect the wood, but the constant footfall is almost guaranteed to wear that barrier away fairly quickly. Rather than a varnish I'd opt instead for an oil; it soaks into the wood so the protective barrier is integral to the timber, it remains as flexible as the timber itself and any normal knocks become irrelevant to its protective capabilities. The downside, of course, is the fact you ideally want to give it a quick recoat each season to maintain the protection.

All of this is irrelevant, though, if your decking is grooved. In that case, trying to sand the existing paint away from the grooves will be a really intensive job I doubt you'd be interested in undertaking.

As a result, if oiling is an option then I've had good experiences with Sadolin and Liberon as brands and their decking oils would do the trick nicely. If oiling isn't an option then I would suggest you have a chat with your local Brewers or similar trade paint store; they might have a yacht varnish that would be suitable but most exterior varnishes are designed for wood that normally wouldn't be walked on (window frames, conservatories etc.).

Either way, I'd suggest you buy from a trade store rather than the likes of B&Q or Homebase. The paints, oils and varnishes at a trade store are generally fresher than those at a DIY store and that makes a difference for finishes that need to protect wood in harsh environments.

105 m2 bungalow in South East England
Mitsubishi Ecodan 8.5 kW air source heat pump
18 x 360W solar panels
1 x 6 kW GroWatt battery and inverter
Raised beds for home-grown veg and chickens for eggs

"Semper in excretia; suus solum profundum variat"


   
Mars reacted
ReplyQuote
Mars
 Mars
(@editor)
Illustrious Member Admin
17001 kWhs
Veteran
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 2339
Topic starter 28/01/2023 4:46 pm  

@majordennisbloodnok, the decks in the back garden aren't grooved, and the oil is a good idea. I'll looks into our options. Slippage is the only thing we need to consider. I like Sadolin as a brand. 

@dunlorn, thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into what Demidekk have to offer.

Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU

Follow our sustainability journey at My Home Farm: https://myhomefarm.co.uk


   
ReplyQuote
Forum Jump:
  Previous Topic
Next Topic  
Share:

Join Us!

Latest Posts

Heat Pump Humour

Members Online

 No online members at the moment

x Powerful Protection for WordPress, from Shield Security
This Site Is Protected By
Shield Security →