Last year I built a new deck. Over winter it got covered in mould and looked like crap. As summer Comes on I'll give it all a water blast but in thinking, will painting it solve this?
One area is high volume traffic. Ie: we use it regularly as access. Will I just be creating more headaches by continually needing to paint it? Or is stain better? Or leave it natural?
strathview,
Sep 19, 11:29am
Use a deck stripper/cleaner. Brush on and give a good brush. Hose off. Brings it up like new. When dry then put on your deck stain/protector. I do mine every couple of years with a waterbased stain and it looks like brand new but then I only have a very little bit of decking.
rednicnz,
Sep 19, 12:51pm
Sodium percarbonate works well as a cleaner and won't kill any plants around the deck. You can get it in bulk off here.
nzmax,
Sep 19, 1:37pm
Was told by one of the paint reps that water blasting will fur the timber surface and once stained the tips of the furred timber break off during use, leaving a patchy worn appearance. Rep suggested a light sand between water blasting and staining.
oh_hunnihunni,
Sep 19, 1:45pm
Unless you paint all of the deck, you might find the underneath gets very mouldy with problems down the line with rot.
eljayv,
Sep 19, 4:30pm
This is excellent
friendly_prawn,
Sep 20, 2:54am
I already have it. But it sits there unused. with the waterblaster I can do the same job in a fraction of the time. I only use it for the weatherboards on the house though, not the deck.
friendly_prawn,
Sep 20, 2:55am
Can you explain this please? I dont quite understand? Are you suggesting painting the underneath of the deck?
friendly_prawn,
Sep 20, 2:56am
Yes I think there is a fine line between waterblasting to the point you start damaging the deck. Obviously a very light waterblast is needed so as not to start damaging the deck. A powerwash might be a better term.
friendly_prawn,
Sep 20, 2:57am
So you would stain rather than paint? Wouldnt painting it offer a longer term solution?
Paint tends to create a slippery surface when wet whereas stain will not create a slippery surface. I would go for a natural stain to really highlight the natural timber colour. Cabots have a very good one.
happychappy50,
Sep 20, 7:09am
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If you are going to waterblast it,by all means do that,just hold the wand a reasonable distance from the surface,that way you won’t damage the timber.
With regards to sealing the deck,I have for yrs used a mixture of boiled linseed oil & turps 4 turps 1 linseed,Several good points to this,the linseed nourishes the timber whilst the turps carries it into the substrate.
With the majority of deck preps,sealers & coatings,many just put a coating on,they don’t last very long & require stripping before you can apply a new coat . time consuming,with the linseed mixture just install another coat.
I have just done mine again after building a new deck last summer,it faces nth & really cops the weather sun mainly,the pine started opening up as I knew it would,but once dry it just soaked up the mixture,been done 5 times now,cracks have all but disappeared.
happychappy50,
Sep 20, 7:15am
I would add a pic however not sure how to do it
oh_hunnihunni,
Sep 20, 7:51am
Just going on my little deck, which has multiple layers of thick grey paint on the top surface, and black mould on the underside. I can't recall seeing that on stained decks but I might be completely wrong. Seeing the deck is raised so well aired and well off and above dry ground, I'm wondering about the effect the sealed top surface has on the woods ability to dry out properly.
If it was mine rather than rented, I'd stain I think. It is also less likely to get so hot in summer that it burns bare feet!
friendly_prawn,
Sep 20, 9:51am
Cheers oh_hunnihunni. I currently have large decks all bare. All have mould on the underside. Comes with the territory. If painting you can chuck an anti fungal additive So all good there. After reading thoughts in here and plenty of googling I have decided on a plan of attack. Cheers guys
zak410,
Sep 20, 10:39am
Stain, oil based penetrating stain is by far the best, feeds the timber, makes it easier to clean later.
sleek_lizzy,
Sep 23, 9:17am
Stain.
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