Boring post alert: Decking oil/stain

Sorry for the boring post!!! Can any recommend a design oil/stain? I had some design laid last year but a want to give it a once over again, has any used anything that’s decent? I spoke to my decorator mate who thinks most are ***** so thought I’d ask the wise heads of the BBS

TIA

 

In my experience (used to have a gardening business), don't buy a brand name and pay over the odds. Get the 'own brand' stuff from Wilko's, Wickes, Range etc. Probably 1/2 or a 1/3 of the price and does the same thing. Like buying paint. They're all made in the same place, it's obviously just the branding.

And don't be on your hands and knees all day. Get a cheap bucket and mop and mop it on. Twice as quick and twice as easy.

 

Cheers Gaz, what’s better, oil or stain? I’d thought about getting a throwaway roller head and doing it with the pole tbh, hands and knees don’t sound appealing at all

 

Depends what it's been done previously with. Stick to the same.

Rollers don't seem to get into the lower parts. Far better in my experience with a traditional mop.

And make sure you hard brush it first, then hoover it as well. Makes all the difference.

 

I've found cleaning it with a bog standard cheapo washing up liquid and a hard brush works lovely. Gets rid of any algae build up ready for staining/oiling.

 

Aye. Depends what state it's in, either an overdue job or just a bit of light maintenance.

 

Oh aye, I'd not done mine for a couple of years so needed a decent fettle

 

It hasn’t been done at all so I can take my pick really, it was pressure treated timber so what would go best with that y’a reckon?

 

I use screwfix "s own brand , cheaper than the big names but does the job .

 

Is that a oil or stain? It’s just a clear colour I’m wanting

 

Oil ,but I know they do stain as well , I always buy mine in the winter when they have a sale & then apply it in the spring & again around about October

 

As it's no previous coating, look up Bird Brand Complete Wood Treatment - see of that would do. They sell it at KDA up Doderth.

 

Stain just sits on the surface and will peel off after a year. Oil is far better as it penetrates the wood but if its pressure treated it might not take for the first few years as it "repels" the oil.

Def avoid the hands and knees, I agree with the mop and bucket or a foam headed mop can work well too.

 

My advice would be, don't have decking, it's just a convenient home for rats, our neighbour's decking is infested

I read recently that Alan Tichmarch's greatest regret in life is that he was largely responsible for the popularity of decking....

 

If that's the case I'd personally stain it now. Then Sept - Oct time (weather dependant) oil it for the winter. It's all about timing. Like laying a lawn.

 

Rocan products.worth a look.water based,

 

I use Osmo products for any furniture I make or restore.
Osmo decking oil in a range of finishes to suit what you want.
https://osmouk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Decking-Oil.jpg
Not cheap by any means but very good.
If you use cheap products you will get what you would expect. Same time and labour as using good stuff.