Treating Wood

monquixote

I shall come clean as being a bit of a DIY novice. 

Until recently I've never lived in a house that I owned and consequently have never really had to fix anything or been allowed to change anything. 

Outside the patio doors at the back of my house I have a bit of decking with a fence around it and a little gate (to prevent kids falling to their doom). Someone visiting mentioned that the fence and the deck looked very dry and I should think about treating it with something. 

So forum goers, what should I use and where should I buy it from?

bertie

deck oil for the decking and fencing, assuming it hasnt been stained already.   Clean it off with deck cleaner, or a karcher is perfect if you have one,) then a couple of coats of oil

Personally Id avoid staining like the plague........ it can quickly look worn/shite

monquixote

Thanks Bertie I'll look into deck oil. 

This is the most boring photo I have ever taken but it gives you an idea of what it looks like:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/monquixote/IMAG0013_zpsb19675bb.jpg

TTony

Just what Bertie said.

A power washer is probably the best thing for cleaning it first - thoroughly and quickly.  And messily.

monquixote

Don't have a pressure washer. 

Does that make me less of a man?

TTony

monquixote said:

Don't have a pressure washer. 

Does that make me less of a man?

That's not the main reason ...

mike_l

monquixote said:

Don't have a pressure washer. 

Does that make me less of a man?

Yes.

You should be able to hire one fairly cheaply, from someonelike HSS. Or I can get one from Sealey for you if you want to purchase.

jonnyburgo

Get scrubbing with a wire brush man! power washer my eye! namby bloody pamby nonsense.

chillidoggy

Never had pressure washers when I were a lad.

monquixote

I've bought some deck cleaner, some deck oil, and a wire brush. 

I've also managed to score a Kartcher off my pa in law. 

Tomorrow shall be DECK DAY!

monquixote

chillidoggy said:

Never had pressure washers when I were a lad.

I suspect you probably didn't have decking either. 

bertie

monquixote said:

chillidoggy said:

Never had pressure washers when I were a lad.

I suspect you probably didn't have decking either. 

or toasters

chillidoggy

monquixote said:

chillidoggy said:

Never had pressure washers when I were a lad.

I suspect you probably didn't have decking either. 

We did on the ships.

monquixote

3 hours with a bottle of deck cleaner, a wire brush and a pressure washer and now it looks like this:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/monquixote/IMAG0019_zps702b4ff9.jpg

Still need to oil it, but I need to let it dry out properly first. 

chillidoggy

Oil will make it a bit slippery, won't it?

monquixote

I'm assuming they wouldn't sell deck oil if it did. 

bertie

top job mate.   Sensible to let it dry..............however the weather forecast doesnt pose well.............

Emp_Fab

You've also done the fence and the gate haven't you ?

Pressure washers are ace.  It's easy to get carried away with them... before you know it, you've pressure-washed everything in sight.

Oh... and three hours ??!!  How big was the wire brush ?

http://www.toolup.com/images/Product/large/44075.jpg

monquixote

Yeah I did the fence as well which is why it took the time. I also had to go out and get and assemble a new hose reel thingy and you have to leave the deck cleaner to do it's magic.

The weather does look a bit crap this week. Supposedly it is meant to be sunny on Thursday so I might take the day off and do it then.