PING; The bloke who knows all about wood preservers.

[The Medway Handyman]

Hi

Someone on this group knows all about wood preservers etc. Sorry, don't know your name.

Could you identify yourself please?

[Steve Firth]

It's me.

[mail]

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Dear Dave I would not make that claim. The capacity of the wood-preserving 'specialists' to tell you something you did not know should not be underestimated! I do, however, have not a little experience of the wood-preservation industry from without and within the BWP(D)A having served on various committees such as =EF=BB=BFthe Technical, Publicity, Membership, Training, Environmental, Convention, General Purposes Committees and the Council and have been a Vice President of what is now the Institute of British Wood Preserving and Damp-Proofing [IBWPD] chairman of the Training Committee and Remedial Treatment Committees, Chairman of the Associates Committee and for some years Hon. Treasurer. I have retired from all these but now serve on the Technical Panel of the new PCA. It is possible that I may be the chap in which case my name is Chris George and how can I help?

[The Medway Handyman]

Hi Chris

You call that a little experience? :-)

As you probably have spotted I build a lot of decks - from tanalised Scandinavian Redwood deck boards.

Customers always ask how to treat new decks, being bewildered by the range of products available.

Looking at the Ronseal range (easily available, reputable & trusted brand) there is;

Decking Oil Decking Protector Decking Stain.

Cuprinol have a similar range.

I've always used decking oil, not sure exactly what the other products are.

Assuming that few customers want to stain the colour of the deck, could you briefly comment of the pros & cons of these three types of product?

[Geronimo W. Christ Esq]

My impression from the Ronseal literature is that they intend you to use all three; stain it, then oil it, then add the protector. Bloody expensive.

[Stuart Noble]

FWIW I think if you're not happy with the grey, weathered look, you're buying into an ongoing maintenance chore. I don't think any finish extends the life of the wood, which weathers well if there's a decent airflow under it. IME decking is only suitable for open locations where you get a reasonable amount of winter sun.

[Pete C]

What's the problem?

cheers, Pete.