Q. How often do I need to oil my deck?

A. Most weatherproofing should last at least 12 months. If your deck gets excessive sun (dryness) or no sun at all (mildew), you may need to service it more often. If you use a good decking oil and your deck gets a good balance of sun and shade, it could last up to two years.

Q. How long should I wait to oil a new deck?

A. All woods are different, some decks are ready to be treated immediately, and some must wait up to 2-3 months.  Most damage to a deck happens quickly, so evaluate your deck in a timely fashion so that irreparable damage is not done.

Q.What type of finish should I use on my deck?

A. This is an easy one. Unless you are in love with the darker color, go with the transparent stain that has just a little added colour pigment. If you go with a dark semi-transparent or solid stain, it is very difficult to go back to a transparent product. Transparent stains that bring out the natural grain of the timber look better for longer.

Q. Should I have my deck stripped?

A. Remember that the lighter the finish the lesser the protection.  Transparent finishes that are truly clear last only 6-12 months.  100% Transparent finishes with pigment such as Cabot’s Clear Solution suggest recoat every 24 months.  Semi-transparent or Semi-Solid Stains typically last 3-4 years.  Solid Stains typically last from 3-5 years .  The darker the color with all products, the longer it takes the sun to fade it.  The lighter colors do fade more quickly. The transparent finishes show 100% of the grain.  Semi-transparent and Semi-solid products show 35-75% of the grain.  Solids cover all grain and can be custom matched.

Q.Why is the floor lighter than the railings?

A. The horizontal surfaces of the deck receive more harsh elements than the vertical surfaces.

Q. Why doesn’t my deck bead up when it rains?

A. Decks do not necessarily have to bead up to be well protected. All of our products are rated very highly by Consumer Reports, which is the best indication of excellent protection. In fact, some of the lowest ranked products bead up the most!

Q. How long must my deck dry before use?

A. Typically oil based finishes dry to the touch within a few hours and can be walked on in 24-48 hours after curing.  Latex finishes typically dry within 2-3 hours and need a full 48 hours to cure.  You would be amazed at how quickly oil finishes set.  Often passing showers do not effect these finishes after application.

Q. If my deck is new, does it need to be washed first?

A. Every deck should be washed before oiling  or staining. All lumber especially pressure treated pine contains a chemical commonly known as mill glaze. It protects the wood during the storing in lumberyards. This must be removed prior to oiling or staining to ensure proper adhesion.

Q. Can you remove BBQ grease or citronella candle oils from my deck?

A. Waterworx Pressure Cleaning & Timber Deck Cleaning Brisbane can remove some of them, but unfortunately the oils penetrate the wood and set in.  We will do our best, but never promise full removal without sanding.

Q. How often do I need to wash my composite deck?

A. Many composite decks will NEVER need a protective finish.  However, the outside elements such as pollen, moisture and lack of sun exposure can promote mould and growth on the deck.  We typically rinse down composite decks every 1-2 years.

Q. My deck is getting old and I am tired of maintenance, but don’t want to rebuild, what can we do?

A. We have a program called re-decking that promotes the use of existing framing of current deck while removing the rails and flooring.  We often convert old splintery decks to maintenance free decks at a discount when we do not need to create a new frame.