As our salespeople take care of both our current and potential customers, we get asked the question, “Why should I oil my deck and with what,” very often. We always explain, as best as possible, why it’s a good idea to do so from the beginning and most of our customers understand the benefits. However, we feel this topic should be explored a little more in-depth.
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We get this question a lot, and I’m sure it’s one that’s crossed your mind when thinking about anew hardwood deck. It’s simple for us to tell you “product x” and end the conversation, but there many reasons why you can’t just apply paint or stain to hardwood decking.
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We’ve had quite a few people who wanted to give their decks some much needed TLC already call us to ask, “How do I protect my wood deck?”
Protecting a hardwood deck is pretty easy, as long as you use the right deck finish. The one we recommend here at Advantage is Ipe Oil™. Hardwood decking is not a one-size-covers-all material. Hardwoods like ipe, cumaru, tigerwood, teak, and other high-density woods are famous for not taking most finishes. These woods require special products because they’re not easy to penetrate. For instance, ipe and cumaru are so dense that they naturally repel water!
However, a proven deck oil like Ipe Oil™ will protect your hardwood decking from ultraviolet rays. UV rays cause many problems including warps and cracks. Preventing these problems is important if you want to get the most out of your decking. So, now that you know what deck oil to use for your hardwood deck…here’s how to apply it:
How to Apply Deck Oil:
Using the deck oil products will also help replenish the wood’s natural color. Note, these products are not the same a “deck stain.” They won’t change the color of your hardwood. Instead, as previously mentioned, using the right deck oil for wood decking will prolong the life and natural color of your decking.
Want to learn more about deck maintenance? Check out the Deck Maintenance section of this blog, or call us directly 1-877-232-3915.
Stepping on this deck....not a good idea!
Take a look at the picture above. Gross, isn’t it? That picture is of the old pressure treated decking you can get at the big box stores. The worst part? This picture was taken on a boardwalk that many children and people walk on each and every day. Basically, it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Can you see why I am a little biased toward hardwood decking? After looking at that picture, it’s easy to see why. Wood decking species like Tigerwood, Cumaru, Garapa and Ipe, just doesn’t have these problems and are naturally built to last.
Yes, pressure treated lumber is cheaper, but it’s really best suited for deck framing due to its resistance to termites. But, if you want to install it as a surface material, the long term cost to maintain it can be far more expensive. Imagine someone getting injured on your pressure treated deck? Can you say, “Hello higher hazard insurance premiums?”
The truth is, hard wood decking maintenance issues are few and far between. Most people just apply a deck finish like Ipe Oil™ once every couple of years to maintain its natural reddish brown color and that’s pretty much it.
You can search for my previous posts on the dangers of pressure treated wood, but for now…a picture really is worth a thousand words!