Hardwood decking next steps?

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Reub3n

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#227429 6-Jan-2018 20:37

Hi team!

8 months ago new decking was built with vitex hardwood and was never oiled. We have so far used a mould remover (sodium hypocloride) and a deck cleaner. These were applied using a stiff brush and water blasted. The attached picture shows one coat of decking oil. I am concerned about the look - it's like it needs some more cleaning or waterblasting or sanding before applying another coat?

what would you do next if this was your deck?

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#1931492 6-Jan-2018 21:09

Looks like a normal woodgrain pattern. Probably not a lot more you can do apart from letting it weather.

blakamin

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#1931493 6-Jan-2018 21:12

Oil it... It has character.

mdf

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#1931495 6-Jan-2018 21:27

Looks fine to me. Vitex does get surface cracks; it doesn't affect the structure of it.

What did you oil it with? Usually two coats minimum for decking oils. When I had a vitex deck, I was always surprised how much better it looked with a second coat.

Ge0rge

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#1931618 7-Jan-2018 08:53

I'd recommend not waterblasting your deck any further - doing so will damage the fibres of the timber and lead to splinters.

I think it is looking really good, do the second coat of oil and next time just clean it with the chemical cleaner and a brush.

k1w1k1d

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#1931664 7-Jan-2018 11:15

As advised by Ge0rge. Another coat, or two, and DON'T WATERBLAST!

Reub3n

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Wannabe Geek

#1931882 7-Jan-2018 21:55

Thanks for all your feedback. Have gone ahead with the second coat. Using wattyl forestwood natural decking oil.

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CokemonZ

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#2337479 15-Oct-2019 15:40

Hey - so it's been a year and a half - hows your deck looking?

Would you still recommend the forestwood?

I've just had a vitex deck put down and interested in what to coat it with.

Suprisingly little information online.

wellygary

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#2337503 15-Oct-2019 16:27

How's it looking now,

Here's a shot of Vitex from a timber supplier, yours wasn't that different,

Its a natural wood product, you are going to have variation and un-matching patterns

https://archipro.co.nz/products/vitex-decking-hermpac

mdf

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#2337506 15-Oct-2019 16:31

CokemonZ:
Hey - so it's been a year and a half - hows your deck looking?

Would you still recommend the forestwood?

I've just had a vitex deck put down and interested in what to coat it with.

Suprisingly little information online.

Don't do anything until all the sap has come out of it. It's sort of foamy and sticky, especially after it rains.

I did our vitex deck (at out old place. I still miss that deck) with cabots aquadeck after it had weathered in - which was a couple of months at least IIRC. Looked really good.

Ours got heaps of sun; if I replied each year it looked great. Leaving it every other year, not so much. It's well worth the investment in the lambswool applicator mop and bucket.

CokemonZ

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#2338161 16-Oct-2019 15:45

mdf:
CokemonZ:

Hey - so it's been a year and a half - hows your deck looking?

Would you still recommend the forestwood?

I've just had a vitex deck put down and interested in what to coat it with.

Suprisingly little information online.

Don't do anything until all the sap has come out of it. It's sort of foamy and sticky, especially after it rains.

I did our vitex deck (at out old place. I still miss that deck) with cabots aquadeck after it had weathered in - which was a couple of months at least IIRC. Looked really good.

Ours got heaps of sun; if I replied each year it looked great. Leaving it every other year, not so much. It's well worth the investment in the lambswool applicator mop and bucket.

It's been about 6 months, and am getting prepped for summer, but cheers for the heads up.

I've read mixed reviews on the aquadeck as it leaves an acrylic film on top rather than soaking in, and can end up peeling and patchy which is a remove and recoat situation rather than just add more.

I'm considering old school solvent borne oil like OP used or this resene woodsman waterbourne stain.

https://shop.resene.co.nz/resene-waterborne-woodsman-3241

This one is penetrating, so shouldn't leave a film on top.

mattwnz

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#2338164 16-Oct-2019 15:47

I am looking at decking myself, but I think one of the things is making sure that most are under some form of eaves. That will mean that it should last a lot longer.

What are the pros and cons with Vitex over Kwila?Kwila seems ot be a lot more popular. Is Vitex as durable? Are they more durable than H3 pine decking?

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Handle9

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#2338165 16-Oct-2019 15:52

Vitex is farmed so is much more sustainable. It also doesn't bleed as much as kwila.

The biggest negative is it doesn't come in long lengths. The colour is also more honey than red.

IMO Vitex and kwila are much nicer to walk on than h3. They are a hardwood rather than a softwood so much more stable and don't seem to strip out as much as pine.

duckDecoy

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#2338210 16-Oct-2019 16:03

CokemonZ:

I've read mixed reviews on the aquadeck as it leaves an acrylic film on top rather than soaking in, and can end up peeling and patchy which is a remove and recoat situation rather than just add more.

Let me add to your reviews. Aquadeck has been a dreadful product at our place, it peels all the time especially in high traffic areas. We are stuck with it because we did all our decks and the balustrades and fences in it and it would be too difficult to remove.

We repaint the peeled areas but they never match the colour of the surrounding area and it looks patchy.

Never ever again.

duckDecoy

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#2338218 16-Oct-2019 16:05

Handle9:

The colour is also more honey than red.

Both will patina to grey over time if you don't treat them.

CokemonZ

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#2338224 16-Oct-2019 16:09

Handle9: Vitex is farmed so is much more sustainable. It also doesn't bleed as much as kwila.

The biggest negative is it doesn't come in long lengths. The colour is also more honey than red.

IMO Vitex and kwila are much nicer to walk on than h3. They are a hardwood rather than a softwood so much more stable and don't seem to strip out as much as pine.

+1 for the shorter lengths, but our builders did a great job of staggering them so it looks great.

We got a deal because we brought the unpopular width - 140mm I think. looks great.

Foot feel is great as well, much better than our pine deck out the front, but it's only 6 months old, the pine one is about 10 years.

It leached a lot of yellow stuff for a while in winter - the bricks underneath looked weird for a while. that seems to have stopped now.

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