Decking Oil

Before you can apply the Decking Oil, you need to ensure your decking is clean. Remove all furniture and use a pressure washer or specialist decking cleaner to get rid of dirt, oil, mould, leaves and any other detritus.

How to prepare new decking for oiling

1. Most new decks come with a bit of waterproofing protection. This could stop the oil from sticking. To avoid this, give your new deck a good scrub with our Decking Cleaner & Reviver. Alternatively, leave it to weather for six months.
2. Rinse thoroughly with water, ideally with a pressure washer.
3. To check if any pre-treatment is remaining, sprinkle some water on the deck and see if it beads.
4. If it doesn't bead, you'll be ready to put on the oil. If it does then you'll have to clean it again until the water stops beading.
5. Allow the wood to dry thoroughly before applying the oil.

How to prepare untreated, grey and weathered decks for oiling

For old decking, you need to remove previous finishes like paint and varnish. You need to strip the deck back to its bare wood before oiling.

1. Use our Decking Restorer to take the deck back to its natural colour. This also helps the oil to soak in, so your deck will look great for longer.

How to prepare previously treated decks for oiling

1. If your deck has been painted, use our Decking Stripper to get it back to bare wood. It's not as hard as you think and it's definitely worth it.
2. If your deck has been previously oiled, don't try to cover a dark oil with a lighter colour. You'll need to strip it first using our Decking Stripper.

Decking Oil needs to be applied in dry conditions when the forecast is clear of rain and frost.

1. Thoroughly shake the tin to ensure the contents is mixed together.
2. Pour the whole tin into a tray. If you need to use more than one tin, mix them together.
3. Apply the oil on a small hidden patch of decking to make sure you’re happy with the colour. The colour can be influenced by the texture, grain, type of wood and any other previous treatments so always be sure to test it first.
4. Apply a first coat to your deck using a good quality brush, roller or decking pad.
5. Start in the furthest corner, brushing along the length of the boards. Work on 3-4 boards at a time so you don’t get any overlap marks.
6. Wipe away excess oil with a lint-free cloth.
7. The first coat will be rainproof in two hours and after six hours, it will be ready for a second coat.
8. Apply a second coat after six hours.

Wait 24 hours before moving furniture back onto your deck.

Cleaning

Your brushes can easily be cleaned with white spirit or a brush cleaner.

Don’t empty any left over oil into drains or watercourses. Your local authority may have special ways to get rid of unused oils.

Maintenance

To keep your finish looking its best for longer, regularly clean your deck and remove leaves, mould, mildew, algae and any other dirt. Mould and algae should be removed with decking cleaner, general dust and dirt can be tackled with a stiff wire broom.

Inspect your coating every six months to look out for any chips or patches. Re-coat the patch when necessary.