Decks - chemical cleaning vs sanding prior to oiling.

[Stephen B]

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Just taking a break after chemically cleaning/scrubbing a Merbu deck which will be given an oil finish early next week when warmer weather is predicted.

Many in NA, given FOG posts on the subject, appear to sand their decks, whilst down here we tend to chemically clean. This is because the two most common wood species used here, Merbu and Spotted Gum, have a very high tanin content; which naturally makes them great timbers for decking.

I had assumed that sanding, apart from gradually over time wearing down the deck thickness, just encourages more tanin bleeding.

Thoughts?
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http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/resources/private-forestry/paddock-plants/Corymbia-maculata-Spotted-Gum.pdf

[member=19511]Scott B[/member]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=14pt]I have bumped this because I thought it might have promoted some discussion of benefit to some FOG members. I might have been wrong. However, if this interests you or relates to your experiences, please share your thoughts.

My apologies to those who may not have been interested.

 

[peter halle]

Here we have so many types of decks, often different by geographic regions.  In the western regions you can more easily find cedar decks which are a softwood with some natural decay resistant properties.  They sand well.  In the eastern regions the old stand by is chemically treated pine.  Doesn't sand as well and commonly cleaned with a sprayed on chemical followed up with a high pressure wash.  Both of these types can have a surface treatment applied to reduce the maintenance frequency.  Eventually the surfaces will become more uneven as the softer wood fibers wear away at a different rate than the harder.  Then sanding might become a better option just to level the field so to speak.

Hardwood deck surfaces similar to what you seem to have there are becoming more popular and in many cases the only reason for sanding or chemically washing, and then oiling is an aesthetic thing.  Both will take the fading away and reduce the thickness because they eat a tiny layer off the top.

Then you have the man made deck surfaces.  Chemically washing those is usually the best way to clean them and then they don't need anything more.

Pete

 

[Cheese]

My apologies to those who may not have been interested.

[member=19746]Untidy Shop[/member]
No apologies necessary, as Peter stated, wooden decks in NA are predominantly redwood, cedar or pressure treated Southern pine, all soft woods. The other alternative is a man made composite decking such as Trex or TimberTech. The wooden materials above & the composite materials, probably account for 95-98% of all decks in NA. As such, when it comes time to clean or resurface a deck, the usual drill is to pressure wash it and if it is wood, sand any rough areas and then apply a top-coat.

While Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood or Cambara decks in recent years have become more common, they are an extremely small percentage of the total.