What Will You Coat The Deck With?
What will you coat your external timber with? Why is this extremely important?
One of the areas of real concern as far as protecting timber is concerned is decking. The ultraviolet or UV index in Australia is very high. It varies from season to season but in Western Australia at the important measurement time which is usually one hour around noon, the UV index is generally over four which means that protection is required even in winter. During spring and summer and autumn it is considerably higher than four reaching as high as 14. If we need to protect our skin and in fact we need to take action within 15 minutes, or to be more specific we need to take action before we go out in the sun, why should we expect timber that is used externally to cope any better. It turns grey.
We often talk to people who think that timber only turns grey if it is in direct sunlight. But this is simply not true. Timber turns grey as a result of reflected light and undercover. We often see examples of timber exposed to reflected light from paving or a pool that has turned grey.
One solution to this is to use a pigmented oil finish. If you use a paint you run the risk of creating a surface that will flake or peel after extended exposure. Additionally with the paint you generally cover up the timber so that you lose its natural grain completely.
We have a range of solutions but one that we have been using recently is the pigmented oil 015. We have a photograph here of it being used on an Australian light hardwood called Blackbutt. The timber itself is a light tan colour with slight pink tones but after treatment with the 015 it takes on more of a tan colour. But as you can see you can still see the grain. The pigment in the grain will retard the tendency for the timber to turn grey. Timber will need to be treated reasonably regularly but that is true of any type of coating used externally. And with the added benefit of using Osmo 015 you know that the coating is never going to flake or peel and therefore you do not have labour-intensive remedial work ahead. It will be simple.
Remember, that regardless of whether your decking is under a veranda/pergola, you will need some form of coating to protect the surface. An oil is an ideal solution but it needs to be a genuine oil.
A caveat that we would often point out to people is that not every oil product is actually oil. Some are oil modified and others are resin fortified. Essentially these are attempts to toughen the product up and give it a consistency similar to a urethane. Urethane flakes and peels after exposure to UV light. It is very important to use urethanes in the application for which they are designed and to recognise that they are not very good with UV light generally.
Our recommendation, especially on lighter coloured timbers where you want to see the grain is Osmo 015 pigmented oil. It really is a beautiful finish for decking and exposed timber areas. We also have solutions for doors and window frames and upright poles and so forth which will be covered in another blog.
Using Osmo will feed and nourish the timber. It is natural and easy to use. And you also have the added benefit of being able to see the quality of the timber that you have installed. Another amazing benefit of using the natural timber oil range from Osmo.
One of the areas of real concern as far as protecting timber is concerned is decking. The ultraviolet or UV index in Australia is very high. It varies from season to season but in Western Australia at the important measurement time which is usually one hour around noon, the UV index is generally over four which means that protection is required even in winter. During spring and summer and autumn it is considerably higher than four reaching as high as 14. If we need to protect our skin and in fact we need to take action within 15 minutes, or to be more specific we need to take action before we go out in the sun, why should we expect timber that is used externally to cope any better. It turns grey.
We often talk to people who think that timber only turns grey if it is in direct sunlight. But this is simply not true. Timber turns grey as a result of reflected light and undercover. We often see examples of timber exposed to reflected light from paving or a pool that has turned grey.
One solution to this is to use a pigmented oil finish. If you use a paint you run the risk of creating a surface that will flake or peel after extended exposure. Additionally with the paint you generally cover up the timber so that you lose its natural grain completely.
We have a range of solutions but one that we have been using recently is the pigmented oil 015. We have a photograph here of it being used on an Australian light hardwood called Blackbutt. The timber itself is a light tan colour with slight pink tones but after treatment with the 015 it takes on more of a tan colour. But as you can see you can still see the grain. The pigment in the grain will retard the tendency for the timber to turn grey. Timber will need to be treated reasonably regularly but that is true of any type of coating used externally. And with the added benefit of using Osmo 015 you know that the coating is never going to flake or peel and therefore you do not have labour-intensive remedial work ahead. It will be simple.
Remember, that regardless of whether your decking is under a veranda/pergola, you will need some form of coating to protect the surface. An oil is an ideal solution but it needs to be a genuine oil.
A caveat that we would often point out to people is that not every oil product is actually oil. Some are oil modified and others are resin fortified. Essentially these are attempts to toughen the product up and give it a consistency similar to a urethane. Urethane flakes and peels after exposure to UV light. It is very important to use urethanes in the application for which they are designed and to recognise that they are not very good with UV light generally.
Our recommendation, especially on lighter coloured timbers where you want to see the grain is Osmo 015 pigmented oil. It really is a beautiful finish for decking and exposed timber areas. We also have solutions for doors and window frames and upright poles and so forth which will be covered in another blog.
Using Osmo will feed and nourish the timber. It is natural and easy to use. And you also have the added benefit of being able to see the quality of the timber that you have installed. Another amazing benefit of using the natural timber oil range from Osmo.