{"id":3245,"date":"2015-07-24T16:15:08","date_gmt":"2015-07-24T15:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wood-finishes-direct.com\/blog\/?p=3245"},"modified":"2024-03-14T12:10:05","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T12:10:05","slug":"decking-finish-problems-sticky-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wood-finishes-direct.com\/blog\/decking-finish-problems-sticky-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Decking Finish Problems – Sticky Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We’ve covered \n\ndecking finish <\/a>problems in some detail already. But some issues are more common – and cause more grief – than others. This week we’re going to look at the common problem of stickiness, where for some reason the \n\ndecking oil <\/a>you’re applying just isn’t<\/em> doing what it says on the tin. We’ll also look at how to remove old finishes so you can re-apply lots of lovely oil, and provide sensible advice about what NOT to do!
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\"Wooden
Wooden Decking<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Sticky garden decking – What to do about it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You’re doing the decent thing, keeping your garden deck in apple pie order. But when it comes down to actually applying the decking oil, or re-applying more coats, everything seems to be going pear-shaped. It’s sitting on the surface instead of being absorbed, and you’re getting into a right pickle. So what’s all this horrid stickiness about, and how do you fix it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 reasons why decking oil goes sticky<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Over-application – where the oil isn’t penetrating the surface properly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Issues around using an oil over a non-compatible product like a decking stain, varnish or paint<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Not enough preparation – for example trying to use a decking oil over mould or algae<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Problems with new hardwood decking, which is already naturally oily<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What’s the problem?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If the decking oil you’re applying has gone sticky and isn’t being absorbed properly, your number one reason – assuming it’s new decking – might be the type of wood the decking is made of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If it’s a brand new deck, is it made from hardwood? If so, it might already be naturally oily. Which means there’s probably nothing wrong at all – the wood might be oily enough in the first place or even pre-treated with an oil. Some new hardwoods, especially exotic ones, are naturally very oily indeed, and you might find they absorb very little oil if any at all, at least until they’ve aged a bit and seen at least 3 months of our famously awful British weather!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Over-application is a simple one. If your deck has been happily absorbing plenty of oil then suddenly stops, it’s probably because the timber is already ‘full’ and can’t absorb any more. All you need to do is stop trying to apply more and wipe off any excess with a lint-free cloth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some people try to take short-cuts, or don’t fully understand how various decking products work, for example, trying to add an oil over the top of a non-compatible decking stain, a varnish or even a paint. If that’s what you’re thinking about doing, stop right now – it simply won’t work! Decking oils will only work on bare wood or on decking that has been previously oiled. If your garden deck has been treated with a product that forms a protective film on the surface, sometimes characterised by cracking, peeling of flaking, it will have to be fully removed before adding a decking oil.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"decking
    Decking Oil Applied<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    The same goes for mould and algae. It might be tempting to just paint decking oil over the top and hope it disappears, but it won’t work. Mould and algea tend to penetrate into the surface, they don’t just sit on top of the wood. And oiling them won’t kill them off, they’re living things and they will only die when treated with a special wood fungicide and mould killer, such as \n\nBarrettine Mould and Mildew Cleaner<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many of the best anti-fungal products for wood kill the mould or algea and also prevent it coming back, which is an excellent idea and buys you more time in between maintenance sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to remove decking oil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you’ve taken things too far and need to remove decking oil, or you want to remove a old decking oil and use a different finishing product like a stain or varnish, how do you do it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Oils soak into the wood rather than just sitting on the surface, so while it’s easy enough to sand them off at surface level, it’s very difficult to get the product out of the grooves. If your deck is oiled, it’s best to use another oil rather than try to remove it and replace it with a stain or paint. Oils are, after all, the best product for decking because they penetrate the wood and protect it so much better, for longer, than something that just sits on the surface, and they let the lovely natural wood grain show through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There’s a lot of talk online about getting rid of decking oil and replacing it with stain or paint, but the advice is always the same – it’s a huge challenge and you’re probably best off letting it lie. You could try white spirit or a jet washer but even they are far from ideal. Your best bet is to stick with oils. Here’s why…<\/p>\n\n\n\n