Choosing the right decking finish

Article by Wendy Woodcare at Haymes Paint

Step 1.        Visit the experts

Visit your local PaintRight store initially to find out exactly what you need to achieve your desired look.

The best way to start working out what look you are after is to check out the instore display boards, this will give you a great idea of the different options available.

The right decking finish is the one you want to look at every day! Once you have an understanding of what you are after, your PaintRight specialist will then advise what the process will be for your chosen product.

All major brands have great products that work to a specification, so please don’t take short cuts on preparation and application, as this will ultimately lead to early deterioration and disappointment.

Once you have made this decision, you will understand what type of product you have chosen, coats required and how to care and maintain that product.

Step 2.       Colour options

A natural colour is the most popular choice, and is also a great choice for good quality timbers such as Merbau and Spotted Gum, as they enhance the timbers natural colour and beauty.

If you have a light-coloured timber such as cypress or treated pine you might like to use a semi-transparent colour such as Merbau, Ebony or perhaps you might like a Weathered Grey.

If you can, take in a piece of your timber in to the store, as some retailers have samples of the product to try onto your timber. This is a great way to confirm if you have chosen the right product.

Note: for better performance, a coloured finish will provide better UV protection as it contains more pigment.

Step 3.  Coating

Always apply your timber finish with quality brushes and applicators recommended by your PaintRight specialist. Apply your finish at the recommended spread rate per square metre for optimum performance, when the weather is favourable and rain is not expected within 24 hours. Maintain a wet edge working two to three boards at a time, ensuring all exposed edges and end grain are coated.

Now it’s time to sit back and admire your great work!

Step 4.   Maintenance

Timber finishes wear at different rates depending on the type of coating you have used.

A regular inspection every six to 12 months will show you if you need to re-coat with either one or two coats. When looking for signs to recoat, look for loss of sheen, loss of colour or general patchiness. These are the visible signs to re-coat.