FEATURES
Continued from page 40
The terrain was tricky to work with , but Topdecks conquered with an engineering spec .
“ Typically , wood requires treatment . Some clients opt to treat their composite decks with an optional colour or sealer and , if this is done , it requires periodic maintenance ,” he says . Wood also needs to be protected against wear and tear as well as the elements . “ This should ideally not just be protection against moisture , but UV as well .”
Wood is a natural product and it constantly swells and shrinks absorbing or loosing moisture . The result is tiny hairline cracks in which moisture is absorbed that gets progressively worse . Solid coatings tend to start cracking , flaking and peeling off in patches resulting in high restoration costs . Extended UV exposure – as is typical in South Africa – results in cell degradation . This shortens the lifespan of the wood , therefore treating the deck with a product that lends UV protection will extend its life .
Steenkamp adds that a deck is one of the harshest places a piece of wood can find itself . “ It is exposed to traffic , UV rays and moisture from all sides , and after rains the rainwater lies on the surface acting like a magnifying glass with the sunlight , multiplying the damaging effects of UV rays .”
To treat a deck , Steemkamp says that you can choose between varnishes , penetrating oils or hard wax oils .
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“ Traditionally people have been going with either solid coatings ( varnishes , polyurethanes or resin products ) or penetrating oils , but we are currently seeing a huge growth in the hard-wax oil segment ,” he says .
Application of the treatment should be done as soon as possible , preferably at the time of installation . “ It needs to be treated or protected from day one ; the best time to start looking after your investment is now ,” Steenkamp advises .
LAST WORDS
“ The maintenance required down the line is often overlooked by clients , but it should play a vital role in the decision-making process when choosing a treatment option for their deck ,” says Steenkamp . Solid coatings may last longer without maintenance , but when the time comes for maintenance often the surface must be sanded . This is a time consuming and expensive exercise and has the longest downtime of all options .
Penetrating oils feed and nourish the wood , but it needs to be maintained often . “ Due to the high maintenance required , many people shy away from this option because they just do not want the headache ,” he says . Hard wax oils are very easy to maintain in general and just by reapplying the same oil every six to 12 months will protect the wood at an optimum level . Often this is the most cost-effective option in the long term .
“ Decking contractors offer a maintenance service on their wooden decking , which is a great option for people who do not want to tackle maintenance themselves ,” he says .
It is recommended that the deck is cleaned and inspected at least twice annually ( after summer and after winter ).
“ Do the required maintenance if or when needed . Decks are a substantial investment in your property , so it makes sense to look after it in the best way possible ,” he adds .
Always prepare and clean the wood as per the product manufacturer ’ s specifications . “ We have seen a number of projects needing to be redone or rescued due to improper preparation ,” says Steenkamp .
DECKING TREATMENT OPTIONS
Solid coatings : this is a film forming coating that requires more intense long-term maintenance as sanding is required before it is re-applied .
Penetrating oils : this is a very old technique , where a penetrating oil is applied every few months to maintain and protect the wood ; no sanding is required . This is very good for the wood , but is very labour intensive .
Hard wax oils : the new generation of hard wax oils make life a lot simpler . Some are still a two- or three-coat system , but oils such as Rubio Monocoat work in a single layer application . Typically , pigmented oils offer UV protection and some even offer an anti-fungal treatment .
APPLICATION In all instances sufficient preparation needs to be done ( sanding / cleaning )
Solid coatings can be painted on with a roller or brush and in some instances sprayed .
This can be done with brushes , rollers , applicator pads and buffing machines .
Can be applied with an applicator pad ( manually or with a buffing machine ).
MAINTENANCE Depends on wear , tear , climatic conditions , wood used , products applied and so on
Maintenance is typically due every 12 to 24 months
Maintenance is typically due every two to six months and is done by just reapplying the same oils over a clean surface ; no sanding is required .
Maintenance is typically required every six to 12 months . No sanding is required when maintenance is due , just reapply the oil over a clean surface .
42 DECEMBER 2017 / JANUARY 2018 //