Terrace boards are constantly exposed to different weather conditions. To ensure that they last a long time and remain attractive, regular care with oil is absolutely necessary.
Terrace boards are made of different types of wood. Oiling is a sensible and, above all, important measure to ensure that the planks remain well-kept, weather-resistant and attractive for many years.
Domestic woods such as Douglas fir or larch need care, as do exotic types of wood such as teak, Merante or Bangkirai.
Oiling wooden decking boards - How to proceed
Terrace decking should be thoroughly cleaned before oiling
In order for the oil to have the best effect, you must first clean the floorboards thoroughly. The most important prerequisite for the entire process: Good weather! The cleaned floorboards should dry completely, preferably several days. So it must not rain on uncovered terraces.
Clean the planks with water, a neutral detergent and a scrubber or brush. If moss has settled, you should get rid of it with a special moss remover (my recommendation: Wepos algae and moss remover). Gray terraces, on the other hand, should be treated with a de-greying agent (such as this one).
Material and tools for oiling wooden decking boards
Planks that have been treated with oil are lightly sanded after cleaning. With varnished or sealed planks, you will need to sand down to the bare wood if you prefer to oil the wood in the future. A grinder is ideal for this - you save energy, physical effort and time.
- Sandpaper with grit 100-120
- Special decking oil
- Short-haired paint roller or brush
- Lint-free rags
- Paint pan for the oil
- Plastic container with water for storing oily rags
Sanding always makes sense so that the wood can absorb the oil well. In the case of smooth planed wood, sanding is particularly important, otherwise the oil cannot penetrate. After sanding, remove sanding dust with water and leave the floorboardsDry well again.
Now it's time to apply the oil. Here, too, the weather plays a role: cloudy, windless days are best so that the oil does not dry too quickly. There are different oils for different types of wood. The company osmo offers a wide range, which also sells different color nuances.
Apply the oil with a roller or brush. Work in small sections and after a few minutes, wipe off excess oil with a rag. To avoid having to work on your knees all the time, you can use a telescopic paint roller and a scrubber with a rag wrapped around it.
After 24 hours the oil is completely absorbed and dried. If light, uneven spots are visible, reapply a thin coat of oil. After another drying period, you can go back onto your terrace and set up the furniture.