The timber needs proper preparation before finishing with a heavy-duty product that will withstand ongoing exposure.

Common reasons for peeling:

• The deck wasn’t properly prepared; poor preparation can stop the oil from penetrating and means that it fails to protect the wood.
• The wrong type of stain or sealer was used; a heavy duty exterior deck oil is required to withstand exposure to the elements.
• An inferior quality decking stain was used.
• Too much stain was applied, or the coats were too thick and not allowed to dry between applications.

How to fix and prevent future peeling

In just 3 steps you’ll have the job done and ensure that your timber deck is protected for years to come.

1. Remove the weathered, peeling layers

The first step is to remove all traces of the peeling deck coating and take the timber back to bare wood by stripping or sanding it.

After stripping or sanding the wood, CUTEK® Wood Stripper will remove the final traces of its previous coating.

Depending on the state of the wood, it may be possible to use CUTEK® Wood Stripper without sanding.

Tip: As you scrape the wood, reset any nails or screws that stick out from the surface.

2. Clean and rinse the wood

Once stripped, the wood will need a good restoring scrub. CUTEK® Restore restoration agent will remove the residue from the stripping process. Once applied, a power rinse with a high-pressure washer will be necessary.

Tip: Use a lower setting to avoid damaging the wood fibre.

3. Seal the wood

The final step is to finish with two coats of a hard wearing timber deck oil that will excel in the most challenging of environments, such as CUTEK® Extreme CD50. Each coat must be applied evenly with brush, paintpad or roller.

When using a CUTEK® Colourtone, it is essential that the oil is stirred frequently and applied in thin coats. The wood must feel completely dry and non-greasy before application of the second coat.

Tip: After stripping and cleaning the wood, apply the finish as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary exposure to the elements.

The CUTEK® difference

Treating timber upon installation can prevent the occurrence of peeling deck stain. CUTEK® oil penetrates the timber to protect it from the inside out. Where other coatings envelope the wood, CUTEK® Extreme CD50 deeply diffuses into the timber. It lasts longer in tougher climates and won’t peel like other products.

Contact us for more advice on how to seal wood utilising CUTEK®’s wood finishing range.

The post Why is my deck stain peeling? How to fix and prevent it appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

The following steps break down the process of salvaging the wood and address some of the issues that might present themselves.

1. Remove nails and metal objects

Reclaimed wood often contains old nails, hooks and other metal objects. These can be hazardous to work with, especially if power tools are going to be used on the wood.

All nails or tacks need removing to ensure a smooth finish and practical use.

2. How to strip paint or remove unwanted varnish

Much reclaimed wood will have been coated with varnish or paint in its past life. CUTEK® Wood Stripper will remove all traces of unwanted paint or varnish from the timber prior to cleaning.

If the coating is particularly thick, the wood may need sanding down before CUTEK® Wood Stripper is applied.

3. Clean and dry the timber

A thorough wash with CUTEK® Restore will provide a deep cleanse to ensure removal of all dirt and dust that has accumulated over time. If the wood has been exposed to excessive moisture, any traces of mould and mildew will also be removed.

After cleaning, ensure that the wood is given enough time to dry thoroughly on suitable racks or drying frames.

Avoid letting the boards bake for too long in harsh heat because the sun can cause them to eventually bow or curl.

4. Address imperfections

Reclaimed wood often comes with minor staining and imperfections, this can add to the charm of the salvaged timber. Any unwanted marks can be sanded or oiled as part of the finishing process.

5. Finish the timber

To protect the salvaged wood and achieve a desired look, it can be finished with a deck stain and sealer. Choose a finishing oil and Colourtone to suit your other décor.

CUTEK® Extreme CD50 is a high performing wood stabiliser that offers protection from the elements and resists water from the inside out.

Using salvaged wood in home improvement projects is not without its challenges. However, it can be an extremely satisfying environmental choice that results in the creation of unique statement floors.

The post How to salvage reclaimed wood flooring appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

Broken down into simple steps, the job can be much easier to approach.

Step 1: Choose the best paint stripper for wood

CUTEK® Wood Stripper is a powerful and DIY-freindly paint remover for wood.

The product removes paint fast and offers a safe, low-odour alternative to other paint strippers that use dangerous chemicals such as methylene chloride or NMP.

Step 2: Test the paint remover

Patch testing is a step that is often overlooked. It is vital to work out how long the paint stripper needs to be left on the timber and how much will be required to complete the job. The product guidelines will assist with planning for intended coverage.

Step 3: Assemble equipment

In order to do a thorough job, the right tools are required. These include a good quality paint brush, drop sheets or masking materials, a clean paint pot, pressure cleaner or paint scraper. It might also be useful to use a lamb’s wool applicator and paint tray for large areas, such as a timber deck.

Step 4: Application

Apply paint removal product evenly with a brush to dry wood, rubbing into the grain. Keep the area wet by applying more.

With CUTEK® Wood Stripper, the reaction time is approximately 30-60 minutes.

When the paint begins to strip cleanly off the timber, the surface is ready for rinsing. Testing at regular intervals will help to determine when this point is reached.

Step 5: Removal of paint stripper

Once the paint is stripping cleanly off the timber it needs to be power rinsed off thoroughly. For best results, power rinse with a high-pressure washer set to under 750 psi, with a fan jet pattern to avoid damage to the wood fibre.

Top tip: NEVER use ‘turbojets’ on timber.

Next steps

Following use of paint stripper for wood, it is important to complete the restoration process by coating the timber with an appropriate CUTEK® wood protection oil.

CUTEK® Restore will do a thorough job of deep cleaning the timber before treating with oil.

Failure to treat stripped wood with CUTEK® oils will result in the weathering process occurring more rapidly than it took prior to exposing the timber.

Follow these simple steps when stripping unwanted paint from wood to ensure effective removal without damaging the timber.

Talk to us to discuss how CUTEK®‘s range of products can help you to fulfil your next restoration project.

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