The Difference Between Decking Oil and Water-Based Deck Coatings

There is a clear difference between decking oils and water-based deck coatings – a decking oil works by penetrating the surface of the timber, whereas a water-based coating will form a protective film on the surface.

Why choose a timber oil?

Many traditional wood coatings work by forming a protective film to block moisture from entering the timber substrate. The finish can be stunning, with rich colour and gloss or sheen finishes available. Maintenance coats will add another film layer over the timber, which will hide the natural texture, grain and colour of the wood. Over time, weather exposure will breakdown this film and, if regular maintenance is neglected, the coating will flake, peel or crack allowing damaging moisture to enter the wood.

Most timber decking oils work by penetrating into the timber to repel moisture from the inside out and will generally take longer to dry than water-based products. This is because, instead of drying when exposed to air, like paint, timber oils ‘dry’ by penetrating and absorbing into the wood. Penetration times can vary depending on the density, condition and species of the timber as well as environmental factors. Timber oil also offers a more natural matte finish that does not mask the grain, texture and colour. Maintenance is generally easy; simply clean and recoat.

Not all oils are the same, and not all oils will penetrate deeply into timber. Water-based oils will form a film on the surface, and some timber oils will contain plant-based oils, such as linseed or tung, which are drying oils; they will soak into the surface of the timber and then harden to form a barrier. Very few oils actually penetrate deeply into the timber, as CUTEK® does.

The CUTEK® solution

Designed for and proven to work in the harshest of Australian environments, CUTEK® exterior timber oils truly penetrate and diffuse deeply into the wood core to protect it against liquid and gas-phase moisture. A core design feature of CUTEK® oil is its ability to stay mobile within the timber, actively working to displace and control moisture from the inside out, significantly improving dimensional stability and providing exceptional long-term protection. Additional maintenance coats throughout the timber’s life will have an accumulative effect, increasing the efficacy of the protection.

CUTEK® oils also celebrate timber. The natural grain and texture of the wood is maintained and highlighted, not masked over, making timber the hero of your home project. Applied as a clear oil, CUTEK® will allow your timber to naturally lighten and silver when exposed to the sun’s UV rays. If you would like to retain the natural, freshly oiled look of your timber, or you would like to alter the colour to meet design requirements, a CUTEK® Colourtone can be added to CUTEK® oils. Because CUTEK® diffuses deeply into the wood, it will continue to provide moisture protection and improve dimensional stability even if the timber is allowed to weather and grey off.  

Which CUTEK® exterior decking oil is right for your project?

CUTEK® offers two market leading solutions to protect exterior timber and decks:  

CUTEK® Extreme CD50

A high-performance penetrating oil-based wood stabiliser with a unique self-healing effect that highlights the natural beauty of wood and controls moisture to improve dimensional stability and minimise cupping, warping and splitting.

CUTEK® Wood Preservative (APVMA Approval No 83026/107340)

An oil-based wood stabiliser used for the pre-treatment and remedial treatment of exterior wood in industrial and domestic situations. CUTEK® Wood Preservative coated wood resists damage caused by fungal decay, mould, termites and controls moisture to improve dimensional stability and minimise cupping, warping and splitting.

Maintenance with CUTEK® exterior timber oils is simple, easy and cost effective. Simply clean and recoat – no need to sand or strip.

If you would like to find out more about how CUTEK® oils are the best option for your timber deck, we’d love to talk to you, your architect or builder about how CUTEK^® can be used to maintain the beauty of your timber and powerfully protect it. Call 1300 CUTEK or send us a message to find out more.

The post What is the best decking oil for your project? appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

In October 2014, US based, Professional Deck Builder Magazine completed an independent test of 22 different deck finishes on six different species of wood.  After two and a half years, CUTEK® Extreme CD50 has been listed as the first choice for wood deck finishes out of 28 popular US products.

Internationally known deck designer and builder, Kim Katwijk, conducted the trial and cited CUTEK® Extreme CD50 as best in its class due to its easy application, good colour retention, and moisture protection. Testing was conducted in Olympia, Washington where, during the rainy season, a deck can stay wet for weeks or even months.

After 9 months exposure, Katwijk named CUTEK® Extreme CD50 as one of the authors top picks in his initial findings The Great Stain Shoot-Out. It pinpointed deep penetration, no mould growth, no peels or flakers and easy application as reasons behind the ranking. In the next published findings – The Great Stain Shoot-Out: The Sequel – Katwijk highlights that even after 28 months in full exposure to the harsh elements, CUTEK® Extreme CD50 still repelled moisture with water continuing to bead on the surface of the wood. Further to this, CUTEK® received the highest mark across the three deck coating categories, marking it as Katwijk’s Top Choice:

There you have it, an independent, international timber deck finishes trial rates CUTEK® Extreme CD50 as the best choice to protect your timber and maintain a pleasing aesthetic.

Interested in trying CUTEK® Extreme CD50 for yourself? Order a free sample today!

The post CUTEK® Extreme CD50 Wins Best Wood Finish appeared first on CUTEK® Timber Protection.

Traditional wood coatings protect the timber by encapsulation – forming a film over the substrate. The build-up of pigment on the surface obscures the natural grain, variance and beauty of the timber. Initial application can look great with a gloss finish, but once it is subject to water, sunlight and abrasion the coating degrades; resulting in splitting and peeling. Moisture is then able to ingress into the timber and begin the swelling and shrinking process that damages wood.  Screw holes, uncoated ends, joints and the uncoated undersides of timber are also points of water ingress that leads to degradation. With encapsulation coatings, protection is only skin deep.

CUTEK®, on the other hand, penetrates deeply into the timber and, because of its hydrophobic nature, it repels water from the inside. This keeps the timber dimensionally stable, increasing the service life of the timber. This protection stays within the timber no matter the appearance of the surface of the wood.

To complement the protection of the timber, the CUTEK® lab has created a range of CUTEK® Colourtones, to prolong the freshly oiled look and enhance the natural beauty of the timber. This range of colours have been formulated to match many different timber species and design requirements. The pigment in CUTEK® Colourtones help delay the silvering process caused by Ultra Violet (UV) light. UV from the sun causes the lignin to photo-oxidise, creating the silvering effect. The added CUTEK® Colourtone stays on the surface of the wood absorbing UV light to delay silvering, while the CUTEK® oil penetrates into the wood, protecting it from the inside out.

In time, exposed CUTEK® Colourtones will gradually chalk off rather than splitting or peeling. This facilitates easy maintenance; a pressure clean with CUTEK® Restore or CUTEK® Quickclean and a recoat is all that is required. Rather than sanding and countersinking screw holes, punching nails, or stripping for a recoat. Maintenance with CUTEK® products is simple and rewarding. To further increase the life of the Colourtoned CUTEK®, double Colourtones can be used (e.g., 2 Colourtones per 5 litres of CUTEK® oil). This will give a more intense colour and greater UV protection.

To make sure you get the right look on your deck, make use of CUTEK®‘s free samples. This helps you get the right match for your timber. The CUTEK® support team are also on hand to talk you through any questions you may have and how different colourtones interact with different timber species (call 1300 1 CUTEK).

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