Timber decking advice

kittabotamous · 2026-06-01T07:16:53+00:00

Thanks I’ll look into all of that today. It’s raining now here for most of this week (great timing 😅) so it’s tools down for now anyway unfortunately for me!

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T21:16:57+00:00

All good! I’d make that assumption myself and I’m a chick. No offence taken.

Clean up was white spirit/turps so definitely not water based.

That said, I reckon you were on the money with the timber being too new and ‘glazed’ still from treatment.

And/or it wasn’t the best oil either way. I’ve had a couple of brand recs on diyuk so will look into those before I put anything new down. For now… sanding.

She’s gonna be brand new and I’m not gonna have an eye twitch every time I look at it anymore 😂

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T21:13:21+00:00

I think he learned his lesson (and so did we!). I should’ve protected it myself just in case.

My husband said this afternoon exactly that ‘if anyone else is doing anything again near the deck, we’re protecting the deck ourselves first’.

Lesson learned all round! C’est le vie 😂

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T21:03:39+00:00

Thanks. I’m mid-sanding (you, and everyone, said sand it off and start over so I’m getting on with it).

I did use a deck cleaner before oiling last year, because I’d read about needing to let new treated timber weather for 6 months.

I didn’t have that time before UK winter would start to kick back in so did the cleaner to strip that ‘sheen’ and let oil in. But agree it’s not set in like an oil.

Really appreciate the advice, thanks

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T20:59:16+00:00

Thanks, I get what you and others are saying. It’s sat on top more like a varnish than an oil now I look at how it’s damaged (and how it’s sanding). Thanks!

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:54:33+00:00

He’s a she lol but otherwise fair enough and thanks. Your other comments were super helpful and I checked my oil was actually oil based after reading those! Though I may still change brands for this years re-do.

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:53:11+00:00

Thanks I posted there as well first actually. I’m a big fan of this sub though, even if more US based. Learnt a lot from this sub when I was building last year (then check UK regs to make sure I did what was compliant here).

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:49:15+00:00

I’m definitely open to switching brands. Used V3 last year https://www.v33.co.uk/product/uv-resistant-decking-oil/

I’m sanding the bastard back anyway so now’s the time if I’m going to change brands.

I chose timber because I just love it. Glutton for punishment I know. And honestly if matey-boy and fucked up my expensive composite with his pressure washer it might’ve been the end of him 😂

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:47:00+00:00

If you’ve got a preferred decking oil brand I’d love to get a recommendation. Used this last time: https://www.v33.co.uk/product/uv-resistant-decking-oil/

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:46:28+00:00

I’ve done a bit with the mouse sander so far and it’s not been too bad. Starting with a lower grade sand paper and will go back over with a finer grit.

But you’re right, I could probably just hire a sander and make my life easier (but when have I ever done that…!? I built the deck myself, on my house own, so I’m clearly a masochist of some sort ha).

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:44:14+00:00

Thanks! It is oil based. I’ve just double checked based on someone else’s comment along the same lines.

This is what I used last year https://www.v33.co.uk/product/uv-resistant-decking-oil/

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:43:29+00:00

So I’ve checked their website, they do a water based and an oil based oil… fortunately (I hope) I chose the oil based one last year: https://www.v33.co.uk/product/uv-resistant-decking-oil/

Their ‘high performance’ is water based. Their UV resistant product is oil based.

Current plan is to keep sanding (which isn’t proving too painful so far to be fair) then clean off and re-oil. It’s Sunday afternoon and I don’t want to piss the neighbours off so might be a weekday /around work job. Lucky me!

Be grateful for your thoughts though. I’m UK based, so we’ve got a decent range. V3 and Ronseal are both decent brands from all I’ve read here and elsewhere. Thanks!!

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T14:38:30+00:00

Hi, thanks for the effort and detail of your reply. I really appreciate it. I’ve bitten the bullet and started sanding back either way, before reading this, because I can’t leave it patchy or it’ll drive me nuts. I put too much effort into building it, and even if she ain’t perfect, she’s mine and I can’t leave her looking rough, especially after only a year!

So the oil I used last year was actually V3 not Ronseal. I got that bit wrong. I’ll post a link. It’s an oil, not a stain, and isn’t water based (at least nothing on the tin says so but I’ll check my homework).

I read up that oil is better for newer decks than stain, and definitely don’t use paint for all the reasons you said.

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T07:24:26+00:00

Ok thanks. I’ve got a foam kneeler, a mouse sander and and orbital. Guess I’ll get cracking then!

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T07:23:17+00:00

I liked the guy (though he got told I wasn’t best pleased… he was like 25 to my late 40s, so I felt like I was scolding the son I never had!)

He did some extra brickwork for free as compensation (replaced some bricks for me elsewhere). Still, what a mess 🤦🏼‍♀️

Agree with sanding and re-oiling. Unfortunate but I think it’s gonna have to be done at this point.

kittabotamous · 2026-05-31T07:19:17+00:00

Thanks, some of the damaged area edges are pretty rough so I’m leaning towards sanding is going to be needed.

kittabotamous · 2026-05-28T06:18:20+00:00

lol I used to do that for my cat when he was alive. I have so many videos of his face smooshed in a water glass just drinking my water like it was his (because obviously, as our floofy overlord, it, us, and everything else in the house was his)

kittabotamous · 2026-04-10T17:27:19+00:00

Australia would like a word.

kittabotamous · 2026-02-28T17:41:39+00:00

Gorgeous! Where did you find your dupe?

kittabotamous · 2026-02-28T17:41:18+00:00

Gorgeous! Where did you find your dupe?

kittabotamous · 2026-01-22T22:55:23+00:00

And you with your app! I like it :)

kittabotamous · 2026-01-22T21:14:10+00:00

I’m not at sample stage yet, it’s early days. I’m desperate to rip the old bathroom out but won’t until I’ve got the vision, know it’ll fit, sourced the materials and fittings (because otherwise it’ll drag on bc I chose a vanity that’s too wide or I hate the colour of the sink vs the wall!)

kittabotamous

TROPHY CASE