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Cabot's aquadeck oil tin sitting on top of an oiled deck

Overview

Re-oiling your deck is an important part of any outdoor maintenance schedule, as it adds a new layer of protection to the wood, giving your deck a longer lifespan. The first signs that you may need to re-oil are deterioration, patchiness or discolouration on the edges and other areas of the timber deck. If this is the case, it’s time to pull on the safety gloves, grab your hose and oil and start coating!

 

Steps

1Gather your tools and materials

Below you'll find all the tools and materials you'll need to complete this project.

2Remove surface dirt and dust

Remove all furniture and items sitting on your deck. Sweep the surfaces to get rid of the dust and dirt.

3Clean the deck

Once you have removed any dust and dirt, hose down your deck – the surface needs to be damp prior to any application of Cabots Deck Clean. Add 1 part Cabots Deck Clean to 4 parts water in a bucket and mix well. Apply generously to the timber with a broom and scrub vigorously. Leave the solution for 10–20 minutes, but keep the timber wet – you don't want the deck cleaner to dry. Simply apply more product to maintain dampness.

After 10–20 minutes, rinse off the surface with water using a pressure washer or garden hose. Let dry before moving onto the next step. Empty your bucket of cleaner and water, as you need to use it for the oil in the next step.

4Prepare the oil

Once your deck is dry from the cleaner, it's time to prepare your decking oil. Give the Cabots Decking Oil a good stir so the colour at the top and the bottom of the can are the same. It should take roughly 30 seconds.

5Pour the oil

Once it's all combined, pour the oil into your empty bucket.

6Brush the edges

Start by dipping your paint brush in the oil and carefully coating the edges of your deck.

7Coat the deck

Once you have brushed the edges, grab the Cabots Decking Oil applicator and apply the oil coat 2–4 boards at a time, following the grain. Work along the whole length as stopping in the middle of the board may lead to patchy results. Try to work quickly, as the oil will penetrate into the timber almost immediately.

After you have coated your deck, let the oil dry – this may take up to two hours or more depending on the temperature you're working with and the type of decking oil you've got.

8Apply the second coat

We recommend a minimum of two coats to maintain durability and protection from UV exposure. Therefore, once the deck is dry, repeat the coating process. We suggest using less oil, as the wood will not absorb as much of it and it may pool on the surface and become sticky.

Let it dry again for a minimum of two hours.

9Replace your furniture

Once your deck is dry, put your furniture back and enjoy your deck once more!

10Add the finishing touch to your deck

Looking for furniture to match your good-as-new deck? Explore our range of hard-wearing outdoor furniture.

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.