deck treating

[RobAMerc]

hi,

just putting the finishing touches to the deck, but I was wondering...

A: Would fence life type product not do instead of deck oil / stain?
B: Whats the diff between stain and oil
C: Do I need to do the top and bottoms of all boards before I screw them down ?

Thanks
Rob

 

[contact23]

in no order , it would be best to do both sides of the boards as it could lead to uneven moisture penatration and anyway its good practice.
stain v oil, stain protects against uv radiation and oil will preserve wood integrity. really its in my opinion to put the best money can buy on to any wooden surface that is exposed to the elements, dont scrimp on the wood preservative as it can mean the difference of 2-3 years between recoating. so go for the the most expensive in your local large paint shop, sikkens is the king of woody paints or the next down in price should be ok.

if money is tight a good fence lifer will do, add a coat to the top, making sure to let the coats dry.

hope this helps