You have an array of choices with your newly installed deck. Since you’ve chosen a superior quality hardwood, you can opt to leave it alone, letting it age to become a fine silver color. Or you can finish it off with a treatment which will keep it looking as fresh as the day you purchased the lumber by giving it a finishing touch.
We recommend taking it to the next notch by applying a finish to this new outdoor space and Timbertown Austin has a recommendation. A product that’s as good as the lumber you purchased.
Sikkens Finishes
More choices. Take a look at this chart of products coming from Sikkens. We’ll give you a step-by-step in just a few. First we wanted to present this breakdown of possible solutions to use:
Why This Product?
The answer, other than it’s just plain good is because we at Timbertown Austin like the company’s credo:
“We are committed to sustainability and in 2007, we firmly embedded our sustainability management system in our business cycles and had it reviewed by an external auditor. This played a big part in making us one of the top leaders in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. By 2007, over 80 percent of our suppliers of raw materials had signed our Vendor Policy – covering over $4 billion of product-related spending. This policy deals with relevant environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. We’ve also set up a program of visits to key suppliers to encourage dialog on ESG benefits and build better partnerships.”
Getting Down to Business
Applying this sealant is relatively uncomplicated. What’s say we take it blow-by-blow?
- Here’s where you’ll need to apply some elbow grease. First, make the surface totally smooth with some sandpaper. For those who have waited a month-or-so after installation, you’re doing this to get rid of any dirt, splinters or raised grain.
- Now that you’ve completed the prep, grab a stiff brush if there’s any mold present (which there shouldn’t be since the hardwood you got from us is extremely moisture and mold resistant) scrub it down with a wire brush.
- You want to slap this stuff down on a day where there’s low humidity in the air. Hit the surface, knot holes and ends with any of the Cetol products listed above. This is a taste thing. Most are translucent, while one is semi-transparent. Pick one.
- Let it dry for at least 24-hours. Oh, and make sure you clean your brush. You’ll be using it again.
- Hopefully, the next day is also below 80% on the humidity side. Some of the product is a one-coat affair.
- But if you’d like to give it a second skin, let it dry for a day then reapply.
That’s it. Wait another day or two, then move all of the furniture and whatever other accessories to the deck. You may have to repeat this in a year. Just ask us what’s recommended. We’ll recommend the next time you’ll go through this process.
Original Source: http://timbertownaustin.com/product-profiles/how-to-apply-sikkens-finishes
