Protect your deck by preparing it correctly and selecting the right coating.
New Spotted Gum Deck after prep wash then after 3 coats of Aqualis H2Oil Timber finish Colour-Finish Natural-Matt
Beachlife Floors has over 15 years of experience in sanding, coating and protecting timber decks on the Gold Coast.
Every day we use our experience to help our customers make the right coating choices.
Beachlife Floors have no ties to any deck coating manufacturer or product, we use the deck coatings that give our clients the best results.
We hear horror stories all the time, from customers who have just had a new deck built for them.
Typically it started when they received bad advice initially and now they hate their new deck.
When building a deck, mistakes can be expensive so you need to get it right from the get go.
Three requirements to having years of satisfaction with a timber deck on the Gold Coast:
- Prepare the deck according to the coating requirements
- Choose the correct coating
- Apply the coating as directed by the product manufacturer
Deck restoration complete, the owner loved the Aqualis H2Oil finish and readily agreed to an ongoing yearly deck maintenance program.
Deck restoration complete and allowed to go silver grey. was achieved with CUTEK® Wood Preservative, a deck coating that penetrates deep into the timber decking, protecting it from the inside out. CUTEK® provides excellent protection for your timber decking with an amazing natural look and feel.
When it comes to coating decks there are no silver bullets, all coatings have their own pros and cons but having said that, not all deck coatings are born equal.
Choosing the right deck coating for your timber deck comes down to your aesthetic preferences as well as environmental factors.
We will use our years of experience to help guide you through your timber deck coating decisions.
A quick overview of a couple of our favourite Australian deck protection manufacturers.
CUTEK
Beachlife Floors believe CUTEK® Wood Preservative and CUTEK® Extreme CD50 provide exceptional protection for your Timber Deck, especially if your deck is exposed to the elements.
Almost all problems associated with timber decking are caused by exposure to moisture. This includes issues such as cupping, warping, splitting and shrinking. Watch the short video below it gives a great explanation on how CUTEK protect your deck differently to other products.
Cutek is owned and manufactured in QLD Australia.
AQUALIS
Aqualis H2Oil Timber is a self priming timber finish that penetrates into the timber and forms a topical layer of protection.
Over the years, Aqualis H2Oil has shown very good durability in our harsh environmeny and we have found it’s performance to be well above the other water based coatings.
Aqualis H2Oil not only looks great when first applied, with regular ongoing maintenance, it will keep on looking great for years to come.
Aqualis H2Oil is Beachlife Floors No. 1 choice for a water based deck coating.
Aqualis H2Oil is Australian owned and manufactured.
Other good deck coating manufacturers we use include:
FAQ
What happens if I don't seal, coat or protect my timber deck?
Moisture (water) happens!
When there is no protection from moisture, the decking timber will continually go through a cycle of absorbing moisture when it is wet and expelling moisture when it is dry.
The continual expansion and contraction caused by the absorption and expulsion of moisture will cause the timber decking boards to swell, split, cup, warp and shrink. This will cause problems with the looks, feel and longevity of your timber deck.
What is the best timber stain for my deck?
It would be a brave timber coating technician to state that this or that is definitively the best product to protect your timber deck with.
All we can do is give our opinion based on our 15 years experience of restoring and protecting timber decks in the Gold Coast’s unique environment.
We use Cutek OR Aqualis H2Oil on the majority of decks we coated, we are open to using other coatings if we feel they will meet the customers requirements. Both products are Australian owned and manufactured
We are proud to be a results based business and have no contractual ties or receive any incentives to be loyal to any one brand. We are listed as a preferred applicator on the Aqualis and Cutek websites but this does not imply any association with them other than they recommend us.
What is the difference between CUTEK Oil and other water based coatings?
Water based coatings form a hard protective barrier on the deck to prevent the ingress of moisture into the timber decking. This barrier will have to be maintained with a regular ongoing maintenance program.
CUTEK provides a novel approach to protect your timber decking by penetrating deep into the substrate of the boards; the timber decking is protected from the inside out, without the need of a hard barrier on the surface.
How often do I need to recoat my timber deck?
That depends on a few factors including what coating you have used on your deck and whether the deck has more or less exposure to sun and rain.
Here’s a rough guide from our experience.
- Decks coated with traditional deck oils can need recoating every 4 months if they have heavy exposure to the elements.
- Water based deck stains and coastings will need restaining every 12 months if they have been exposed without cover, to a typical year of Gold Coast weather conditions.
- If you have used Cutek oils on a deck that has heavy exposure to wind, sun and rain, we recommend the first recoat at 12 months then every 18 to 24 months thereafter.
These are not fixed rules, just a guide we work by. We recognise that every deck is different and maintenance should be done earlier if deemed necessary, nothing good will come from neglecting your deck maintenance.
Why do Cutek products require less ongoing maintenance than typical water based timber deck coatings?
Water based deck coatings form a hard topical barrier to prevent the ingress of moisture into the timber decking. When this barrier gets even a small hole in it, moisture can enter the wood.
This is unavoidable when a deck is in regular use and happens from either wear and tear over time or damage from scratching through the protective barrier.
For this reason, when a deck is coated with a water based stain / coating we recommend a regular ongoing maintenance program to keep the barrier intact.
Cutek products on the other hand, soak deeply into the timber which actively protects the wood from within.
Cutek oils don’t form an exterior barrier, the oil remains within the timber
.
Every time we recoat the deck with Cutek oils there is a cumulative effect which gives exceptional long-term protection and which greatly extends the service life of the timber deck.
What makes timber decking split, cup , warp and bow?
Almost all problems associated with exterior timber decking are caused by exposure to moisture. This includes issues such as cupping, warping, splitting, swelling, and shrinking, which are all a result of moisture movement within the timber decking.
Understanding the behaviour of moisture in wood is crucial; wood absorbs moisture from the air or direct contact with water, leading to expansion, and releases moisture when the air is dry, resulting in contraction. This continuous cycle of absorption and release, if not controlled, can severely compromise the structural integrity and aesthetic appearance of timber decking.
CUTEK® Wood Preservative
- Beachlife Floors specialises in silver grey decking using CUTEK® Wood Preservative.
- Moisture exposure causes problems in timber decking.
- Traditional coatings form a barrier to prevent moisture ingress.
- CUTEK penetrates the wood, offering protection from the inside out.
- Regular maintenance is necessary to preserve the coating’s integrity.
- CUTEK allows the wood to naturally age and develop a grey patina.
- CUTEK’s protection is cumulative and extends the deck’s service life.
- CUTEK’s effectiveness is demonstrated through a comparison of coated and uncoated timber.
How to maintain your timber deck?
We always suggest a scheduled maintenance program to keep the decking looking and feeling sensational.
Also:
- Regular vacuum or hose down then wipe dry with a towel around your feet.
Product Review
Almost all problems associated with timber decking are caused by exposure to moisture. This includes issues such as:
- Cupping
- Warping
- Splitting
- Shrinking.