How to maintain outdoor timber railing?

[Siver]

Hi All, 

I have started a bit of research on how to maintain our outdoor timber pieces like the deck and railing. Attached are some images which show the material. I think the decking is ekodeck which according to their website just needs annual clean with hot water and soap. But I am not sure about the railing. Can you please advise what is the correct way of maintaining these railing timbers: paint, oil, stain or sealant or combination? 

Thanks heaps

Siver

[JacobZ]

Hi @Siver,

You are correct that Ekodeck requires no maintenance beyond cleaning. As it is a composite decking product, made of a combination of plastic and wood pulp, there is no need for oiling.

If the paint has fully sealed the timber, then they should be fine with just a pressure clean every year or so. Exterior paint will generally last for a minimum of 10 years and can, in the right circumstances, last much longer. 

It is worth touching up the paint on your railings every now and then, but they don't look too bad from the photo provided. 

If you had any particular areas of concern, could you take some photos so I can assist further?

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[Siver]

Thanks for the detailed response, JacobZ. Much appreciated! Can I also ask your advice on how to maintain my indoor flooring? Does these meed any regular oiling

 

or staining?

[EricL]

Hello @Siver 

It is a different situation in regards to interior flooring. because it is technically protected from harsh weather and sunlight it does not need to be oiled or stained that often. Sweeping and mopping the floor is enough maintenance to keep it in good form. The occasional use of Long Life 1L Self Shining Floor Polish to give it a bit of a shine is also recommended. The only time the floor needs a proper revamp is when the finish starts to fade, and you have sections that are starting to look very dull and worn away despite using floor polish. It's an indicator that the timber sealer has finally reached its end of service life and needs to be stripped and resealed. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Siver]

Thanks Eric!

Just wondering I can use the same product you suggested for my wooden kitchen & bathrooms cupboards or do you suggest any other product for that?

Also do you have any product suggestion for timber outdoor furnitures?

Thanks a lot!

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Siver,

That really depends on what your kitchen and bathroom cupboards are coated with. Typically, they would have a polyurethane coating that generally doesn't need maintenance unless it is quite old and deteriorating.

Once again, the outdoor furniture could have a varnish or oil coating. If you can show us some images, we might be able to identify the coating and provide advice on maintaining it. If it's a varnish, only a light cleaning is sufficient unless it starts deteriorating. If it's an oil, and it's beginning to fade, you can use exterior furniture oil to rejuvenate it.

Here's a helpful guide: How to renew your timber outdoor setting.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[Siver]

Thanks Mitchell!

Attached are images of the kitchen/bathroom cupboard, it doesn't look like polyurethane coating, but honestly I'm not sure. 

I also attached a photo of my outdoor furniture, they have no oil or paint on them . 

 

 

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Siver,

You could certainly add outdoor furniture oil to add a layer of protection. Just do a test section first in an inconspicuous location to check you are happy with the effect. The oil, by nature, will darken the timber slightly.

For the cabinetry, unless this is new bare timber, a moisture-resistant coating should be applied to it, which is typically varnish. Normally, you wouldn't have to do any maintenance on that.

Mitchell