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Hi what shall I use now to finish off my Merbau timber screen after the weathering has finished?
Hello @Effie09
I suggest visiting your local store and having a look at the decking oil finish displays. There you'll see the different stains and colours available to you. If you wish to darken the current finish of the Merbau a decking stain is what you're after. However, if you are happy with the current colour of the panels you can use a natural decking oil. Please just keep in mind that the timber will slightly darken as it will absorb the oil into its pores. It will be just like when timber gets wet, its surface appearance will change.
If you are curious as to how it will look on your panel, I suggest bringing in some offcuts of your Merbau timber and asking the paint specialist to put on some stains on the panel. You'll then be able to see in real-time what it will look like once you start oiling the Merbau.
Just like decking, your panels will need to be scrubbed and cleaned before you put on the oil or stain. Please remember that the timber feature wall must be completely dry before you start applying the decking oil.
Here are some handy step-by-step guides:
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
Hi @EricL
Thank you for the information.
By staining it with oil will this stop it from running every time it rains? This is what I’m most concerned about as I am happy with colour of the timber.
Hello @Effie09
Just make sure to read the drying time at the back of the can, I would postpone any tiling activities until the stain or oil has fully settled. I would probably give it at least a week just to be sure that it is totally dry. There could be some residual staining, but it will not be as bad as when you first put on the Merbau panels.
You can place builder's plastic under the Merbau panels for a few weeks if you wish to have peace of mind that your floor is safe from staining.
If you need further assistance, please let us know,
Eric
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