When to oil a Merbau deck?

[MickyB]

I am about to renew an existing deck with pre-oiled Merbau.  My process is to affix the new decking and then to wash off with water to help get rid of excess tanins.

My question is, what type of oil do I / Can I use to stop further Tannin release, and, also at what time frame do I oil it after this process? 1 week, 6 weeks, 12 weeks etc?

I dont want to use an oil remover as that will negate the pre oiled timber. Any suggestions please.

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @MickyB. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about oiling decking.

When installing a new Merbau deck, part of the process is stripping the tannins, which can prevent your decking from properly absorbing the oil. The oil currently on the deck is mainly for transportation and to protect the underside, but it won't be sufficient for long-term protection.

You can either wait about eight weeks for the tannins to naturally leach out, or you can speed up the process by stripping the tannins now. This will allow the timber to absorb oil more effectively and provide better protection. To do this, I recommend using Cabot's New Timber Prep to remove the tannins, which will give the decking a better foundation for oiling.

After this, you can apply your oil. I suggest using something similar to Cabots 4L Aquadeck Natural Exterior Decking Oil. This will help protect the wood from weathering and UV damage. Generally, it's best to oil the deck once the tannins have been removed, depending on the weather conditions and drying time.

Here's a helpful guide: How to oil your deck.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell