decking

lettie

hi please can some one give me some advice. got to do my own D I Y feeling sorry for myself. going to re vanish my decking, do i sand it first or is it ok to just put more vanish on top. thank you in advance.

jennifernil

Depends on the condition of the existing finish. If it is flaking off then you need to remove it. We have just done ours, but that was the first time as it is only 18 months old. Are you sure it is varnish that is on it? We were advised to use decking oil, it penetrates and waterproofs better. Looks really nice now. We just cleaned it first then applied 2 coats.

lettie

sorry yes its decking oil and no its not flaking, only had one coat last year and looking not to good at the moment,

jennifernil

If it is a bit dirty then you need to clean it first. There are special products you can use, or you can sand it or , as we did, use a pressure washer. I asked the firm who built our deck and they said a pressure washer was ideal.

alanobrien

jennifernil wrote:

If it is a bit dirty then you need to clean it first. There are special products you can use, or you can sand it or , as we did, use a pressure washer. I asked the firm who built our deck and they said a pressure washer was ideal.

If you dont have a pressure washer diluted bleach and a stiff brush works just as well in my experience.