Balcony Decking
Decking, like other wood products, can have what is called mill glaze. This is when the blades cutting and shaping the boards seal the cells of the wood. This may not allow stain to penetrate the cells of the wood, so the stain will only sit on the surface. To help your decking last longer we strongly recommend cutting the decking to size, sanding all four sides (top, bottom and sides) with 80 grit paper, sealing the boards including the beveled cut ends and then installing the new boards.
Any piece of wood, especially on the exterior can check (check = crack, the exterior and interior of the wood absorbing moisture and drying at different rates). Keeping up with sealing the decking as needed will help reduce checking of the deck.
The deck beams are generally 8’ on center, but there have been bays at 8’6”. Before ordering, please verify the length of each section. Each deck board should be nailed with a horizontal 8” nail within 3-4” of each end of each board and about 3’ O.C. throughout the deck. Place a butyl based tape over the beams, then a painted aluminum beam cap, another layer of tape thenthe decking (tape and flashing not supplied by Deck House).
Customer quote about Sikkens: “We just finished sanding and staining the huge lower level of the deck off our kitchen; upper level we did last Fall. Can’t say enough about Sikkens Cetol SRD, the professional version. Demanding prep but then you’re home free.”
