My new toy.

[Radio Fixer]

Colin I went and looked for the remains of a can of Wickes decking preservative. But I must have used it all up. Pretty sure the stuff I bought is called "Decking Seal" 170-674 and is £19.99 / 5L in the catalogue. There is also"Decking Preserver" 170-763 at £25.52 / 5L.
Both are clear although the first goes on slightly green so you can see waht you have done and then dries clear.

I'm pretty sure I would have bought the cheaper as all you can do is the top and the rot is going to happen from the underside so not to worry too much. For me, I was as much interested in keeping it from quickly getting dirty again and grip. Mine are grooved boards and it works on this and the grip newly done is surprising when wet. Against frost and ice it doesnt do much as would be expected... great care is needed.

Yep! it was tounge in cheek about scrubbing by hand... Its bloody hard work and very easy to get shoulder ache that lasts for days. So it will have to be out with the 'boys toy' before the helicopters start patrolling the skies. Everyday when I go for a walk people are out there with the pressure washers... soon it will be a "Clean Drive Area". They were daft really giving warning and should have done it more or less overnight.

Cheers Gary

[Yorkie]

I'm pretty sure I would have bought the cheaper as all you can do is the top and the rot is going to happen from the underside so not to worry too much. For me, I was as much interested in keeping it from quickly getting dirty again and grip.

As you say Gary, the main issue with decking, apart from its appearance, is ensuring that it stays safe to walk on.

As to rot, decking is very rot and insect resistant.

These days, like most outdoor timber from fencing to children's playground climbing frames etc, decking is 'tanalised'. The process involves placing the timber in the treatment cylinder and creating an initial vacuum within the timber cells. The cylinder is then flooded under vacuum with the preservative treatment, and hydraulic pressure is then applied, forcing the preservative deep into the timber cells. After a pre-determined period of pressure depending on the species of timber being treated and its eventual use, the treatment solution is pumped back into storage and a final vacuum extracts any excess treatment solution from the timber.

The preservative used – ‘Tanalith E’ – is widely used the world over, and conforms to new European Standards and individual countries' national requirements. You can tell tanalised timber from untreated timber in that it tends to have a light green tinge.

I doubt that many who lay decking appreciate that in some situations it’s subject to building regulations and planning conditions (from 2008).

Situations Requiring Planning Permission:

• Where the deck is situated within 20 metres of a highway.
• Where the deck platform is more than 300mm (1 ft) from the ground (effective 1 October 2008).
• If the structure would affect the amenity value or privacy of neighbouring properties.
• If the deck is attached to a listed building or situated in a conservation area or National Park.

Other restrictions may apply, including limitations to the overall deck area in relation to the existing property or garden area and the constraints of established building lines. For example, in England (after 1 October 2008), surfaces, including decking, are not permitted to cover more than 50% of a property's garden, though apart from that limitation, I don't think planning permission is required for ground level decking up to 300mm (1 ft) above ground.

Neighbour objections are the most usual reason for planning refusal or restrictions.

http://www.tda.org.uk/NetBuildPro/proces...tions.html

Power washing the slabs on our front drive and rear patio is on my 'to do list' and I'm pleased to say that there's to be no hosepipe ban in the neck of the woods, so it will have to wait till it comes to the top of the list, much as I enjoy doing it and don't find it a chore!

[Retired]

Hi,

We don't have a hosepipe ban Alan but usually with two days of sunshine around here they immediately start bleating about stand pipes.

Thanks for the additional information on timber Lawrence; it's all useful. I enjoy playing around with timber and get high on the smell of it when it's fresh cut. I wish hardwood wasn't so expensive as I would love to have a go at making some top end furniture from solid oak.

A number of our neighbours are just not worth bothering with Paula. One neighbour will blank me when he sees me in the garden but is quick to ring our bell to borrow something; it's funny though because if ever I need a lift with anything there is never anyone around. A couple of years ago whilst I was felling a large Scots Pine a neighbour let his four year old daughter constantly run much too near for her safety and I had to keep stopping ; this kept breaking my concentration and was dangerous to me. Whilst I was pressure washing the front of the roof this same neighbour did six trips nearby with the same daughter on a three wheeled cycle; what's the point trying to communicate with such people.

Thanks for the preservative details Gary; I took your advice but bought the dearer 170-763 today from Wickes; I hope to treat the decking tomorrow. You are so right about there being a warning of impending hosepipe ban; this is sure to generate a water shortage even if there wasn't one in the first place.

Thank you David for your detailed information into tanalizing and decking planning restrictions. The main decking was built at the same time as the bungalow in the sixties; I replaced it but also extended it so that we could gain access to the front bedroom window; the garage is below this so the window was always difficult to clean. I think the deck is around three feet high and I store things beneath it.

Every year I think I've finally done all the big jobs around home but they keep cropping up; I don't think I'll ever get on top of everything; the gardens will soon be demanding some of my time and I also plan to do some decorating this year; before I know it Santa will be here again as the years just fly by.

Kind regards, Col.

[pwdrive]

Hello Col, with some neighbours there's just no point....you can't educate pork.

Lawrence

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Lawrence; our neighbours are a very mixed bag indeed ranging from excellent to dire.

Once the milder weather arrives I never hang around but get cracking on all the exterior jobs. At the bottom of the path to the bungalow side there were two loose flags which needed attention. I laid the entire path 11 years ago so it's done very well although I did bed the flags in mortar. At the bottom it is quite hollow under the flags as this forms a soak-way for the rainwater run off from the front of the bungalow roof. When I installed the path it took a lot of thinking about getting everything just right and managing to perfectly align the flags; it was heavy work as the flags are the full size ones.

The picture shows the channel leading to the soak-way and I had to be extra careful not to contaminate this with mortar. Yesterday I removed both flags then used my new SDS drill in chisel mode to remove the old mortar before cleaning everything ready for re-laying the flags. I bedded the flags again then left them overnight for the mortar to go off.

   
Loose flags removed.

This morning I mixed a strong mortar adding granite chips then re-pointed the flags leaving them looking very neat. The mortar was allowed to set a little then it was brushed with a hand brush leaving a rough finish which to me looks much better than it being dead smooth and shiny. I then did a second trip to our local tip to once again take the rubbish which I took yesterday only to arrive just as the tip closed at 4pm.

   
Flags relaid and pointed.

Back home from the tip and I then treated the decking with Wickes Decking Preserver as kindly recommended by Gary; At first I was very alarmed as the deck soaked up the preservative with gusto and I thought I would end up having to buy more cans but I was most surprised as the 5 litres actually did the job to my great relief. As I put all the tools away our Furball inspected the decking and gave it a paws up; bless him; I just hope he doesn't lick his paws for a while.

   
Furball just after inspecting the decking.

In the sun this afternoon it was nice and warm but the breeze as I treated the decking was cold and it's now become very dull; we've had little rainfall and only a dusting of snow which is most unusual; when it did rain it was timed to annoy the most but I suppose I shouldn't complain because I'm still here to enjoy whatever the weather throws at me. Some day I might even resume work on my two lathes.

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

Well I cracked on yesterday and all decking and paving was cleaned at the rear of the house... today its the front. The 'boys toy' does make short work of it.

I have never been so far ahead in the garden: lawn scarified, all moss gone, cut and edges all done. Trellis repaired with new timber, roses prunned and now the deck / paving cleaning.

Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

Very well done Gary and it's still only the start of the year; I hope Easter turns out as well as it did last year as it was glorious weather here. It's great having toys to play with.

When we moved in the grass was waist high in our back garden not having been cut for a number of years and it is meadow hay. Over the years I've cut it using the grass box to remove the clippings and now I think I've scared it as it won't grow and if I get rid of the moss there will be soil only. I'm now letting nature take its course in the hope that if I don't cut it the grass will revive itself. A few years ago I sowed a lot of grass seed onto a large bare patch of soil and think I must have sowed upside down as not a single blade of grass appeared. With a large steeply sloping garden I'm not keen enough to dig it over to start afresh. We have so much clay that a few years ago we had a large brick manufacturer nearby. I reckon 6" of concrete would keep the weeds and moss at bay.

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

How do you find the more expensive decking sealer for non-slip Colin? Maybe it hasnt rained yet... think it will today though.

Our grass benefits from Weed and Feed but it didnt get done last year as it never rained at the right times. Has to rain before, then you get out and put it on and then rain has to be certain within the next day or so... and you musnt do it until it starts to grow, so too early yet.

Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Gary. It rained heavily on the new decking sealer a few days ago and I was pleased to see the rain sitting beaded on the sealer without penetrating the timber.

Regarding it's anti-slip qualities I'm unable to comment other than to add that slipping has never been a problem due to the boards being rough sawn; obviously in winter when frost and ice is around anything becomes dangerous underfoot. Pressure washing has also roughened the surface more whilst removing all the moss and dirt etc.

I think products sold as deck preservatives must be tested to stringent safety standards anyway given the H&S laws these days. Previously I've used preservatives that were water based whereas this Wickes preservative is spirit based meaning brushes have to be cleaned in white spirit.

Kind regards, Col.

[Radio Fixer]

I wonder if the grooved boards we have are actually more slippery, when wet, due to less surface area in contact with the shoes... And what shoes you ask? Well for outside I wear cheap blue 'bumpers', or thats what I call them. Kinda canvas top over plasticky, rubbery soles with a shallow crosshatch tread pattern that wears down. Easy to slip on and off...not allowed in with them on... well I'm too well trained now to even consider it .

I used the cheaper Decking Seal, two cans of it, which as said seems to act like surf wax and is much safer when the deck is wet although some of the non-slip maybe down to it being just cleaned... We could getting into real nerd stuff and do some extensive testing here

The boards are leathal when heavily frosted and covered in the grooves with thin snow... but here again most other hard landscaping is as well. Safer to walk on grass.

Finished the front cleaning with the rotating brush attachment which didnt pull out much sand from between the pavias. Used Ungers (marvelous from Screwfix), diluted at window cleaning strength, over it first and I reckon it helped and doesnt make too much foam unlike detergents.

Guess we have worn this one out now...

Shed building next... cheers Gary