I had a new merbau deck put in 6 months ago. Finally got around to sanding and oiling.
The deck is looking rather "grey" and has a combination of some nail heads sticking out, and some recessed into the wood.
a) Should I be using a nail punch to put down all the nails level to the wood?
b) Should I be using putty to fill in the gaps left by the nails? (I've tried using Intergrain's Merbau putty, and it comes up horible once oiled with Intergrain's Natural Oil ~ the colour of the wood once oiled is different from the putty and it really stands out!)
Sanding the deck as is, appears to polish the nails that are protruding.
Using putty does not appear to blend well colour-wise one the timber is oiled
Holes left by recessed nails (nail gun was used) are black looking tannin stains?
Help!! What should I do??
2007-07-05 00:37:29 · 6 answers · asked by Cadbury C 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
What are "unplated nails"? How can you tell?
I remember seeing a few nails, and they have this kind of thread down the length of them.
The deck was built by some young-ish contracter, who did seem a bit inexperienced.
Claimed that the protruding nails could not be made to sit flush with the deck, since hitting them with a hammer tended to 'bruise' the timber.
The idea of oiling first sounds good. I had some impression that the putty wasn't absorbing the oil as well as the timber.. meh
What should I do about the protruding nails that tend to get polished during sanding?
2007-07-06 03:10:43 · update #1
use a nail set to sink all protruding nails then shop for a putty
that matches the color of the deck after you oiled it. it doesn't have to be the merbau product. if you can not find a putty to match try "water putty" mixed with stain or pigment..mix a small amt & let dry to be sure of the color...keep track of the formula
unfortunately you will have to dig out the unmatched putty and redo
2007-07-12 15:10:05 · answer #1 · answered by paulj2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best Decking Oil Merbau
2016-12-11 16:35:05 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the nails sound like a ringshank type. The hold rail good but are commonly used on siding. they can be painted or stained. Its not recommended for decks because there not galvanized and the water will surround them no matter the stain process and they will fail. did he use a nail gun or hand drives. Did his estimate specify the fasteners. I always use exterior deck screws, not the gold cheap ones. in any project hired out, check for specs. if there isnt any make sure you do it for them. if there was no written contract, hard lesson learned.
2007-07-09 16:24:18 · answer #3 · answered by fixitall123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should have used deck screws instead of nails, it would have been easier to countersink them. anyway, I would suggest using the oil FIRST, then filling in the holes with putty. the putty is absorbing more of the stain than the wood.
2007-07-05 01:45:42 · answer #4 · answered by forjj 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most deck nails should be alumin nails not plated. Plated nail are only good in weather for say couple years at most, then they show rust.
Best thing for you to do is like you ask. Set nails down with nail set first then do the rest.
2007-07-12 06:12:19 · answer #5 · answered by jjnsao 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The nails should not have been unplated they can and will rust stain Who did the job if not yourself you should have a claim it does not appear to have been done right ~~
2007-07-05 00:47:24 · answer #6 · answered by burning brightly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a?
2007-07-05 00:42:12 · answer #7 · answered by xen13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋