Always, stir the contents of the tin thoroughly, at least for a couple of minutes before applying. This ensures that colour pigments and other important ingredients of the product are well distributed and not concentrated at the bottom of the tin. The finished surface is influenced by several factors, including the condition of the wood. Therefore, a trial application is always required, especially for unfamiliar surfaces.

Oils often come in natural colours or clear, and enhance the natural appearance of your wood,' explains Jimmy Englezos, senior product manager at Sherwin-Williams. If the finish is an oil it should have soaked into the surface of the wood and will naturally wear away over time, it will not peel and flake unless it has been over applied.Oils can not be removed with a stripper, some lift will come from using a pressure washer, but take care not to hold the nozzle too close to the woods surface as this will damage and splinter the wood. It would need a little bit of experimentation first to get the right result, it may be that you only require a very small amount of the coloured oil added to the clear, it is vital to thoroughly mix them together. So small ratio measures first and tests on your wood, until you get the desired result and then you are able to mix up a larger quantity in the same ratio to complete the project. This will help you to control the colour a bit more for getting the lighter result.

Its a bit of a battle to maintain the natural colour of these types of woods I am afraid, they will just naturally silver and for many people this is the desired result. It is a balancing act to get the best for the wood, protection or colour. I am sorry for the delay in response, it is a super busy time here at Wood Finishes Direct. A stain or paint is a surface sealer and is likely to, over time, peel and flake, if the treatment appears to be lifting it is likely that this is the finish you have and this can be removed with a pressure washer or stripper product such as the Paint Panther Paint and Varnish Remover When you start adding a little colour, the factor increases, so a light or natural oak for example will bring you up to a 20 – 30 factor and then a dark oak, rosewood, or dark brown will bring you up to a factor 50. This is the best way to maintain the natural colour of the wood over time, but of course if you don’t want to add colour then a clear oil with UV stabalisers will require annual top up. If it doesn't bead, you'll be ready to put on the oil. If it does then you'll have to clean it again until the water stops beading. It’s designed to penetrate deep into the wood to replace the natural oils lost over time through weathering, and to offer deep-seated protection against splitting and drying, while the tinted oil brings out the colour in greyed wood for a fresh look.

Resinous wood, such as Larch or Douglas Fir, needs to weather off for at least 6 weeks to improve absorbency. Pressure impregnated wood and tropical species like Massaranduba, Bangkirai, Garapa, Iroko need to weather off for at least 3 months. Cedar requires a 3 month weathering period to improve absorbency. Also oiled finishes although dry and ready to use after 24 – 48 hours continue to cure and get more durable for days and weeks following application. Covering will prevent the natural curing process from occurring and this is one of the reasons we do not recommend putting rugs over and oiled floor for the first month. Balau: 12 weeks exposure. 006 Bangkirai is optically suitable and a very popular choice of colour tone.Thoroughly clean or lightly sand old microporous stains or completely remove old varnishes before application. If any sanding works are carried out some fresh wood species must be weathered as directed above to improve absorbency once more. Sanding to finishing grades of no more than a P120 grit are recommended. Always wear a dust mask when sanding. Staining can provide more colour options than oiling, but it can be more difficult to maintain and may require more frequent refinishing. However, oiling is often easier to maintain and when using a clear finish will offer a more natural look. In addition, oiling may not provide as much colour variety in comparison to staining. Due to their surface properties, ribbed or grooved as well as rough (sawn) wood surfaces absorb more product per square metre than smooth surfaces.

We recommend using the clear version, as it delivers a beautifully natural finish. The same can't quite be said about the teak colour, as it's a little orange. Many wood species contain water-soluble coloured extractives ( eg Larch ) which may leach out naturally when weathered. Weathered, bare wood surfaces can be refreshed with Osmo Wood Reviver Power-gel. This depends on your home's exterior and the colours and tones in your garden. Avoid anything jarring, and look to either complement or contrast with your walls and fences. For longevity, you can't beat the natural silvery grey patina of oak or warm hues of cedar. Natural timber tones tend to work well anywhere.After the weathering period, it is generally recommended to clean the surface from the extractive content. Osmo Wood Reviver Power-Gel can be used to refresh the colour of the wood. If necessary and before application, de-grease the dried surface with Osmo Brush Cleaner and Thinner (degreaser), always trial apply! Bare wood species with a high content of natural wood extractives need to weather off (min. 4 weeks) before the initial treatment or be cleaned with Osmo Brush Cleaner and Thinner (degreaser). An oil soaks into the surface of the wood and will wear away over time. A stain, paint or varnish is a surface sealer and over time could peel and flake, exposing bare wood underneath. Paint, stains or varnishes can be removed with a stripper such as Paint Panther Paint and Varnish Remover. Oils unfortunately can not and if you can’t wait for them to wear away naturally the you can use a pressure washer to remove much of it, care must be taken not to damage the wood however.

Oil is also really durable and is easy to maintain – you just need to keep it clean and touch it up every now and then. It’s very resistant to dirt and water so doesn’t require much upkeep at all.' Ipe: 6-8 weeks exposure. 006 Bangkirai is optically suitable and a very popular choice of colour tone. For the following wood types, a weathering period is recommended. Depending on wood species, new or freshly sanded wood requires up to 12 weeks (approximate) exposure to the exterior elements before application.

Autumn Decking Maintenance

Always do a test area before starting any project to assess product suitability and final finish. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on the tin. If possible, and if the wood is absorbent please apply the first coat to all sides before installation. My advice would be to leave the floor treatment free as you are putting vinyl down. As it is an internal area preservative are not really recommended or required. Its not wise to apply an oil and then cover it with any floor covering the wood does not require protection. Stir the contents of the tin thoroughly before and periodically during use and especially so with coloured oils