Some of the interesting folks that I spent some time with at the Maine Boat builders show were the guys from Teakdecking systems. I have been aware of them for some time but what I did not realise was that they have some of their own products, specifically teak decking caulking available in white, grey and black. I bought a sample of the black back to the workshop and in a day or two will make up a sample board with some teak and give it a try. It will be interesting to compare it to the Sika product that I normally use. After speaking with Neil Gibbons the project coordinator for teak decking systems, who showed me some sample panels that they made up it became apparent that unlike Sika 290 DC you do not need a primer even when using oily woods like teak, so missing out this step will speed up the application process a little.
I am also going to run some trials of their cleaner which they say is suitable for regular deck cleaning. TCP 100 is, according to the literature fully biodegradable and won't harm the environment or boat fittings and topsides. As they correctly point out many decks are loved to death, owners think that are doing the right thing by giving the decks a hard regular scrubbing with a stiff brush along the grain but all this does is drag out the softer material between the hader annual rings in the wood leaving ridges and a rough deck.
Decks should always be scrubbed across the grain with a fairly soft brush using plenty of seawater.
I plan to give the cleaner a trial tomorrow so I I'll take some pictures and let you some before and after shots. Incidentally there is also another cleaner called TCL 200 which is meant for a deeper clean so I might try to get hold of some of that and give that a go too. I have some very dirty teak which has been weathering outside for a couple of years which I can try it on.
Very Interesting. Love this website!
Posted by: wooden decks cape town | June 19, 2009 at 08:17 AM