FAQ's
Flooring |
Interior |
Decking |
Exterior |
FLOORING
Preparation
My timber floor is currently coated with a very worn polyurethane, possibly a two-pack, varnish. I'd much prefer the look you get with Tung Oil coatings. Can I simply apply a Tung Oil product over the top?
Unfortunately not. If you are unsure of the nature of the existing coating the only safe way to approach the redecoration of your floor is to sand it back to bare timber. Whether it's a single or two-pack polyurethane it will probably be too hard for anything to adhere to. The most convenient way is to hire a drum sander for the bulk of the floor and an edge sander to get close up to the skirting boards. The procedure to follow is quite a complicated one, so you may like to ring us on the Cabot's freephone advice line 1800 011 006 and go through the details with one of our consultants. Alternatively, you could get a professional floor sander to do the job for you.
Application
Do I have to use Cabot's CFP Plus (Highwear Additive) in all the coats that I apply to my floor, or can I just put it in the final coat?
Yes, you should add CFP Plus to every coat you apply. If you were only to add the CFP Plus to the final coat you would be applying a harder coat on top of a softer one. The result of this can be that the coating crinkles, blisters, or simply loses adhesion. By adding CFP Plus to all coats, ensuring that each coat has the same hardness, the coating you build up will dry and wear evenly.
Protection
Can ordinary varnish be used on wooden flooring?
Due to the amount of wear and tear a wooden floor is subjected to, it is necessary to use a floor varnish, such as Cabot's CFP or Cabot's Floorseal. Flooring products are designed to be tougher and more hardwearing than ordinary varnishes in order to withstand the demands placed upon them.
My timber floor looks dull. It has a polyurethane on it, but it's starting to show some wear. Do I have to have the whole thing redone?
Not necessarily. Depending upon how worn the polyurethane coating has become you may be able to simply apply a coat of Cabot's Hi-Gloss Floor Polish over the top. This is a water based polish suitable for sealed cork, parquetry and timber floors. It dries quickly and is easy to apply. All you need to do is to make sure the floor is clean and dry, then using a mop apply a thin coat of the polish and leave it to dry to a hard gloss.
INTERIOR
Preparation
What's the best way to remove a polyurethane varnish?
To some extent it depends upon where you are trying to remove the varnish from. On floors it is easiest to use a drum sander for the majority of the area and then an edge sander around the edges. On other large, flat surfaces belt or orbital sanders may be the best way to go. Of course, there is always the option to hand sand, but that's hard work, so only to be recommended when all else fails. For more awkwardly shaped areas a paint or varnish stripper may be the only practical option. Really the choice is yours, but there are two things to bare in mind. Sanding makes lots of dust, which needs to be cleaned up before you can go on, and strippers contain chemicals which need to be treated carefully and properly disposed of.
Application
How can I get a glossy finish when the can says "Satin"?
Most woodstains and varnishes are relatively thin and over time the flatting agents may settle out into fairly solid layers on the bottom of the can. Applying an incompletely stirred mid sheen product often results in a high gloss coating on the timber as a large proportion of the flatting agents are left at the base of the container. To achieve the specified sheen level all of these flatting agents must be distributed evenly throughout the can. You must, therefore, stir the product before and during use.
What is the "spreading rate" and why is it important?
The "spreading rate" for a product is our recommendation to enable you to get the optimum lifetime from the product you are applying. Every wood coating has its' own ideal spreading rate at which it should be applied. This gives a coating of the optimum thickness to cover and protect the substrate, whilst hiding the grain to the specified degree (opaque, semi-transparent, transparent etc). If the film thickness is too low the coating will look thin and unfinished and will fail earlier than it should.
Protection
Is there a varnish available which lightens the colour of wood?
No. To lighten the colour, all previous coatings must be removed. Only a darker colour may be achieved by overcoating.
Is varnish safe - particularly where children play.
Quality varnishes are considered to be products of low hazard and are therefore safe to use where children play. Orica Woodcare products are manufactured without the use of lead driers, so you do not need to worry about children chewing toys coated with Orica Woodcare interior products.
The polyurethane I've used on my dining table is taking a really long time to dry. Why?
The drying of any woodstain or clear coating will vary considerably with temperature and humidity. The colder or more humid it is, the longer the coating will take to dry. Too warm and the coating will dry before you can apply it properly. Always try to apply coatings when temperatures are between 10 and 30 degrees C and the relative humidity is around 50%. You should not apply a coating if the temperature is likely to drop below 10 degrees C within the next four hours. If you do you are likely to come across problems such as low gloss, haziness, dirt pick up, poor durability or even the coating being washed off.
DECKING
Preparation
My timber decks have gone grey, I suppose there's no alternative but to paint them now?
No, you can revive the natural colour of the wood by using a wood cleaner and brightener such as Cabot's Deck Clean. A product designed to be diluted, scrubbed onto the surface, left to stand and then rinsed off. Not only will it rejuvenate the colour of the timber, but will help to remove the dead grey fibres and any mould, algae, mildew and tannin staining. Once dry you can then apply a semi-transparent decking product such as Cabot's Decking Oil or Decking Stain.
Should I clean my new deck prior to staining?
It is a common misconception that new wood does not need to be washed prior to staining, and that clear water alone is sufficient to remove surface contamination. In fact, all wood whether new or aged, needs to be thoroughly cleaned before the application of any product. It is common for a low level of microscopic mildew spores, invisible to the naked eye, to exist on wood surfaces alongside all the dirt, grease and oils that settle out of the air. When these spores are stained or painted over, the right conditions can be created for them to begin to spread and cause problems. The only way to successfully kill these spores is by using a cleaner such as Cabot's Deck Clean to remove the surface dirt and mould, and then a further treatment with a 5% solution of household bleach which will kill any mould spores remaining within the grain of the timber. Care must be taken to ensure that both the Deck Clean and bleach solution are thoroughly rinsed away, and the timber dry before a coating is applied.
Application
What is back brushing and when would I need to do it?
When applying a product with an applicator, roller or spraying it may be necessary to work over the surface while the coating is still wet using a paint brush. This ensures that the stain penetrates deeper into the surface breaking any surface tension effect which may have developed during application. It is also a good method to remove excess product and to reduce overlap marks.
Protection
How do I know when to use Decking Oil and when to use Decking Stain?
You should use Cabot's Decking Oil on timber that still retains most of it's original colour. The naturally pigmented Decking Oil will enhance this natural colour and highlight the characteristics of the timber, while the enriching oil will protect it from cracking. Decking Oil is available in a range of shades designed for use on the most popular decking timbers, namely Merbau, Treated Pine, Jarrah, Cypress/Tallowwood as well as an All Purpose Natural shade suitable for all timber types. Cabot's Decking Stain is more pigmented than Decking Oil and is the product to use when you wish to change the colour of your deck, or to bring colour back to an old grey deck. It is suitable for use on all timber types and dries to a semi-transparent matt finish that enhances the natural beauty of the wood grain. It is available in a range of nine timber colours.
Recoating
Can Cabot's Aquadeck be applied to a deck previously coated with Cabot's Natural Decking Oil?
The answer is "Yes", but a little bit of preparation may be required first. Where a deck has been previously coated with a conventional oil, such as Cabot's Natural Decking Oil, you must first check that the surface has lost its water repellency. All that's required is a simple water spray test. Droplets of water are sprayed or sprinkles onto the surface. If the water "beads" on the surface, it is still water repellent and further weathering or sanding is required. If the water soaks into the surface, the repellency has gone and you can prepare to apply Cabot's Aquadeck. Simply clean the surface with Cabot's Deck Clean to remove the dirt and extractives an then apply Aquadeck following the instructions and spreading rate as detailed on the can.
EXTERIOR
Preparation
I need to redo the outside of my window frames and have noticed that some of them appear quite grey and a bit mouldy. How should I prepare them?
The grey areas are loose, dead timber fibres where the weather has started to affect the timber as a result of the coating breaking down and they need to be removed. A timber cleaner, suck as Cabot's Deck Clean, is ideal for these situations. The first thing to do however, is to sand off what remains of the existing coating. Next, after diluting the Deck Clean as instructed by the label, scrub it into the grain of the timber making sure that you can get to all areas of the frame, paying particular attention to the joints. Leave to stand for the specified time period, before hosing down to rinse off all of the surface mould, dirt and Deck Clean residue. If the mould was particularly severe, or you want to be doubly sure to kill any mould spores remaining within the timber grain, a further treatment with a 5% solution of household bleach which will do the trick. Care must be taken to ensure that both the Deck Clean and bleach solution are thoroughly rinsed away, and the timber dry before a coating is applied. Once the timber is dry you can apply a new coating. We would recommend either Cabot's Exterior Varnish Stain or Exterior Clear depending on the type of finish you require.
Application
I bought 2 cans of Cabot's Timber Shades and when I used them on my weatherboards they came out differently. Why should this happen when they were both Light Cedar?
Ideally you should have mixed the two cans together before applying them to the weatherboards. Blending the two would have avoided any colour difference. There could be two explanations to the variation you observed. Cabot's Timber Shades is a semi-transparent coating and timber is a notoriously variable substrate. The very transparency of the coating means that any variation in colour of the timber graining will influence the final colour of the coating. In addition to variations in the base colour of the timber Timber Shades is a relatively thin product and over time the pigments that make up the colour will settle out. These pigments, usually combinations of red oxide, ochre and carbon black, will become compacted into a fairly solid layer over time. To achieve the specified colour all of the pigment must be distributed evenly throughout the can. Hence our can instructions to stir thoroughly before and during application which often involves scraping the bottom of the can to ensure that everything has been moved.
Protection
Does Treated Pine need any protection?
Treated Pine is normal Radiata Pine that has been pressure-treated to resist decay, termites and fungi. The treatment involves saturating the timber so it is essential to leave treated pine to dry properly before applying a coating. While it will remain in good structural condition for many years, the initial green colour will fade and the surface will become grey over time. Coatings are applied to Treated Pine to give the desired appearance rather than to prolong the lifetime of the timber.
I have built a pergola in Oregon and would now like to know what to use to protect and preserve it?
There are a number of products you can use, depending upon the look that you want. Cabot's Timber Shades is a semi-transparent, penetrating stain that allows the natural grain and texture of the timber to show through whilst providing lasting protection against the effects of weathering. Cabot's Aquadeck, although most commonly used on decks is also suitable for pergolas and porches. Not only does it highlight the natural beauty of your timber and extend its lifetime, but it is also environmentally friendly and quick drying which allows you to complete the whole job in one day. If you wish for an opaque finish Cabot's Timbercolour is an oil enriched acrylic paint developed specifically for preserving and protecting exterior timbers, including pergolas, decking, weatherboards and outdoor furniture. It is formulated to protect against wood staining fungi and algae.
How long will a woodstain last?
This will depend on the type of woodstain used, how well the surface was prepared and the number of coats applied as well as the degree of exposure to the elements. It is important to note that horizontal surfaces (where standing water can occur) will need to be recoated more often than vertical surfaces.
Staining
I have recently noticed a brown discolouration appearing along one side of my timber home. I have Western Red Cedar weatherboards. What is causing this to occur and is there anything that I can do to remove it?
You are experiencing tannic acid bleed. Tannins are a water-soluble, reddish-brown discolouration caused by the effects of moisture and sunlight on red or dark coloured species of timber. While aesthetically displeasing this discolouration does not harm the timber or the coating. Extractive bleed is not paint or stain failure. When extractive discolouration occurs, tannins are dissolved by moisture and are then drawn to the surface by the sunlight. When extractives do appear, they can be removed by using Cabot's Clear Deck.
