Oiling A Timber Deck | Protect And Enhance Your Outdoor Space

Decks are popular in Australian homes because they perfectly complement the great Australian outdoor lifestyle. With our warm climate and love for outdoor entertaining, decks provide a comfortable space to dine, relax, and socialise. Decks also add value to homes and create a seamless indoor/outdoor living experience. Oiling your deck is essential to preserve its beauty and extend its lifespan. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to oil a deck and some of the benefits of coating a deck.

Oiling a deck – The benefits

One of the main reasons to oil or coat your deck regularly is to shield it from Australia’s harsh climate. Regularly coating deeply penetrates the timber, replenishing its natural oils to strengthen and nourish the wood. It forms a waterproof barrier against rain and protects against intense UV exposure. This can help with fading, cracking, and weathering. This not only boosts durability against foot traffic but also revives the timber’s natural colour and highlights its grain, restoring your deck’s beauty while ensuring it lasts for years to come.

Should I use a stain or a decking oil?

Choosing between a stain and decking oil depends on your desired finish and protection level. Decking oil penetrates deeply to nourish and protect timber while enhancing its natural look. Stains offer more colour options and UV protection, but sit more on the surface. Both improve durability—your choice comes down to appearance and maintenance.

How often should I oil my deck?

For best results, we recommend oiling your deck every 12 to 24 months to maintain its appearance and durability. However, consider reapplying every three to six months for maximum protection against Australia’s harsh weather. Hiring a professional ensures your timber deck is expertly treated and protected, preserving its value and longevity.

Oil staining a deck – Getting started

If you’ve recently installed a new timber deck, it might be tempting to oil it immediately to enhance its colour and shine. However, it’s important to wait before applying any decking oil. Most new decks need time to weather—typically 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the timber type. Sometimes, timber may need to weather for up to two or three months before it’s ready for coating.

Weathering allows natural oils and tannins in the timber to leach out through exposure to sun and rain. This helps prepare the surface for better oil penetration and adhesion. Applying oil too early can result in a poor finish or cause the coating to peel or flake.

Choosing the right decking oil

Choosing the right decking oil is essential to protect and enhance your timber deck. Key factors to consider include how well the oil penetrates the wood grain, its resistance to flaking or peeling, and its final finish.

There are two main types of decking oil: water-based and oil-based. Water-based options dry faster and are easier to clean up, while oil-based options often provide deeper penetration and a richer finish. Many high-quality decking oils are formulated with UV blockers to protect your deck from sun damage. Most are also mould and fungus-resistant, making them ideal for Australia’s harsh outdoor conditions.

Merbau and Spotted Gum are two of the most common types of timber used in decks. Here are the best oils to use for each of them. (For more details, check out our guide to the best decking oil.)

The best decking oil for Merbau

Water-based treatments

Water-based treatments add a natural tint to the decking, instead of darkening it. They can be a bit more expensive than oil-based treatments, costing between $136 to $360 for a 10L can.

Two high-quality water-based treatments are Intergrain’s UltraDeck Timber Oil, which provides a guarantee against flaking, blistering, and peeling. This oil also works really well with Jarrah.

Image from Intergrain

Our other recommendation is Sikkens’ Cetol BLX-Pro, which is non-toxic so a great option for young families.

Image from Inspirations Paint

Oil-based treatments

Oil-based treatments penetrate deeply into the wood, and darken its natural colour. They’re a little cheaper than water-based treatments, costing between $109 to $300 for a 10L can.

Image from Tenaru

Two great oil-based treatments are Sikkens’ Cetol HLSE, which is a good choice for humid climates such as Queensland’s. The other is Intergrain’s Nature’s Timber Oil, which is completely sustainable, and very long-lasting.

Image from Intergrain

For more information, check out our article on The Absolute Best Decking Oil for Merbau.

The best decking oil for Spotted Gum

Spotted Gum can produce a dazzling array of colours, making it a popular choice for house decking.

Here are our two top choices for water-based and oil-based treatments.

Water-based treatment

Intergrain’s UltraDeck Timber Oil is one of the best water-based treatments for Spotted Gum. It’s recommended by many professionals, as it provides extreme protection against harsh weather and heavy foot traffic. It also dries quickly, and doesn’t smell.

Oil-based treatments

As with the Merbau, one of the best oil-based treatments is Intergrain’s Nature’s Timber Oil, which creates a strong protective layer for the wood, and saturates every cell of the timber to prevent it from drying out.

What are the drying times for decking oil?

On average, decking oil takes about four hours to dry. But this differs from brand to brand, so you’ll need to check the instructions on your tin to get an accurate idea.

The term “dry” is also a little misleading when it comes to decking oil, because it can technically take a week or longer, and varies depending on the weather. What people usually mean by “dry” is how quickly you can walk on the timber, which is the definition we’ve used in our drying table below. If you haven’t purchased an oil yet, and you want to learn about the drying times for some common brands, here they are:

How to oil a deck

Oiling a new deck is a fairly straightforward process, but it can be time-consuming. First, you need to prepare your deck:

1. Check the weather forecast—you need dry conditions to ensure the oil penetrates the timber for an even coat.
2. Remove all furniture, plants, and other items from your deck, then sweep it thoroughly.
3. Use sugar soap and warm water to clean off the dust and dirt—a stiff decking bristle brush is ideal. Rinse with a hose and allow to dry.
4. For a deeper clean, some flooring manufacturers will recommend an appropriate cleaning solution that will strip the old oil from the wood.
5. If there is mould on the deck, use bleach (check with your timber supplier for the right type) on the whole surface to remove the mould from the timber. Rinse off the bleach with a hose and allow the deck to dry.
6. Once the timber is clean and dry, it’s time to add the oil.
7. Choose an oil that will highlight the timber’s natural grain, colour, and texture. A quality oil to consider for your deck is one that is easy to coat, repels water, resists mould and fungus, and offers UV protection so the timber can’t be damaged by the sun. Decide whether to use a brush application or pad application.
8. Once your deck has dried, lightly sand it to make it nice and smooth, and then vacuum or sweep away the dust.

Then, it’s time to start the oiling process:

1. Once your timber deck is prepped, it’s time to apply the oil. Stir the oil thoroughly before application. Read the instructions on the tin to get an indication of the drying time and how long you have to wait between applications.
2. To apply the oil, run the pad or brush as far along a single board as you can without touching any of the other boards. Do one row at a time, and once one row is done, move across the rest of the deck. For an even penetration, don’t rush it! Use long, continuous strokes to apply an even coat to each board.
3. Once the first coat has been applied, wait as per the instructions on when the next coat can be applied. The second time, less oil will need to be added as the timber won’t absorb as much oil. Too much oil can make the deck surface sticky and gluggy. Have a rag and some turps ready to clean any spills; the turps help thin out the oil.
4. After the second coat, leave the deck to dry. Depending on the weather, furniture can be placed on the deck after a day or two.

Timber deck maintenance – Re-oiling a deck

Once your timber deck has been oiled, you should oil and seal it regularly every six to twelve months to ensure its longevity and keep it looking its best, regardless of the season!

Need more advice on how to oil a deck? Get in touch with the experts at Brisbane’s Finest Floors on 0411 220 488.