The Best Decking Oils For Spotted Gum

Mixed hardwood timber deck

Spotted Gum is an Australian eucalyptus that grows on the eastern side of the country, and generally harvested in Queensland and New South Wales. They can produce a dazzling variety of colours—golden browns, caramels, russets, even grays, and an attractive wavy texture that makes them a popular (albeit expensive) choice for house decking.

If you’ve invested in a handsome spotted gum deck for your home, you’ll want to keep its glorious lustre for as long as possible, and one of the best ways is to oil it yearly with a high-quality deck oil.

In this article, we’ll explore two of the best decking oils for spotted gum.

Intergrain UltraDeck Timber Oil

Intergrain produces industry-leading timber treatment products that are recommended by many professionals, including us. Intergrain’s water-based decking oil creates a protective layer on top of the wood, shielding it from harsh weather and stomping feet. Being water-based, the oil helps to preserve and enhance the natural colour of the timber. It also dries quickly, doesn’t smell, and because it’s a high-quality product, it doesn’t peel or blister (provided it’s applied properly).

Intergrain claims that their UltraDeck product can be applied in any season, but for the best results, we recommend applying water-based oils in spring, autumn, or winter, when humidity levels and heat aren’t so extreme.

UltraDeck comes in a specific Spotted Gum colour, but if you’d prefer a different hue, you can choose natural, Merbau, or Jarrah. There’s even a cool colour visualiser on their website, which shows you the probable colour after the oil is applied.

Intergrain Nature’s Timber Oil

Intergrain’s other decking oil option is their oil-based “Nature’s Timber Oil” product, and is also great for Spotted Gum. Rather than just creating a protective layer for the wood (as with water-based products), oil-based products penetrate it deeply, saturating the cells of the timber and preventing it from drying out. Other ingredients in Nature’s Timber Oil help to repel water from the timber, as well as protect it against harsh UV light and mould.

Because oil-based products penetrate the wood deeply, they also tend to create a much richer colour than water-based products, so if you’re looking to just enhance the original colour of your Spotted Gum, you may want to choose the latter.

If you’re passionate about the environment, this product is also made from 95% sustainable ingredients, helping to reduce your carbon footprint.

Unlike with their water-based product, it’s best to apply Integrain’s Nature’s Timber Oil in hot temperatures, as this can speed up the drying process and allow you to apply another coat more quickly.

**

Enjoy this blog? You might like to read our Oiling A Deck guide, which tells you everything you need to know about oiling your deck effectively.