oil/diesel mix vs. Thompson's® WaterSeal for house deck

[Larry Caldwell]

Thanks for your input, So, any idea how long will it smell? a week, a month, a year?

It depends on what oil you use. The diesel will evaporate in 6 weeks or so. You might go with deodorized kereosene to keep the odor down. Ifyou use motor oil, it will never dry. Vegetable oils will turn rancid and stink. Boiled linseed will dry fairly fast. Have you thought about spar varnish?

 

[California]

... Have you thought about spar varnish?

I thought spar varnish never really hardens, so its not recommended for a walking surface. No?

I can tell you what doesn't work! Home Depot's Behr latex deck stain, at least what they were selling a few years ago. On new, dry Redwood decking, it was notably worn off after a year. At year 2 we sanded the entire deck and refinished. Same result. Even very low traffic areas are bare now.

And not tested by me but Consumer Reports ranked Thompson Water Seal way down among the deck finishes they compared.

 

[jyoutz]

I thought spar varnish never really hardens, so its not recommended for a walking surface. No?

I can tell you what doesn't work! Home Depot's Behr latex deck stain, at least what they were selling a few years ago. On new, dry Redwood decking, it was notably worn off after a year. At year 2 we sanded the entire deck and refinished. Same result. Even very low traffic areas are bare now.

And not tested by me but Consumer Reports ranked Thompson Water Seal way down among the deck finishes they compared.

I would look for an opaque oil based stain from a good paint company. Not latex stain.

Edit: the difference is that oil based stains penetrate into the wood, while latex just coats the surface and is easily chipped or scraped off.

 

[Bocephous]

I use Thompson's on my deck, but not the white/red label stuff. The stuff I use has a white/green label and does a really good job, much better than their other stuff. I think I paid about $17/gallon recently from Walmart. Apply it on a hot, sunny day and the wood sucks it right in. Half of the deck on my house is original from 1986 and there is no rot.

Alternately, I had the deck on my garage stained with a solid stain after it was built in 2012. Much of that pressure treated 1X6 decking is now rotten.

Robot or human?

 

[2515R Dude]

OK, here is the deal, four days ago i took 50% of used transmission hydraulic oil which i have at least 5 gallons from my last oil change. It is very clean and transparent and 50% diesel. actually 5oz of each and very liberally applied it on one of the boards i have left from this deck. Actually i just poured it on the board and spread it with my hand.
The mixture sucked in like it was a sponge unlike Thompson's sealant. I did it three times one after another. After 2 minutes the board felt absolutely dry with very nice grain showing. I left it on direct sunlight.

1st day The smell was really strong, i could smell it at least 10 feet away.
2nd day afternoon. Still smelly but much less, i could feel it only from 3 feet away.
3rd day. Virtually no smell. I could feel it only when i get my nose close like 10 or less inches. I called my wife which does not like smell of gasoline nor diesel. She felt same thing, about 10 inches.
4th day. Checked at 5PM. 4 days in direct sunlight made the trick. I cannot feel any smell at all and the board feels dry as a bone.

Tomorrow i'll make a "life test", i'll put same mixture in 3-4 places on my deck where there is no chance of tracking even tho we never go in to the house with outside shoes and far, so i don't feel any odor in case there is some.

 

[California]

four days ago i took 50% of used transmission oil and 50% diesel.

I should try this.

UTF or automotive AT fluid?

I expect the latter might smell burned.

 

[2515R Dude]

I should try this.

UTF or automotive AT fluid?

I expect the latter might smell burned.

Sorry, i misspoke (where did i recently hear it???LOL) it is hydraulic fluid.

 

[EddieWalker]

Interesting results. I'm curious how it holds up over time.

 

[ArlyA]

I think Thompson's products are poor in general.

 

[super55]

I have use motor oil on sheds and trailer decking. I wouldn't use it by my house.
TWP makes a good oil based stain.

Sorry but Thompsons water seal and things like boiled linseed oil are really crappy outdoor stains.

TWP is one of the only stains I will use because it's oil based. I have a log home and it is all I will use on the house and decks. Initially used sikkens but it sealed too well and then the finish would crack and eventually mildew behind it. This SRD while the finish doesn't last as long or as glossy there is zero prep. You lay it down and the wood will just absorb it.