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

[2515R Dude]

Partial results: the first board i covered with this mix is 7+ days "old". I cannot detect any odor of diesel or hydraulic oil. Also it is dry to the touch. I tried with paper towel to see if it would leave some marks on it - nothing i could see. The towel come out clean, so no potential to track it to the house.
I'll leave it outside for the winter to see how it holds against rain and snow.

Meanwhile i used some of this mix on the deck in 5-6 different places. Currently after 3 days no odor can be detected while standing close by and no oily/dirty spots on a paper towel.

Probably ppl have different results because they use used motor oil which is much dirtier than the hydraulic i'm using. I dont know, but my results are really promising

 

[ponytug]

@2515R Dude thanks for the update and the experimental results!

All the best,

Peter

 

[John0829]

Thanks for experimenting, I have used used motor oil and diesel on trailer decks for ages and after about a week I no longer notice any smell or greasy, oily residue. I do know that the Thompson's I have used on a couple of decks has been a massive failure making repairs necessary while the trailer decks still are in great shape.

 

[2515R Dude]

Thanks for experimenting, I have used used motor oil and diesel on trailer decks for ages and after about a week I no longer notice any smell or greasy, oily residue. I do know that the Thompson's I have used on a couple of decks has been a massive failure making repairs necessary while the trailer decks still are in great shape.

How often did you have to redo your trailer decks after initial treatment?

 

[John0829]

I try to re-treat every other year. The deck on my current trailer and on the trailers I sold were/are as good as the day they were bought. Other than a golden color and a few equipment gouges still as solid as it was on day one. I have plenty of waste oil, it is an easy way to get rid of some of it and it is cheaper than a new deck, especially if it sits outside in the weather.

 

[speedtre]

I'll leave it outside for the winter to see how it holds against rain and snow.

So how did it hold up this winter?

 

[2515R Dude]

So how did it hold up this winter?

The samples held very well, but the deck i haven't done yet. We have too rainy spring and so far summer. I understand, in order to get good results the wood needs to be as dry as possible. So, waiting for the mother nature to change it's mind. So far we haven't had 3 not rainy days in the row. I'd like to have at least a week.

 

[5030]

I do use the oil/diesel mix at my cabin on all the places I don't have composite decking or Hardy board siding. This is foundation beams and one set of stairs I made during construction. The one set of stairs is my kind of test to see just how well it works. The stairs have been their for 10 years with nothing more than this mix and there is no degradation. I also use it at the ranch on fence posts. It's amazing just how well it works.

The smell lasts a couple of days. It depends on how much diesel was used. I tend to put more oil in than diesel.

Now the big "However". I would not use it one a deck. There are better products that work better for this application as you want something that dries. Go to Sherwin Williams and get some super deck. It's the best stuff on the market and it will last a good 3 years before needed to be applied again.

Thompsons water seal is trash...as you know.

This year I gave up on annual deck treatment and had our contractor re-deck the decks (ours and the 3 rentals) with synthetic composit decking, Trex. It ain't cheap but no more pressure washing and sealing. Structures are still .40 retention but the boards, railings and steps are Trex.

 

[JeepHead]

This year I gave up on annual deck treatment and had our contractor re-deck the decks (ours and the 3 rentals) with synthetic composit decking, Trex. It ain't cheap but no more pressure washing and sealing. Structures are still .40 retention but the boards, railings and steps are Trex.

You will still need to pressure wash that Trex, especially in MI.

 

[5030]

You will still need to pressure wash that Trex, especially in MI.

I agree but that is it and no after treatment. My renters can wash theirs if they so desire. I like the Trex better anyway as it don't get slick when it rains and the contractor used stainless fasteners as well. IMO, decks are generally a PITA.

 

[JeepHead]

I agree but that is it and no after treatment. My renters can wash theirs if they so desire. I like the Trex better anyway as it don't get slick when it rains and the contractor used stainless fasteners as well. IMO, decks are generally a PITA.

I have washed and stained hundreds of decks. I have seen good trex and cheap trex. It is easier to wash than wood, though.. Best decks IMO are aluminum but they're pretty costly.

 

[2515R Dude]

I thought about it, but my deck is only 5 years old and spend north of $15K is kinda painful. If it looks good enough for 1.5-2 years, i'd be OK. So far it looks ugly only 6 month after cleaning.
I actually dont mind pressure washing and re-applying every year if it holds this long. Does not take much afford.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I have done tons of research on this topic over the years, and it is the consensus that prep is key. Even with that information, products readily available to the home owner do not last on horizontal applications. If they say 3 -5, for me, it lasts maybe 2. I can understand the pro on here not revealing details, as he has a business to maintain.
I'm done with power washing (yes, correctly) using chemicals, sanding, timing for weather (hot sun or rain) and all the other prep. I went with composite (Barrette) at our new home. It gets sun morning, noon and night. 4 years in, only issue is railing mitered corners and very slightly warped. On the hottest of days, I can walk barefoot or even lay down on it. Getting too old/tired to do maintenance on structures...

 

[Smokeydog]

A section of our deck is uncovered and exposed. Rain, woods everything likes to turn green and rot.

Been experimenting, retired chemical engineer and Scottish tightwad. Buy gallon of miss colored, oil based, solid, top quality stain discounted at Lowe’s. Usually brown or cedar colored. Exposed section of deck always different color than the covered parts. $48 reduced to $14. Mix with quart of undiluted antifreeze (best anti fungal and wood penetrant) , quart of boiled linseed oil, packet of mold killer for paint, 1/2cup of non-nano powdered zinc. Mix well, garden sprayer applied and back brush in. Covers about 12’x14’ section. Lasts two to three years of heavy daily traffic. Last year did underneath that section deck too. Carpenter bees find that section of deck top choice and don’t like stain coating.

Most people can’t get decks to last 10years around here. 17 years on this one and hope for 20 more.

Looked an aluminum decking but didn’t pick. 10X$ and hadn’t seen that product used. See lot of advantages. Don’t like outside wood steps or wood railing at all. Have 26’ steel ramp and 100’ of steel railing.

 

[RayIN]

Wood experts agree, pressure-washing wood greatly shortens it's lifespan. It also drives dirt and grime into the wood. A standard water hose and a long-handled scrub brush is best.
I've found clear concrete sealer lasts a long time on weather-exposed wood, even though most is not gasoline resistant.

The only thing I treat with oil is fence posts, that's where my used oil goes, and old oil filters drain, plus it leaves the posts a nice flat black color. By my figures it makes a wood post last 10yrs+ longer.

 

[2515R Dude]

If i built the deck now, i'd definitely go with a composite, but i bought the house 4 years ago with the new deck.
The main factor is the sun. I have a little portion where it is under the roof, The wood still looks new.

The oil diesel option is virtually free. I have three 5 gallon of clean hydraulic fluid (free) and will need 10-15 gallons of diesel $30-45. One hour of pressure washing, and 2-3 times of 15 minutes of spraying.

If it works, great, if it doesn't, oh well, it wouldn't be worst than the $200-300 useless Tomson's sealant. Then i'll try the above trick.

 

[BackRoad]

Instead of used motor oil, has anyone ever substituted used hydraulic fluid and mix it with diesel?

 

[John0829]

I have used a bit of everything over the years, used motor oil, hydraulic oil, ATF. Last fall I mixed ATF and diesel to treat the fence around our solar panels. If it is an oil, used oil, chances are I have mixed it with diesel and put it on wood.