How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking
Extend the life of teak decking and protect your investment with regular cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. The ultimate decking choice is teak because of its durability, anti-slip properties, rot resistance, and insulation, and, of course, its beauty. To maximize its value, clean it properly; lightly sand it once each year; and inspect for potential repairs. A properly maintained deck can last 5 to 15 years longer than one that is poorly maintained.
CLEAN FREQUENTLY … and CAREFULLY
FACT: There are cleaning methods that will sustain a teak deck and ones that will destroy it.
Teak is best cleaned with a soft-bristled brush using fresh or saltwater, and a single-part cleaner, such as the proprietary ECO Cleaners from Teakdecking Systems. These products are MARPOL and Florida Clean Marina certified, to help prevent water pollution.
Proper Cleaning Methods
- Wash deck with a single-part cleaner (Teakdecking Systems ECO cleaners) and a soft-bristled brush or scrubbing pad like Scotch-Brite Maroon pad or equivalent, and rinse well. If a single-part cleaner is not available, use dishwashing liquids such as Dawn with a small amount of bleach. Boat soap is okay to use, too, but it has a low pH so it’s important to rinse well.
- ALWAYS scrub AGAINST the grain lightly with the soft-bristled brush or scrubbing pad.
- Wash often to keep residue from becoming ingrained in the wood.
- Clean spills immediately to prevent damage to the teak.
NOTE: Rinsing often with salt water is recommended too. Many boat owners believe this is the best way to maintain and preserve teak, minimizing the use of cleaning agents.
IMPORTANT: Only use soft-bristled brushes or a scrubbing pad. A hard-bristled brush will wear away the softwood and shorten the life of the deck.
Improper Cleaning Methods
Teak is comprised of hard and soft wood. The growth rings of a teak tree form the dark hardwood, and the wood between these rings is the softwood. Therefore, when softwood is destroyed, deep ridges and uneven surfaces are created. Ridges trap debris, mold, and residues.
If a deck has proper care, a tight-grained marine deck constructed of vertical-grain teak will last longer because there is less softwood.
The following products DESTROY the softwood and should never be used for cleaning:
- Power-washers
- Two-part cleaners (highly-acidic)
- Stiff-bristle brushes
CAUTION: Overly aggressive cleaning has the potential to damage the deck too. So, clean gently ONLY when needed.
PERFORM ANNUAL LIGHT SAND-OUT to EXTEND DECK LIFE
In addition to proper cleaning, perform an annual light sand-out (best performed by a highly experienced carpenter). A well-done sand-out will remove a thin layer of teak refreshing the surface and make it smooth. The teak’s natural oil is brought back to the surface. Further, the silver patina that naturally develops is removed with a light sand-out. This restores the teak to its original golden color should the owner prefer this look, but a grayed deck offers protection of the wood. Note, a gray deck may be cleaned and its color will not change.
As stated previously, the softwood naturally wears away faster. So, sand-outs keep the surface smooth, minimizing residue build-up in rough surfaces where softwood is worn.
A proper sand-out removes a thin layer of teak (and caulking) evenly,. The skilled carpenter commonly starts with 60 grit and finishes with 80-100 grit, using a dustless sander such as a Festool branded product.
To ensure success, only hire very skilled technicians with quality equipment to perform this task. Seek out professionals who have strong references. (Ask local boatyards for recommendations.) A skilled technician reduces the risk of an uneven sand-out or potential gouges in the wood. Teak is an expensive investment and a bad sand-out will unnecessarily reduce its useful life. Uneven surfaces can create low areas where water can accumulate.
IMPORTANT: Cleaning regularly will minimize the need for sanding.
INSPECT AND REPAIR CAULKING
Inspect decks for loose caulking or gaps. Look for missing or detached caulking which could allow water penetration. If no failures are visible, wet the deck. As the deck dries, look for areas that may stay wet longer than the surrounding teak. This is where failures may exist.
Repair missing or detached caulking immediately to prevent damage.
Remove and re-caulk cracked or hardened caulking. Caulking must be flexible to allow the deck to expand and contract.
TIPS TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF TEAK DECKING
- Store boats under cover when possible
- Bows and swim platforms often experience the most weather damage and require more maintenance, so protect these areas if possible
- Create and adhere to a regular cleaning and maintenance program
- Make repairs immediately
Enjoy the beauty and functionality of a teak deck, and contact us with questions about how to extend the life of teak decking or read these articles:
How to Assess Teak Decking Quality
How to Inspect Teak Deck Caulking and Seams
CONTACT US
941-756-0600 and press “1”
yacht.services@teakdecking.com
care for teak deck, clean teak deck, ECO Cleaners, extend life of teak deck, teak cleaners, teak deck care, teak decking, teak decking care, teak sand out, Teakdecking Systems
How to Clean Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
[…] How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking […]
Best 10 how to clean teak wood on a boat - charlesadvisors.com
[…] Quote from the source: … […]
how to clean a teak deck
[…] https://teakdecking.com/how-to-extend-the-life-of-teak-decking/ […]
how long i have to wait to take tadalafil after antifugal
how long i have to wait to take tadalafil after antifugal
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
help writing a descriptive essay
help writing a descriptive essay
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
college essay proofreading service
college essay proofreading service
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
custom writing essays services
custom writing essays services
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
custom essay meister review
custom essay meister review
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
college essay help online
college essay help online
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
top essay writing service
top essay writing service
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
mba admission essay writing service
mba admission essay writing service
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
cheap custom essays online
cheap custom essays online
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
will someone write my essay for me
will someone write my essay for me
How to Extend the Life of Teak Decking — Teakdecking Systems
alprazolam online pharmacy no prescription
alprazolam online pharmacy no prescription
alprazolam online pharmacy no prescription
tadora 20 mg tadalafil 20mg
tadora 20 mg tadalafil 20mg
tadora 20 mg tadalafil 20mg
where to buy sildenafil uk
where to buy sildenafil uk
where to buy sildenafil uk
where can i get cialis
where can i get cialis
where can i get cialis
where can you buy generic viagra
where can you buy generic viagra
where can you buy generic viagra
viagra 100mg price in india online
viagra 100mg price in india online
viagra 100mg price in india online
tadalafil canada 20mg
tadalafil canada 20mg
tadalafil canada 20mg
tadalafil 20 walgreens price
tadalafil 20 walgreens price
tadalafil 20 walgreens price
buy female viagra pills
buy female viagra pills
buy female viagra pills
pharmacie canadienne
pharmacie canadienne
pharmacie canadienne
where to buy viagra
where to buy viagra
where to buy viagra
kadar metronidazole
kadar metronidazole
kadar metronidazole
valtrex lethargy
valtrex lethargy
valtrex lethargy
ordering glucophage
ordering glucophage
ordering glucophage
semaglutide tablets 3 mg price
semaglutide tablets 3 mg price
semaglutide tablets 3 mg price
overdose on zoloft
overdose on zoloft
overdose on zoloft
metronidazole enema
metronidazole enema
metronidazole enema
cephalexin sun sensitivity
cephalexin sun sensitivity
cephalexin sun sensitivity
cholestasis escitalopram trazodone
cholestasis escitalopram trazodone
cholestasis escitalopram trazodone
can i take benadryl with cymbalta
can i take benadryl with cymbalta
can i take benadryl with cymbalta
klonopin vs lexapro
klonopin vs lexapro
klonopin vs lexapro
fibromyalgia-gabapentin treatment
fibromyalgia-gabapentin treatment
fibromyalgia-gabapentin treatment
generic viagra online pharmacy canada
generic viagra online pharmacy canada
generic viagra online pharmacy canada
how many drops of ciprofloxacin for ear infection
how many drops of ciprofloxacin for ear infection
how many drops of ciprofloxacin for ear infection
cephalexin contraindications
cephalexin contraindications
cephalexin contraindications
bactrim classification
bactrim classification
bactrim classification
bactrim dose for cellulitis
bactrim dose for cellulitis
bactrim dose for cellulitis
can i take amoxicillin while breastfeeding
can i take amoxicillin while breastfeeding
can i take amoxicillin while breastfeeding
ezetimibe target
ezetimibe target
ezetimibe target
contrave mail order pharmacy
contrave mail order pharmacy
contrave mail order pharmacy
cozaar dosing
cozaar dosing
cozaar dosing
augmentin amoxicillin
augmentin amoxicillin
augmentin amoxicillin
ddavp in uremia bleeding
ddavp in uremia bleeding
ddavp in uremia bleeding
side effects diltiazem
side effects diltiazem
side effects diltiazem
what are the side effects of depakote?
what are the side effects of depakote?
what are the side effects of depakote?
aripiprazole side effects
aripiprazole side effects
aripiprazole side effects
what does allopurinol do
what does allopurinol do
what does allopurinol do
ashwagandha when to take
ashwagandha when to take
ashwagandha when to take
does augmentin cause yeast infections
does augmentin cause yeast infections
does augmentin cause yeast infections
how long does buspar stay in your system
how long does buspar stay in your system
how long does buspar stay in your system
paxil vs celexa
paxil vs celexa
paxil vs celexa