4 Tips to Teak Decking Care
08 November 20224 Tips to Teak Decking Care – Boat owners have the option to choose the materials they may want to incorporate into their boat components. The decking, for instance, can be manufactured out of rot-proof natural wood like okoume marine plywood. It can also be made from fibreglass with a non-slip paint.
But one material that stands out when it comes to manufacturing the decking is teak. Teak is a close-grained hardwood that is known for its high natural oil and rubber content. One of the reasons why it is utilised for yacht decking is its durability. This durability allows teak decking to last for many years. It is also resilient to weather elements like hot sun, rain, and even snow.
Despite the outstanding qualities of teak, decking made from this material should still be maintained. If you are currently using a boat with a teak decking, you must carry out the following tips to effectively extend its service life.
Replace Old Dried Out Caulking
Your teak decking may come in strips or prefabricated panels. To ensure that their joints / seams are sealed, they are often applied with caulking. Caulking is utilised on these materials to prevent the infiltration of elements on their underneath surfaces. Now, if you have had your boat for a long time, you may easily spot some areas where the teak and caulking have separated, or it has dried-out or become brittle. Before proceeding with its maintenance, you must first remove the old caulking through an oscillating saw or a knife and chisel to dig out of the deck joints or seams.
Clean the Teak Decking Surface
In most cases, all teak decking needs to clean up the surface is a Semco Teak Cleaner Kit and a soft Scotch Brite / Doodlebug Pad. Whether the teak is new, or it is a weathered light grey colour it is important to apply Semco Teak Cleaner part A and B before applying Semco Teak Sealer, as the cleaners clean out any dust, dirt, oils etc. from the timber, which will provide a nice even finish. For best results, wet down the timber with fresh water. Using a white, soft Scotch Brite / Doodle Bug or soft bristled brush with the Part A Semco Teak Cleaner also provides a nice even finish, because it gets down into all the little grooves in the timber, where sandpaper can’t get to, as it relies on the surface being completely level / flat. Leave the Part A Cleaner on for 5-10 minutes without letting it dry, it is best to work on small areas at a time and to overlap each area by a small amount. Repeat the same process with the Part B Cleaner, it works best if you have two different scrubbers for each cleaner.
Apply a Teak Finishing Product
One more thing that you must do to maintain your teak decking is to apply a teak finishing product. At Riggtech, we offer SEMCO Teak Sealer, which helps enhance the quality of your decking for a very long time. Before applying this product, you must first shake or stir its content. Once it is done, you can then use a foam brush applicator to apply the Teak Sealer to the decking. After letting the first coat sit for a short time, you must apply another coat immediately. Let the coats dry for at least an hour. Two coats should be sufficient in most cases, it is also important to make sure the teak is completely dry of water before applying the sealer coats.
Once all these things have been done, you can expect your decking to be ready for service the following day. Of course, the drying time of the teak sealer may slow down if the weather is cool, damp, and cloudy.
Maintain the Decking Regularly
The last thing that you must do to prolong the service life of your teak decking is to maintain it seasonally, every 3 – 6 months. If you notice the teak is starting to lose its colour, clean your teak decking with soap and water to maintain its great surface appearance. You must also apply a single fresh coat of the sealing product to retain the look and durability of the teak decking.
To purchase SEMCO Teak Sealer, you can visit our online shop at Riggtech. You can also contact us if you need help in choosing the best shade of SEMCO Teak Sealer for your boat.
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