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.