Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Stain - Medium Oak 2.5L

Before you can apply the stain, your decking needs to be completely dry. It s also best to check the weather forecast and pick a dry day thats reasonably warm (above 10 °C).

How to prepare old decking

1. Give it a good clean to remove dirt, grease, oil, mildew, algae and leaves.
2. You will need to completely remove any old finishes, otherwise, your stain will end up patchy. You can do this easily using a decking stripper.
3. Make sure the exposed ends of your decking are protected too, otherwise water will seep in.

How to prepare new decking

1. New decking needs time to naturally weather. Leave it for six months to ensure that any pre-treatment has eroded. This will help your stain stick properly.
2. Clean your decking with a specialist cleaning solution and a scrubbing brush to remove any remnants of the pre-treatment.
3. Rinse thoroughly with water, ideally using a pressure washer.
4. To test the effectiveness of your cleaning, splash the decking with water. If you notice any beading, you ¾ ll have to clean it again.
5. Let the decking completely dry.

1. Always test the stain on a small, discreet patch of the decking to make sure you are happy with the colour. If you are, great! Follow the next steps.
2. Give the paint a good stir before you apply it. This is to help all the pigments and heavier ingredients mix in. You will need to keep occasionally stirring the stain while you re-applying it, too.
3. Use a wide brush designed for water-based finishes, and apply the stain liberally in the direction of the grain. Focus on three to four boards at a time to avoid overlap marks.
4. Wait four hours to let the first coat dry.
5. For the best results, we recommend two coats. However, if you want a deeper colour, three coats will do the job.

Cleaning

Regularly cleaning your decking will help keep it in a good condition and stay protected for longer. All you need to do is remove leaves, dirt, grime and algae.

Repairing

Regular cleaning and the occasional deep clean will help keep your decking in tip-top shape. But if you do notice a damaged patch, its easy to repair. Just sand down the damaged area and apply a thin coat of stain in place. Once it dries, it ¾ ll be good as new!