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Care of Terrace Decking: Preparation for the Summer Holidays

Warm spring days arrived early this year, the weather often reminds us of summer. A lot of people have already fired up the grill, taken out the garden furniture, the sunbed and are getting ready for relaxing in the sun.

  

For the perfect relaxation the excellent location is already a given: EDELHOLZ terrace deckings made of natural wood do not pollute our environment and the air we breathe in, as we only use vegetable oils for the surface treatment, not varnishes. The wood does not heat up in the sun, it maintains a pleasant temperature, so it is possible to walk on it with bare feet.

  

  

Protecting the surface of our terrace decking, and refreshing its color, which can change due to UV raditation, takes only a minimum amount of time. Apart from basic cleaning (sweeping and shovelling snow in the winter), you only need to treat it with a simple caring oil twice a year, before and after the winter period. This is a very quick and easy process, but the wood will thank us for the care.

  

  

  

We suggest maintenance oiling after the rainy, cold, winter period, before furnishing our terrace for the summer season. The terrace decking made of thermal ash is almost weatherproof, since the structure of the wood becomes more stable as a result of the heat treatment, the water almost completely disappears from it, and thanks to this, it reacts less sensitively to changes in the environment’s humidity and swells or shrinks less than untreated wood. However, fluctuations in temperature and the extremely hot summer weather can cause small hairline fractures, through which water can enter the wood. This is especially a problem if the winter snow cover is not removed in time, or if our terrace is located on the north side so it does not get enough sun, and remains permanently wet. In these cases, moss can appear on the surface of the wood, but it is easily removable with the following steps. The result speaks for itself:

  

BEFORE       

                                                                                                   

  

  

AFTER

    

  

For the floor care we’ll only need a mop and care oil. EDELHOLZ recommends the OLI-NATURA HOLZAUSSENREINIGER washer for intensive basic cleaning of garden furniture and patio covers. This linseed-based oil product is free of preservatives, insecticides, cobalt and oximes, making it completely safe for humans, animals and plants. It dissolves green stains and dirt, so they can be easily removed without damaging the surface of the wood. What we need to pay extra attention to: do not use OLI-NATURA Außenreiniger below +15°C or above +35°C, or on a surface exposed to direct sunlight, as due to the direct sunlight the cleaning agent would dry too quickly. Shake the bottle thoroughly before use!

   

  

  

First of all, use a mop to clean the terrace decking of dirt and moss. The wood must be clean, dry and free of any grease. If necessary, sand the protruding wood fibers and rough surfaces smooth with fine sandpaper (220 grit). Before applying the care oil, rinse the decking with clean water.

   

 

  

After this, mix the care oil with warm water in a 1:4 ratio and apply it in stages, every 2-4 m², thinly using a brush or cloth, in the direction of the grain (TIP: pour oil into a wide tray, gently dipping a flat mop head into it so as not to let the oil drip from it, apply it to the surface with a classic mopping motion). Make sure that the oil does not run on the surface, soak up the excess with a cotton cloth. Finally, rinse the surface with plenty of water and let it dry.

   

 

   

 

    

After the oil dries, our terrace decking is ready for another, enjoyable summer season! If our older terrace decking looks faded, it is worth sanding off the protruding wood grain and rough surface parts (grit size 220), then re-oiling the entire cleaned surface with Oli Natura Yacht & Teaköl outdoor oil as described above!

   

If you have any questions about care or the EDELHOLZ heat-treated ash terrace deckings, we recommend that you take a look at our product's technical data sheet and care instructions. Our expert colleagues are also happy to help you if you have any questions!

  

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