Grand Banks 42 Classic - Teak Decks - refurb and cleaning

 

I’m cracking along with odd jobs on Dawn Seeker. The weathers turning now so im just checking the decks. They are surprisingly good for her age. They have been refurbished to a good standard at some point. There were some leaks getting in behind the quadrant at the deck to superstructure joint, but I've stopped those now. The seams were all pretty good. The plugs I've replaced in areas. Cleanings the next job for spring. I’ve copy and pasted in some interesting tips I found on line…. Must throw my hard bristled scrubbing brush in the skip!

 

 Cleaning

• Teak wood may have softer and harder sections. Never scrub your deck with a hard bristle brush, as this could wear away the softer sections of the wood. Wash your deck with plain water---preferably saltwater. The salt in the water will protect your deck from algae and mold. You can use fresh water from a hose if that's all you have available, but don't use a pressure washer.
  You can use a mild solution of dish liquid and water and a cotton mop if the deck gets dirty. If you need to scrub at stubborn dirt, use a nylon sponge or soft bristle brush, and wash across the grain. If you scrub with the grain, you risk wearing out any softer areas of wood. Don't use harsh chemicals, such as bleach.

Refinishing

• Your deck doesn't need oil to stay in good shape. In fact, oil will attract dirt and eventually become gummy, detracting from your deck's good looks. Avoid chemical refinishers as these could damage the wood.
  If you want to restore an older deck, sand lightly with fine-grit sandpaper to reveal the golden color of new wood. Don't do this too often, or you'll eventually wear out your deck. Some manufacturers of teak decking argue that you should never sand a teak deck, as you risk exposing softer areas. Sanding may even decrease teak's non-slip quality.
  Don't varnish your teak deck, either. The beauty of teak lies in the way it weathers. And varnishing can make the deck slippery.

 

Protecting

• Always mask off the wood of your deck before you re-caulk. Likewise, protect the deck when you're painting by masking off the wood or covering it with a drop cloth.
  Don't let your deck dry out too much. Dry wood shrinks, which strains the caulking between boards. When you're out in the sun, wet the deck down daily.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/way_5367942_teak-deck-maintenance.html#ixzz2jnIDSPy8