Decks, pergolas, timber cladding and fences cleaned back to sound timber and finished with a stain or oil suited to how the wood is used and where it sits.
Call Jimmy — 0432 077 782Weathered, greying boards cleaned back and re-finished so the timber is protected again.
Overhead and vertical timber finished for UV and rain, where the weather hits hardest.
Fences stained or oiled as part of the same job, or on their own.
Washing, stripping and sanding done first, because the finish is only as good as the timber underneath.
Jetblack Painting stains and oils decks, pergolas, timber cladding and fences across Melbourne. Exposed timber loses its finish to sun and rain faster than almost anything else on a property, and once the protection is gone the wood greys, dries out and starts to split. A good result comes from getting the timber clean and sound before any finish goes on.
Jetblack Painting is a 5-star rated Melbourne business with 18+ years of experience, $10 million public liability insurance, and a 5-year workmanship guarantee on every project.
Oils soak into the timber and feed it. They keep the natural look of the wood, are straightforward to maintain because a fresh coat goes on over the old one, and usually need topping up more often than a heavier finish.
Stains carry pigment, which gives the timber UV protection as well as colour. A semi-transparent stain lets the grain show; a more opaque one hides more of it and tends to protect better against sun.
Paint and film-forming finishes sit on the surface rather than in it. On a deck that gets walked on, they can wear through and lift in patches, which then need sanding back before the next coat. The right choice depends on the timber, how exposed it is and the look you want.
Almost every finish that fails early failed because it went on over timber that was dirty, damp or still carrying the old coating. Decks are washed to lift dirt, mould and the grey weathered surface, and old finish that has failed is stripped or sanded back to sound timber.
Timber needs to be properly dry before it is coated. Oil or stain applied over damp wood can trap moisture, and the finish can blotch, peel or go cloudy. We judge dryness by the timber and the weather rather than by the calendar.
Loose boards, popped nails and rotten sections are flagged before finishing, because a new coat over a failing board only hides the problem for a short while.
Some hardwoods, merbau in particular, release tannins that can leach out in rain and stain whatever is below, including paving and the boards themselves. It is a known trait of the timber rather than a fault in the finish, and it is worth knowing about before the deck is coated.
New timber is a separate question. Some timbers and finish manufacturers recommend letting new wood weather before it is coated, while others give instructions for coating straight away. We follow the guidance for the product being used and tell you what that is at the quote.
The cheapest time to re-coat a deck is before the finish fails, while a light clean and a fresh coat are still enough. Once bare timber is exposed to sun and rain for a season or two, the job becomes a strip and sand.
Sun-facing boards and areas under foot traffic go first. If you notice water no longer beading on the surface, or the colour has faded unevenly, it is usually time to look at it, and spring and summer give the longest dry spells to work in.
Oil keeps the natural look and is easy to re-coat, but needs topping up more often. Stain carries pigment and gives the timber more UV protection. Which suits depends on the timber, how much sun it gets and the look you want, and we talk it through at the quote.
Not successfully. Stains and oils need to soak into bare timber, so any old coating has to come off first. The cost of that stripping is the main reason we recommend re-coating a deck before the finish fails.
Usually, yes. The grey layer is weathered surface timber, and washing and sanding back to fresh wood normally restores it. The exception is timber that has become soft or rotten, which needs repairing or replacing rather than coating.
Merbau releases tannins that wash out in rain and can leave orange-brown staining on nearby surfaces. It usually eases over time, and a finish does not always stop it. It is worth planning for when a deck sits above pavers or concrete.
Yes. Timber fences can be stained or oiled on their own or alongside a deck. For fences that need painting, or metal fencing, see our roof and fence painting page.
Spring and summer give the longest dry spells, which suits finishes that need dry timber and settled weather. We can work outside those months, but we will not coat damp timber to hit a date.
We provide this service across Melbourne, including these areas.
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