9 Best Decking Oil (in 2021) for Ultimate Wood Protection [Buyer Guide]
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Choosing the right decking oil can be a difficult process, especially if you’ve never used one before. If you have hardwood decking around your house, then you will probably need a decking stain and decking cleaner for the protection of the wood.
What is decking oil?
Decking oil is a wood stain that uses colour pigment to change the natural appearance of hardwood. They are widely available in both coloured formulations and natural clear and are designed to penetrate the surface of hardwood.
The decking stain also serves as wooden protection. The high concentrations of the decking oil and wax make it highly resistant to water, dirt, and harsh weather condition while giving the hardwood a fine finishing.
Do I need decking oil?
The answer is a clear YES — not only because it gives the wood a good finishing but also because it protects the wood and makes it durable. On top of that, it replenishes the natural oils on wood and keeps the wood nourished.
Decking oils do not crack or peel the outer surface of the wood. Rather, they help to protect decked areas from algae or mould infestation. They are also useful in carrying out localised patched repairs on worn out areas around the house.
There are different brands and sizes of decking oils available on the market currently that you might get confused not knowing which one to pick.
That is why we’ve taken out our time to review the top 9 best decking oils available on the market taking into consideration their key features, product specification, pros, and cons.
We also included a concise buyer guide and FAQ section at the end of the article which gives you access to the main factors you need to consider before making any purchase and provides answers to burning questions you may have about decking oils.
Best Decking Oil for Garden Use
At Konservatory, we pride ourselves in showcasing high-quality products from top brands around the world, and we also provide honest and unbiased reviews on all products- in a bid to help you make the right choice.
Therefore, if you want to know more about the best decking oils, keep reading this post. Here are the 9 best decking oils arranged in no particular order.
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Oil Natural 5L
The Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Oil is one of the best decking stains available on the market. It provides natural-looking protection and a long-lasting finish. Its unique formulation penetrates deeper into the wood’s inner surface to provide increased durability. It gives a lightly tinted finish and is highly water-resistant. A standard container comes in 5 liters and is sufficient enough to coat an entire decking surface.
Key Features:
Lightly tined finish
Provides double weather resistance
Long lasting finish
4 hours recoat
Specification:
Manufacturer
Ronseal
Colour
Natural
Size
5L
Installation Method
Brush
Volume
5 litres
Pros
Great product
Easy to use and apply
Great value for money
Cons
Messy liquid
Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Oil
Ronseal is one of the best companies when it comes to manufacturing high quality paints decking oils for fences, decks and other garden furniture. The Ronseal Ultimate Protection Decking Oil is probably one of the best in Ronseal’s collection. If you’re looking for the best water-based decking oil, then you’ve found yourself one. Overall, it is a great product, durable and offers great value for money.
Key Features:
High quality decking oil
Premium size 5L
Water-based oil
Specification:
Manufacturer
Ronseal
Size
5L
Volume
5 litres
Type
Water-based
Pros
Easy to work with
Water resistant
Good quality product
Gives good finish
Cons
The application can take a long time
Decking Oil Clear Softwood Treatment
The Decking Oil Clear Softwood Treatment is the best finish for decks, windows, doors and other exterior decking that uses soft and hardwood. It provides the best form of protection for wooden surfaces. The oil can be applied using spray system for more convenience. It is designed for use on pine, larch, cedar and lots more. Overall, it is a great product and is highly durable. Each product comes in a 25L container and covers 50sq per feet per litre.
Key Features:
Good solvency properties with high oxidation
Sprayable
Last for years
Excellent UV protection
Specification:
Manufacturer
RYE OIL LTD
Size
25L
Coverage
50sq feet per litre
Type
oil-based
Pros
Suitable for hardwood decking
Does the work perfectly
Easy to apply
High quality product
Cons
The odour may not be pleasant for all
Liberon DOCL5L Decking Oil
If you are looking for the best anti-slip liberon decking oil, then the Liberon DOCL5L Decking Oil is all you need. It is perfect for feeding, protecting and enhancing the natural appearance of all types of soft and hardwood decking. It is also ideal for restoring and reviving colour to old and new decking. Overall, it is a great product and we highly recommend it.
Key Features:
UV filters prevent fading
Revives and restores colour
Wood Treatment
Suitable for decking, fences, gates, hot tubs
Specification:
Manufacturer
Liberon
Colour Name
Clear
Size Name
5L
Item Weight
4.32 kg
Volume
5 litres
Pros
Easy to use
Water resistant
Good quality product
Durable
Cons
Does not dry up easily
Cuprinol 5122414 Uv Guard Decking Oil
The Cuprinol 5122414 Uv Guard Decking Oil is probably one of the best exterior woodcare decking oil for all types of wooden decks, fences and garden furniture. This cuprinol decking oil can penetrate the inner surface of the wood to replace natural oils and resins lost in harsh weather condition.
Key Features:
Lightly tinted finish
Application by brush or any Cuprinol sprayer
Nourishes the wood and protects Against harsh weather condition
Drying time: up to 6 hours
Specification:
Manufacturer
AkzoNobel
Size
5L
Colour
Natural
Volume
5 litres
Pros
Easy to use
Good value for money
Water resistant
Great for wood treatment
Cons
You have to wait for longer hours before it dries
Nourish & Protect DOCL005 Clear Decking Oil
The Nourish & Protect DOCL005 Clear Decking Oil is specially designed for use on pressure treated timber giving it a nice finishing. It is ideal for deck boards, balustrades, and deck tiles. The decking oil is available in 5 colours and clear. Its water resistance properties help prevent wood from cracking or splitting.
Key Features:
Good water repellence and shedding
biocidal film Preserver to prevent surface mould and algae
Uv resistant semi translucent pigments
Suitable for most exterior timbers and structures
Specification:
Manufacturer
Barrettine
Size
5L
Colour
Clear
Item Weight
4.7 kg
Pros
Easy to apply
Good quality product
Suitable for hardwood treatment
Great value for the money
Cons
Costly
Inaccurate coverage estimation
Osmo Decking Oil Clear
If you are looking for more than just a standard wood decking oil, then you should consider the Osmo Decking Oil. It is one of the best wood protection oils. The clear product is a perfect decking protector, giving your wooden deck a more appealing finish. Overall is easy to use and offers great value for your money.
Key Features:
Wood protect oil
Anti-slip decking oil
Provides organic beauty
Water resistant
Specification:
Manufacturer
Osmo
Item Weight
2.56 Kilograms
Size
2.5L
Colour
Clear
Pros
Easy to apply
Water resistant
Durable
Good for wood treatment
Cons
None
Cuprinol 5122410 Uv Guard Decking Oil
The Cuprinol 5122410 Uv Guard Decking Oil is one of the best exterior woodcare decking oil available on the market today. If you’re looking for a decking stain that dries fast, suitable for a wide coverage area, and fantastic for protecting wood against harsh weather condition, then you have found yourself a great product. Overall, it is a good product and offers great value for your money.
Key Features:
Exterior Woodcare decking oil
Anti-slip decking oil
Water resistant
Lightly tinted finish
Specification:
Brand
Cuprinol
Size
2.5 L
Colour
Natural
Item volume
2.5 Litres
Paint type
Oil, Watercolour
Pros
Easy to apply
Water proof
Perfect for wood treatment
Gives a good finish
Cons
It is only water-based
Osmo Grey Exterior Wood & Decking Oil
The Osmo Grey Exterior Wood & Decking Oil is a satin protective and decorative wood finish-based oil for any exterior wood. Its microporous surface breathes the wood and reduces wood shrinkage and swelling. It is extremely water-repellent, water-resistant and does not crack wood.
Key Features:
Microporous surface prevents wood from shrinking and swelling
Highly suitable for decking and garden furniture
Water and dirt resistant
Pigmented finish for exterior use
Specification:
Manufacturer
Osmo
Size: 2.5L
2.5L
Colour
Grey
Type
Pigmented oil
Pros
High quality decking oil
Great colour and gives a nice feel after two coats
Easy to apply
Water resistant
Cons
none
Summary
As you can see, there are tons of options to select from when it comes to choosing the best decking oil. Decking stains come in different sizes, thicknesses, formulations, and slightly different features. Some have natural clear colouration and lightens the outer surface of the wooden deck or garden furniture. Most deck oils are strictly water-based, while others are oil-based depending on what you wish to use them for. We are quite aware that some of you may still be confused about which decking oil to buy especially first-time buyers. We’ve listed out a few factors you should consider before making any purchase. We also included a FAQ section to answer some burning questions you may have about decking oils.
We are fully convinced, however, that the information we have shared about each product will help you make the right choice. You may also be interested in other garden furniture tools such as the best Shed paint, Foxx deterrent, Exterior wood paint, and Garden awnings
Things to Consider Before Buying Deck oil
Material
His is probably the first most important factor you need to consider before choosing any decking oil. Most modern decking stains are formulated using chemical sodium percarbonate which is more environmentally friendly than the traditional decking stains and oils. You must ensure that you the product you eventually choose contains biodegradable components. This is because most decking stains contain toxic chemicals that can be harmful to the outer surface of the deck. Even if you use some of the strongest hardwood, you will still have dangerous chemicals to contend with. However, if you choose products maid of biodegradable chemicals, you will have nothing to worry about.
Size
Before buying any decking oil product, you need to first consider the size of the decking area. This will determine the quantity of decking oil you will eventually purchase. Some decking oil products come in a 2.5L container while others come in as much as a 25L container. It is advisable to choose the one that comes in a bigger container. This will guarantee that you get good value for your money.
Waterproof
This is another important factor you must consider before making a purchase. You should check if the product is waterproof, otherwise, during raining season, all the decking oil will be washed off the decking surface.
FAQ
Why use a decking stain?
Harsh weather condition destroys wooden decks or other outdoor wooden furniture. Hence the need for using decking stains and oils. These stains penetrate the inner surface of woods and protect them again alga or mould infestation and from the harsh weather conditions. Thus, ensuring that the wood lasts for years. The decking stains also serve as anti-slip