Why is my decking so sticky?

There are several potential reasons for a fresh deck coating being tacky/sticky. Some of the more common reasons are:

• The porosity and oil content of the timber can significantly affect drying times.

• Humidity, surface and air temperature on application.

• Not stirring the product thoroughly enough to achieve a complete formulation.

• Insufficient/incorrect deck wash down process.

• Heavy flood coated application over the area.

• Deck board cupping in sections that causes pooling of the coat.

Also, keep in mind:

• It may be a naturally oily timber species if it's a new bare timber.

• Over-application, where the oil isn’t penetrating the surface, and the timber is at its limit of accepting more coating.

• Used a penetrating oil over a non-compatible product like a decking stain, varnish or paint.

• Applied new coating on deck without surface preparation – For example, using a decking oil directly over a flaking, greasy, dusty, mould or algae-covered deck.

• If using products that require wiping off excess such as Intergrain Universal Timber Oil, Intergrain Natures Timber Oil. The substrate may remain tacky if the excess is not wiped off properly.

• Insufficient surface preparation - If the timber surface was not prepared properly before coating, then things such as the timbers’ natural oils, residual preservative treatment on the surface of the timber, or grime and grease left on the timber surface from the construction process will cause a coating to take much longer to dry or may also cause some adhesion issues fully.