DIY Tips for Maintenance of African Mahogany Decks

African mahogany is a great piece of material for outdoor decks! The best part about African mahogany is that it does not splinter easily, consists of tight grains are free of knots and look great and shiny once installed. But every beautiful thing in this world has a downside as well. Here the downside is that if African mahogany is exposed to sun’s harmful Ultraviolet rays, it loses its shine. Its rich red-brown color turns to grey. No doubt, mahogany is architecture’s favorite. Apart from that African mahogany lumber for sale is very much in demand.

So, if you do not want to see your beautiful, glowing mahogany deck fade away, better protect it from the sun. You can do that by blocking the UV rays with a thick shade of trick or by installing a roof. If these two are not our options, then you can go for an oil-based, pigmented, protective covering that will shield your deck from rays of the sun, keeping it glowing and shiny for a long time.

If you too have installed mahogany deck in your backyard, here are some of the DIY tips for its maintenance for keeping it shiny and long-lasting in these three steps!

Cleaning!

So, before you start treating your mahogany deck, clean it thoroughly and properly so that there are no dirt and debris. Better use a pressure washer and during this process, do not forget to wear gloves and goggles for protection.

Set the pressure washer to less than 1,500 psi and hold the nozzle at least 24 inches away from the surface of the deck. Sweep the pressure washer in slow, even arcs, making sure that you don’t point it at one spot for too long, or you may damage the mahogany. Let the deck dry for three to five days after rainfall, and wait until the temperature has not dropped below 45 degrees.

Treating

Ok, many deck treatments are too thick to soak down into mahogany, so a penetrating oil treatment is best. Stir the penetrating deck sealer to mix the pigments and solids which tend to settle to the bottom of the can. Apply the deck treatment with either a brush that is not quite as wide as the boards or a lamb’s wool applicator. Treat one board at a time, working from one end to the other to ensure the most even coverage. Hold a piece of cardboard or a trim guard between the boards to keep from splashing the adjacent board with the oil.

Maintaining

The best way to regularly clean an African mahogany lumber deck is to keep it clean and free of leaves, dust, and debris that can damage the surface of the mahogany deck making it look dull. Use water spray cleaner with a scrub brush to clean away any spots of mold or other stains. Once the color fades and a few drops of water scattered on the deck sink into the wood instead of beading up, it is time to apply another coat of penetrating oil.

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