CARING FOR YOUR PICNIC TABLE
Congratulations on the purchase of your new picnic table!
Your new picnic table will provide enjoyment over the coming years as it provides you with a comfortable & impressive place to enjoy our great climate. While there is no better way to protect your picnic table than putting it under a covered area like a pergola, although you still need to coat the picnic table with a suitable decking stain, oil or paint. We use & recommend the Intergrain range of products. Intergrain products have been designed to protect the natural beauty of timber. They are recognised as Australia’s high performance, environmentally responsible timber finishes.
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT FINISH
A large factor when choosing which product to coat your picnic table with will be personal preference. While there is no right or wrong preference it is important that you are aware of the pros & cons of each choice available to you & with Intergrain products there are four –Nature’s Timber Oil, Ultra Deck, Natural Stain & DWD. More information on each of these can be found at https://www.intergrain.com.au/products/intergrain-ultradeck-timber-oil/ We suggest future maintenance requirements should be considered when choosing the right product for your picnic table. If you prefer to keep the colour & natural look of the timber then the best product is Nature’s Timber Oil. However, as you can see from the table above the lifespan is much shorter than other options & you will therefore need to recoat your picnic table much more often than with other products. Untinted (natural) Ultra deck is another option for preserving the look of the timber but the UV protectants in Ultra deck may leave a slight yellow/orange tinge to lighter coloured timber. Natural Stain is a semi-transparent high-performance stain that transforms the colour of your picnic table without the need for a top coat. It is available in a wide range of colours & has excellent durability. DWD is an extremely durable timber coating that builds a lightly transparent acrylic layer to protect the picnic table. Unlike decking oils, DWD forms a hard film on the surface rather than soaking into the timber. Tints can be added in a range of colours. DWD requires at least one coat of Dimension 4 primer which ensures DWD will adhere to the timber. At least 3 coats of DWD need to be applied so the application process is more substantial than the other products, however you can expect much better lifespan from DWD. Take the time to study the available options closely as in some cases you cannot easily change the type of coating after applying it the first time. For example, stain cannot be applied over oil unless the oil is completely stripped out using a combination of sanding & heavy-duty cleaning agents.
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PREPARATION & PROTECTING YOUR PICNIC TABLE
Most stain/oil suppliers recommend leaving your picnic table for several weeks to weather prior to applying a finish to it. In our experience this process has a detrimental effect on the timber & significantly increases the aged look & feel of the picnic table as the richness of colour in the timber may fade & it sometimes shows early signs of surface checking & cupping. This effect is most prevalent if your picnic table is exposed to the elements. Ensure you follow the instructions on the container. Best results are achieved in temperatures under 30°C. A good way to test whether the timber is ready for coating is to sprinkle a little water on it. If the water beads on the surface, then an application of Reviva is required. If the water is absorbed into the timber it is ready to coat with oil or stain. At this stage you can apply your chosen finish. Once again, best results are achieved in temperatures under 30°C & be sure to closely follow the instructions & recommendations on the container. You will need a brush to get in between the boards to coat the sides but the top sections can be done with a suitable applicator or by brush. The timber will absorb a lot of the first coat so your usage will be higher than it will be for further coats & it is best to try to apply the coating based on the manufacturer’s recommended coverage. For Intergrain products the recommendations are;
Nature’s Timber Oil 6-10 m²per litre
Ultra-Deck 10-14 m² per litre
Natural Stain 6-12 m² per litre
DWD 12-14 m² per litre
Follow the recommendations on the can when applying second & subsequent coats, & leave the picnic table at least 24 hours before sitting on it (longer in winter or if the oil or stain feels tacky to touch).
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SAP & TREATED TIMBER
Resin bleed in treated pine can happen.
• Resin bleeding can occasionally be a problem with LOSP treated softwoods. We use LOSP treated timber in picnic tables, as this treatment is the only food safe treatment currently available for timber.
Resin occurs naturally in softwoods &can be identified as a sticky, clear or white exudation that has a characteristic aromatic odour. It is most commonly encountered around knots or other imperfections in the wood & in places where the tree sustained damage. Paint or stain will generally be softened & may even be lifted off by a resin bleed, especially if a dark paint colour is used.
If resin bleed occurs the following steps are recommended:
• Physically remove the exuded resin from the surface.
• Allow to weather for a few days to ensure that the bleed has ceased.
• Seal the affected area with a suitable sealant.
This generally happens in the hotter months & on dark colour painted timbers.
If your table is stained use hot water and a rag then scrap back the resin
If your table is painted scrap back the resin, sand the timber, applied a stain blocker (Zinsser B-I-N Primer) then repainted it.
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CARING FOR YOUR TABLE
Your picnic table must be kept clean & well maintained to keep it looking its best & to prolong its life. Regular sweeping with a soft fibre brush will remove dust & washing your picnic table down with water will help to lift dirt. Avoid using detergents as they may leave your picnic table looking dull. Regular inspections of the picnic table should be carried out. Evidence of colour fading or the existence of surface checking (fine cracks) or cupping are signs that your picnic table needs to be recoated with stain or oil. Areas exposed to the weather will require recoating sooner than covered areas but it is advisable to recoat the whole picnic table when any part of it shows signs of needing it.
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FREQUENCY OF RECOATING
There is plenty of information on offer suggesting how often you should reapply stain or oil to your picnic table. While these timelines are offered in good faith the reality is that each picnic table is different & there is no guaranteed time period that works for each picnic table. Your particular climate, the level of exposure to the elements, amount of use, proximity to pools or sand or dirt, variations in weather patterns & several other factors are what determines how often your picnic table should be recoated. This is why we recommend regular inspections of your picnic table (no more than six months apart & less if your picnic table is exposed to harsh conditions) & not delaying taking action when the first signs of a required recoat are evident.
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SIGNS YOUR PICNIC TABLE IS READY FOR A RECOAT
The most obvious signs that your picnic table is in need of a new coat of oil or stain are fading colour & surface checking. Fading colour is self-explanatory but surface checking is worth some explanation. Surface checking is cracks in the timber that may appear & disappear with changes in the weather & consequential changes in the moisture content of the wood. This is normal in all wood & does not affect the life, structural integrity or serviceability of your picnic table. Surface checking is different to the timber splitting in that a split appears as cracks on both sides of the board & is not just a gap in the surface.
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FINAL NOTE
We trust this guide is informative & will assist you in determining what the best product & process is best for you & your new picnic table. The recommendations & guidelines in this document are based on current information & practices & have been produced in good faith for the general guidance of consumers. No warranty or assurance can be given that these recommendations will suit every possible situation or particular circumstance. We accept no responsibility for the performance in accordance with these recommendations or otherwise. If in doubt, we recommend that users obtain independent expert advice.