Epoxy teak?

SSBN506 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008

I was wondering if anyone has any information on this. I redid my cabin sole by cutting the template from plywood, paint it with butter rum deck stain, placing black car stripes spaced to look like board spaces and sealing it all under three coats of epoxy. It turned out quite nice if a bit shiny. What I am wondering is could I do the same for the teak on my deck. I assume it's possible it would just depend on a few things. Would it be too shiny and look bad? Would the sun deteriorate it? I had found some ware but can’t find it again where people were putting epoxy on their teak first then treating it. I assume this meant putting the teak stain on the epoxy. What do you guys suggest? This is the end of my first year with a sailboat and I want to redo my teak but don’t want to be missing out on a process that will reduce the work load if one is out there.

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008

Sun and epoxy don't mix... Epoxy breaks down under UV exposure.

cruiserdave · #3 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008

I have found epoxy to be a good base for finish on any wood subjected to weather. Epoxy degrades when exposed to UV rays (sun). I use a good marine varnish, not a polyurethane, the more coats the better. Rough up the epoxy with sand paper, light grit, maybe 150. 220 grit keeps things a little to smooth and doesn't give the varnish enough to grip to. Thin coats are better than thick coats. Hope this helps.

JohnRPollard · #4 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008

Epoxy is useful for sealing up wood and preventing rot. But UV kills epoxy. So it must be covered by multiple coats of some other finish (like varnish or paint) that will protect it from the UV.

Since teak is already naturally rot-resistant, it is redundant to seal it with epoxy prior to finishing with varnish, cetol, etc. There will be no benefit, and there is a potential downside: If you do not religiously maintain the finish that protects the epoxy from the UV, you could end up with yellowed and failed epoxy that will need to be stripped -- with great effort.

Skip the epoxy, and coat the teak with your preferred finish.

SSBN506 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnRPollard

Epoxy is useful for sealing up wood and preventing rot. But UV kills epoxy. So it must be covered by multiple coats of some other finish (like varnish or paint) that will protect it from the UV.

Since teak is already naturally rot-resistant, it is redundant to seal it with epoxy prior to finishing with varnish, cetol, etc. There will be no benefit, and there is a potential downside: If you do not religiously maintain the finish that protects the epoxy from the UV, you could end up with yellowed and failed epoxy that will need to be stripped -- with great effort.

Skip the epoxy, and coat the teak with your preferred finish.

I was just about to ask the question is their an advantage to using epoxy as a base. Question answered. thanks.

Quickstep192 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-28-2008

two more cents...... Well varnished teak on the decks would be slippery when wet.

JohnRPollard · #7 (**permalink**) 10-29-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quickstep192

two more cents...... Well varnished teak on the decks would be slippery when wet.

True. I assumed he was talking about a teak toe/cap rail, handrails, and other teak trim topsides. I agree, it would be inadvisable to varnish teak decks.

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 10-29-2008

Don't use varnish on cabin soles... the best product for cabin soles is Ultimate Sole.