Weathered timber
Fill any cracks or holes with a suitable filler. Sand all surfaces to a flat finish and remove greyed timber. Dust off and wash with Cabot’s Deck Clean.

Pre-primed timber & painted surfaces
Test if surface is sound¹. If not, scrape off all loose and flaking paint. Fill any cracks or holes with a suitable filler. Sand all surfaces to a flat finish and remove greyed timber. Dust off.

Brick, masonry, fibro & fibre cement board
Unpainted masonry surfaces should be cured for 28 days before painting.
Ensure surface is sound¹ and clear of any loose sand or cement. Fill holes with grouting cement. Wash down with water using a stiff brush to remove all loose material. To remove any efflorescence (white salts) wipe down with a 5% solution of acetic acid (white vinegar). Hose down & allow to dry. Wash with a bleach solution and/or de-mossing chemical to remove mould, or moss. Then hose down. For further information on any preparation call 1800 011 006.

¹Ensure surface is sound by cutting a small X through the existing paint with a sharp blade, press cellulose tape firmly across the cut and then rip off the tape. If the paint comes off, it is unsound and should be removed. Repeat at random in a number of areas, to test the surface.

New, pre-oiled timber
Timber that is factory pre-oiled with Intergrain Universal Timber Oil or Feast Watson Industrial Timber Oil does not require exterior weathering or treatment to remove tannin or oils. This pre-oiled timber can be directly over coated with any Cabot's oil or water based topcoat product.

All timber should be clean and free from dust, dirt, debris, and mortar prior to coating.
Light surface soiling: A light wipe down with a clean damp cloth will be suitable.
Heavy surface soiling: Clean the surface with Cabot's Deck Clean following label the directions on the pack and rinse. Allow the surface to dry thoroughly prior to topcoat application.

IMPORTANT
Prior to topcoat purchase and application, it is important to identify the type of oil the supplier or timber merchant has used, to ensure it is compatible with water-based oil application. If unsure, follow the recommendations below for New Raw Timber.

New raw timber
To coat new bare timber immediately, scrub damp timber with Cabot’s New Timber Prep, following label instructions. New Timber Prep will draw out tannins and oils quickly from the surface, allowing you to skip the 4-6 weeks weathering process required for new timber. Always follow New Timber Prep with Cabot’s Deck Clean following label instructions. Remove excess water from the surface with squeegee on Cabot’s Deck Prep brush and allow timber to dry for at least 1 hour. Note: Cooler conditions could slow down the drying time of the timber.