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How to treat a brazilian rosewood deck?

wts | Posted in General Discussion on August 30, 2007 04:00am

I have a client with a 800 square foot deck made of brazilian rosewood. It was installed about 15 years ago and is on the north side of a two story house. Most of the deck was covered in a very thin layer of green algee that came off during cleaning with a pressure washer. The wood is very beautiful when wet but dries to a much duller color. Does anyone have any recomendations on how to treat this wood?

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  1. highfigh | Aug 30, 2007 04:24am | #1

    You have a photo? I bet it's Brazilian cherry, not rosewood. That hasn't been legally imported to the US in decades.

    "Does anyone have any recomendations on how to treat this wood?"

    If it's actually BR, yeah. It should be treated a helluva lot better than it has been.

    "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
    1. KenHill3 | Aug 30, 2007 04:40am | #2

      Ditto on the Brazilian Rosewood import ban. I had a BR Guild 12-string guitar from the 60's that I felt honored to own.

      1. highfigh | Aug 30, 2007 04:45am | #3

        "I had a BR Guild 12-string guitar from the 60's that I felt honored to own."Why 'had' and not 'have'?

        "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

        1. KenHill3 | Aug 30, 2007 06:55am | #5

          "Why 'had' and not 'have'?"Sad story, unfortunately, for me as a 'starving artist' in the late 70's. Needed the money. Was top of the line 512 with bound ebony fretboard, all figured mother of pearl headstock and position markings, bound body with lots of marquetry and all rosewood with arched back. Think I sold it for like $300. :o(The other sad story was my '63 Gibson ES175, THE classic jazz guitar a'la Joe Pass and many others. I think that one also went for $300. They are now worth minimum $2000 and usually more. :o(Wahhhhhhhh................

          Edited 8/29/2007 11:56 pm by kenhill3

          1. highfigh | Aug 30, 2007 03:31pm | #6

            Those are nice guitars. I'd like to go back and buy up a few of what we had in the music store. Six of them would make it unnecessary to work now. One is a 1958 Korina wood Flying V and it went for $64K, in the late '80s. One was a 1925 L-5, signed by Lloyd Loar, himself. One of the guitar teachers at the music store where I worked had a bunch on different guitars, mandolins, etc hanging on the walls of his little studio. His main guitar was a mid-'50s 175, blond with solid, carved spruce top and one P-90 pickup. After getting to know him more, I found out that he had 6 or 7 of them, from different years, but all from about 1950-1964. All in great condition and they were part of his whole collection. For someone who never made a lot of money at his jobs and didn't sell anything illegal, his 300+ guitar collection was pretty impressive.I can definitely relate to selling something for squat and wanting it back. I had an old Fender amp in the mid-late '70s and nobody, including the people at the music store had much idea of exactly which model it was because the original covering had been removed and there was no tube chart, even though it was barely 20 years old. I found another amp chassis, of similar design and vintage, that included a midrange control, which the other one didn't have, so in my brilliance, I sold it to my old roommate for what I had into it ($75), with the rationale that "I don't need two amps". Later, people became totally obsesses by that series of amps and Fender started re-issuing different model of them. It was a 1955 two-hole tweed Fender Bassman, and is probably worth $3500. On a good note, the one I kept is the chassis from a 1958 Tweed Bassman, which is actually more desirable.
            "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

      2. wts | Aug 30, 2007 04:48am | #4

        I will take some photos tomorrow and post them. The current owner of the house bought it from a very ecentric artist and was guessing it was installed 15 years ago but it could of been installed before the 92 ban.

  2. glenaspen | Aug 30, 2007 09:01pm | #7

    If it really is Brazilian Rosewood I'd remove it as carefully as possible, buy and install brand new deck wood of the owner's choice, and use and/or sell the rosewood. I think there's little chance it's Brazilian Rosewood but if it is you've found a hidden treasure that deserves to be put to better use than to collect footprints and algae. Most woodworkers would agree it's the world's most elegant wood and there are no hidden forests of those trees. What we have is pretty much all we're going to get (it grows at glacial pace).

    In the almost certain event that it's not Brazilian Rosewood, or even if it is and the owner insists on keeping it, there's no finish known to man that can protect and and maintain its beauty for very long as a deck wood. All clear finishes break down rather quickly when exposed to UV and rain, especially on a horizontal surface. Personally, I'd rather just put down Ipe, leave it unfinished, and let it age to an attractive gray, but that's just me.

  3. User avater
    hammer1 | Aug 31, 2007 03:42am | #8

    I've been using some products by Defy. I don't have long term experience with them but I'm impressed so far. I don't use a pressure washer, just a garden hose for clean up and brightening. They have a clear preservative that is formulated for species that are difficult. It doesn't form a film. I use their wash, followed by the wood brightener and apply the clear as per the instructions. No experience with Brazilian whatever but it makes cedar look almost new. Future maintenance is easy if you keep up with it. Synthetic resins which won't promote algae and mildew growth.

    http://www.opwdecks.com/defyhardwood.htm

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

  4. User avater
    AaronRosenthal | Aug 31, 2007 05:11am | #9

    Now, there are a lot of opine's here, and I'll put in my 2 cents.
    It is very possible that it's Rosewood. I have had Heinkle knives with Rosewood handles, and it was not so long ago they were new.
    Here is the deal. Get some exterior Penofin with the Rosewood oil 99% UV protection, and get 2 coats on as per the instructions - if the fella insists on keeping that wood on the deck.
    I'm building a new deck for myself (& family) using Pedra, a Mahogany look-alike, and it's magic.

    Quality repairs for your home.

    AaronR Construction
    Vancouver, Canada

     

    1. KenHill3 | Aug 31, 2007 05:52am | #10

      Hi, Aaron-We were talking about BRAZILIAN rosewood. Anymore, what you have/get I believe is INDIAN rosewood.

      1. User avater
        AaronRosenthal | Aug 31, 2007 06:46am | #12

        Thanks.
        Be that as it may, the treatment for wood is what I would suggest.Quality repairs for your home.

        AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada

         

    2. plumbbill | Aug 31, 2007 06:57am | #13

      I'm also going to agree with Ken on the rosewood.

      Brazilian rosewood will actually smell like roses for a very long time.

      I have a nice piece of indian rosewood that is more brown than red I use for inlays, & plug holes for contrast.

      It is the Soldier, not the minister<!----><!----><!---->Who has given us freedom of religion.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the reporter<!----><!---->Who has given us freedom of the press.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the poet<!----><!---->Who has given us freedom of speech.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer<!----><!---->Who has given us freedom to protest.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the lawyer<!----><!---->Who has given us the right to a fair trial.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the politician<!----><!---->Who has given us the right to vote.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,<!----><!---->Who serves beneath the flag,<!----><!---->And whose coffin is draped by the flag,<!----><!---->Who allows the protester to burn the flag.<!----><!----> Charles<!----> Province<!---->

      1. User avater
        AaronRosenthal | Aug 31, 2007 07:17am | #14

        LOL! That's great, Bill.
        What about my suggestion of Penofin, since that's what was asked?Quality repairs for your home.

        AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada

         

        1. plumbbill | Aug 31, 2007 07:27am | #15

          I love ponofin for most woods, but it is harder to come by in the states.

          I haven't had very good luck with it on the brazilian hardwoods--- IPE, jatoba aka brazillian cherry.

          It seems to not want to penitrate very well, but it soaked right into my cedar, & has lasted a very long time.

          My neighbor just coated his brazilian redwood, which I think is jotoba as well with waterlox it seems to be holding up, but after a couple of seasons & if it's still there then I'll believe.

          It is the Soldier, not the minister<!----><!----><!---->Who has given us freedom of religion.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the reporter<!----><!---->Who has given us freedom of the press.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the poet<!----><!---->Who has given us freedom of speech.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer<!----><!---->Who has given us freedom to protest.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the lawyer<!----><!---->Who has given us the right to a fair trial.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier, not the politician<!----><!---->Who has given us the right to vote.<!----><!---->It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,<!----><!---->Who serves beneath the flag,<!----><!---->And whose coffin is draped by the flag,<!----><!---->Who allows the protester to burn the flag.<!----><!----> Charles<!----> Province<!---->

          1. User avater
            AaronRosenthal | Aug 31, 2007 07:34am | #16

            Geez Louize, a couple of years?
            Pedra is hard, and it needs to soak for 20 minutes before wipe-off.
            I have used Penofin for years. You need to coat once a year. Follow directions.
            Dunno Waterlox at all.Quality repairs for your home.

            AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada

             

          2. KenHill3 | Aug 31, 2007 08:37am | #17

            Second the recommendos for Penofin, Aaron! And yes, every year, at most two.

  5. jackplane | Aug 31, 2007 06:40am | #11

    There's only one way to treat a Brazilian deck..

    With a party! Play the "Girl from Ipanema", mix up some mojitos, and call the neighbors...

     

    I'd apply a latex based stain, but no sealers/poly etc.

    Expert since 10 am.

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