Re-Caulking a Teak Deck - Advice ?

[cburger]

Teak Decking Systems.

[slowshoes]

Nice work Rob - it looks like your handy with a varnish brush as well!

Heather,

I wouldn't recommend not bothering with masking tape and simply caulking and then sanding off the excess as some of the other posters have suggested. It won't be too long doing this and all you will be left with is teak toothpicks and screws.

Masking off is a pain, but it's the only way to do it unless you have the money to replace your deck much sooner than you should ever have to.

The deck on my boat is 25 years old and has never been sanded or even scrubbed with a brush (use a mop), and it still has plenty of life in it.

Repair the occasional bad seam or popped bung as they crop up, and you'll be good to go.

[rebel heart]

The only reason I sanded my decks, once, is because the previous owner applied Cetol generously to them before I took ownership.....

I was just over on a guy's boat the other day where you can see the screw heads popping out. No life left, and several owners with sanders have reduced the teak decks to a massive deferred maintenance project.