Refinish teak over Awlgrip

[The Way]

My Awlgrip decks look gorgeous! Now it's time to refinish the teak.

Unfortunately I've heard that teak cleaners/bleaches with potassium hydroxide or oxalic acid are bad for the Awlgrip. And I can't remove all the teak, much as I'd like to.

Can anyone confirm or refute that these cleaners will damage Awlgrip?

If so, what should I do to brighten the teak before varnishing? I don't like to sand much because it isn't a long-term solution because the teak just gets smaller.

Thanks,
Jack

[The Way]

Just bumping this thread in the hope some experts will see it!

Thanks,
Jack

[David M]

Phosphoric acid, (Part B for the two part teak cleaner kits) is commonly used used for darkening teak from white back to its brown color, can damage the pigment in Awlgrip. I have done it myself...bummer.

First, don't use the acid in high concentrations....try a very dilute concentration first, even if you end up having to acidize the teak twice. Second, rinse it off immediately. Don't let the acid sit for long and especially don't let it dry on the Awlgrip.

You will need to give the teak a light sanding before varnishing regardless. You want the wood looking perfect before varnishing and you want the hard grain and the soft grain of the wood to be at the same level. Chemically cleaning teak takes away more soft grain than hard grain, leaving the hard grain noticeably higher after varnishing.

If you are going to varnish, then you may want to forego the chemical treatment and sand down to clean, level, unoxidized wood. Be sure to mask off the edges so you do not accidentally damage your paint with sand paper.

[minaret]

Use oxalic acid and a scotch brite pad and rinse heavily right away.

[The Way]

David, Minaret,

Many thanks for the good advice!

Fair winds,
Jack