Selecting the Right Wood Finish for your Platform Trailer

In order to be durable for the long-term, all platform trailer decks need to be properly installed and maintained as they are constantly exposed to severe weather conditions.

With wooden decks the exposure to severe weather naturally causes the boards to shrink and swell the wood and subjects the deck to high levels of stress.

Without proper maintenance, even well built trailers utilizing only the most durable and strongest of wood species can potentially develop problems such as checks and cracks, raised grain, and mildew, thus increasing the risk of decay and insect attack (and ultimately floor failure) as the natural process of weathering occurs.

Because of these risks, lumber used in most platform trailer decks is usually pressure treated with a preservative, or is a naturally durable wood such as Apitong, Parangelim, Purpleheart, Oak or Douglas Fir. 

Regularly applying an additional finish to wood decks has been proven to be the most cost-effective way to prolong the life of your deck and minimize the problems of cracking, raised grain, and mildew growth.

Apitong Oil by ExoShield is a MADE IN THE USA product which offers superior protection for wood applications on platform trailers. Our secret formula protects your trailer's deck while allowing the natural beauty of the wood to remain the focus.

Using a proprietary blend of Tung Oil, Fungicide, and Trans-oxide pigments, the exclusive Apitong Oil formula provides long-lasting penetrative protection for exterior wood applications while using only the finest components.

The use of Tung Oil originated thousands of years ago in China where it was used as a preservative on wooden ships. Today it is the woodworkers’ #1 choice to add protection and beauty to a finished project. Apitong Oil takes advantage of the penetrative and protective properties that Tung Oil serves to create a naturally durable and long-lasting deck finish. The Tung Oil used in our Apitong Oil formulation contributes to provide a naturally water-resistant, acid-resistant, and easy to use deck finish. Apitong Oil also greatly reduces the chances of boards either cracking or warping when correctly applied.

Fungicide is an key component to maintaining the timeless beauty of your exterior wood project. Apitong Oil not only offers protection from harmful UV rays and water damage, but it also includes a fungicide in the formula that will keep your decking in top shape, and free of fungus, mould and mildew. This is just another reason why Apitong Oil is the answer for all exterior wood applications on platform trailers.

To further protect your deck from the sun's harmful UV rays we use trans-oxide pigments in Apitong Oil, adding to the longevity of the structure and color. The pigments used in our Apitong Oil will bring out and protect the natural colors of the wood it’s used on, providing a long-lasting vivid result. Apitong Oil will lengthen the lifespan of the wood's original color, delaying the graying process. When applied every one to two years, your deck will maintain a nearly brand-new appearance, with very little maintenance.

To learn more about Apitong Oil by ExoShield please visit us at https://www.trailerdecking.com/ProductID4029 or call 1-855-APITONG

Protecting you Platform Trailer's Deck

Why does outdoor wood turn grey? As cherished as this natural look is, protecting it is necessary to maintain the natural physical properties like durability and strength.

The natural greying process observed when wood weathers is a complex amalgamation of natural chemical, mechanical, biological and light-induced changes which occur over time. The explanation is similar to how our skin is damaged from the sun. If we spend time outdoors without proper protection we get sunburnt and start to wrinkle. 

Similarly, because of the harmful UV rays from the sun, unprotected deck boards turn grey as time passes and start to degrade. This is why it is important to initially take measures to ensure your deck is protected and then to conduct regular on-going maintenance in order to optimize the performance of your deck.

Regular Cleaning of Your Deck

Decking can be pressure washed, but you must be careful not to damage the surface wood fibers by setting the pressure too high. Pressure washing may be necessary between oil treatments in order to remove surface discoloration.

Maximize Protection with Oil Based Deck Stains

Oil based deck stains help preserve the natural color in your deck while also offering superb UV protection. Blocking out harmful UV rays means it will keep your deck beautiful, fresh and looking new longer. These stains are easy to apply and best of all they can be cleaned and recoated as maintenance is needed. This is a huge advantage to having to strip the stain off every time it needs attention and it helps lessen the cost and hassle of deck maintenance.

Oil Based Finish on all sides

Many oil based deck stains also have select mildewcides that inhibit mold, mildew, and fungal growth. Preventing these contaminants from intruding the wood will help eradicate wood rot and costly structural repairs. Unwanted moisture and fungal growth can crack, warp, split, and decay wood in a few short years.

Conclusion

Following a regular maintenance schedule will ensure the wood gets maximum protection and you get years of enjoyment from the investment in your deck.

Making the effort to apply an oil-based weatherizing treatment at the time of initial install as well as regular wood cleaning, maintenance and stain re-applications will enhance the performance of your deck boards and prolong the life of your hardwood deck.

For best results, apply the weatherizing treatment according to the manufacturer’s directions. To maintain the natural color, a high quality penetrating oil finish with UV inhibitors should be used. 

Tropical Forest Management - South East Asian Environmental Practices / TrailerDecking.com

Welcome back to trailerdecking.blogspot.com, the most in-depth trailer decking series on the web. Today's blog is about South East Asian environmental forestry practices.

On the supply side, in both Malaysia and Indonesia, buyers have found a suitable measure of reliability and responsibility in the areas of tropical forest management and resource-based economic development. Tropical forests in both countries are essentially public lands, managed and protected by their respective Federal and State Governments.


Southeast Asian Tropical Forest


Forest Certification programs have emerged in both Malaysia (through the FSC and the MTCC programs) and Indonesia (through the FSC, SVLK and LEI programs). Certification is very much market driven and is serving as a tool towards promoting legal, reliable and sustainable forest management. Certification is seen as a step toward ensuring the production of a continuous flow of desired forest products and services from the forest reserves. Further, certification is being actively pursued to ensure continued market access of Malaysian and Indonesian timber products, particularly in an increasingly environmentally sensitive market.

Logging in Rain Forest

The Malaysian and Indonesian government and policy makers decision to promote a more stable currency policy is great news. Additionally, with the impetus of emerging Forest Certification Schemes offering a legal, reliable and sustainable supply situation, we feel confident that a reliable supply of Apitong in the trailer market is ensured.

Rain Forest Logging

We at Nova USA Wood Products and TrailerDecking.com offer a wide variety of Apitong products for the trailer and truck body industry. We purchase only the best materials from reputable mills that place an emphasis on quality and delivery. We are also one of the few suppliers who have overseas inspectors in place to ensure that material is thoroughly checked before it departs the mill. This final inspection ensures that you get exactly what you ordered each and every time. We certify all of our trailer decking products and warranty them against defects in workmanship. Contact us for a quote today.

Angelim Pedra VS Apitong: Which Flooring Material Is Right For You? [INFOGRAPHIC]

For years, Asian Apitong has been the standard hardwood choice for trailer flooring and truck bed applications. More recently, another hardwood species has made an impact on the trailer flooring world: Angelim Pedra. Both are great options for industrial uses such as trailer flooring, but which is the right choice for you?

The following infographic compares the two species by four important metrics; hardness, strength, stiffness, and density. We hope this helps shed some light on the issue and gives you the information you need to decide which is best for you. Enjoy!

As you can see, both varieties have their pros and cons. Angelim Pedra beats Apitong in both hardness and density, while Apitong is the clear choice in terms of strength and stiffness. Both are superior trailer flooring products, so the choice is often a matter of personal preference. Which do you prefer? Leave us a comment and let us know!