Subject: help (teak over plywood)
Date: Mon, 02 Aug 1999

i have a plywood deck that i want to do over in teak. i will be laying teak over the plywood with a space between the boards then running black caulking between them what type of gule should i use to hold the board down. I will not be nailing or screwing throught the face fo the boards.

thank you for your help

We'd suggest this:

Apply CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer) to the plywood first, especially any joints, butts, or end-grain. This will give the plywood some protection against future rot problems once water leaks through the teak -- and it will. One coat should be sufficient. Allow the CPES to evaporate away the carrier solvents and cure -- about 2-3 days. Do not put the CPES on the teak.

Now, go back and lay down your teak boards with our Tropical Hardwood Epoxy Adhesive. Apply the THEA to both the ply and the bottom of the teak boards. Allow a couple of days cure time and then go ahead and apply your caulking. In this connection I should mention that the 2-part polysulfides are far superior to the one-part. Your choice.

Come back if we can be of further help.

Doc