Shorncliffe Pier.

Restoring a timber deck to look like new is a summer project for many homeowners. Bringing tired and worn timber back to life makes a deck attractive and enjoyable. Just as many homeowners restore their timber decks, government and councils renew and restore their outdoor timber boardwalks to let them to be enjoyed year-round. One such location is the Iconic Shorncliffe Pier which was recently coated with CUTEK® Wood Preservative by the Brisbane City Council in preparation for summer.

An icon of the South-East Queensland shoreline, the Shorncliffe pier was rebuilt in 2016 after the original boardwalk suffered significant decay from marine borers and termites. Restored and beloved, the Shorncliffe Pier once again became a centrepiece of the north Brisbane coastline. However, over time, the coating on the Spotted Gum timber began to break down. Most alarming for the Council was that the Pier became slippery when wet and the original coating had become black and tacky and would leave a stain on visitor’s shoes and clothing. A revision of the timber protection was required. Key considerations were slip rating, long-term wood protection against the harsh coastal climate, environmental impacts of removing the previous coating and ease of maintenance.

CUTEK® technical expert, Greg Boulter, was invited to inspect the Pier and provide advice on how best to remove the coating and protect the timber. On the first of many site visits, Greg met with key stakeholders from Council, including environmental representatives, to complete a test patch of CUTEK® Wood Preservative. After deliberation, it was decided that the previous coating was to be removed using a brush sanding system with an integral vacuum that contains timber dust and fibres to ensure minimal impact on the marine habitat. Once completely removed, the Pier was then to be protected with CUTEK® Wood Preservative.

Shorncliffe pier is completely exposed to the elements; high moisture, salty coast air, driving rain and blistering sun combined with heavy foot traffic is a recipe for worn-out and dilapidated timber. CUTEK® Wood Preservative was applied (by the council employees) to protect against moisture, fungal decay, mould and termites. Infusing deep into the timber, the added protection of CUTEK® Wood Preservative will also actively work to minimise the effects of these harsh weather conditions and visitor traffic and maintain the dimensional stability of the Spotted Gum pier.

Ease of maintenance was a factor in choosing CUTEK® as the Council desired the Pier naturally silver over time. Therefore, CUTEK® Wood Preservative without a CUTEK® Colourtone was applied. The Council knew that maintenance coats of CUTEK® Wood Preservative would be easy, efficient and cost-effective; no sanding or stripping required, simply wash and recoat.

The CUTEK® technical expert, Greg handled many enquires and technical questions throughout the process and partnered with the Brisbane City Council to ensure they achieved their desired result. CUTEK® Wood Preservative maintained the original slip rating of the timber, protected against long-term decay and aligned with minimising the short-term and longer-term impact on the marine habitat.

At CUTEK®, we are committed to providing expert advice on how to provide the best timber protection for your next project. No job is too big or small for our expertise and our team will provide excellent technical support and customer service.

Contact CUTEK® to discuss your personal project needs today