Tongue & Groove Door tips?

[Andys]

I'm busy extracting the crusty old mastic (aaargh) from the grooves in a tongue and groove exterior door so I can repaint it - Does anyone have any suggestions for the best approach for finishing off the door eg, just paint it without any filler in the grooves/fill the groove just enough to protect the plank join?

I'm tempted to only fill where it's gappy using something polyfilla-ish so it drops out nicely after a couple of years ready for redecoration...

Oh yes, here's a picture (assuming it works)
Andy

 

[Toby Newell]

Anything will fall out, eventually, why not clean out the gaps and seal with 6 coats of microporous oil varnish or oil finish? Or pure Tung oil?

It will weather nicely and evenly if you oil it, it will stay a brighter colour for longer if you varnish it but eventually will discolour depending upon whether or not it is in lee and what direction it is facing.

If you want to redo the mastic then Bona gap master is an acrylic sealant designed for gaps in wood and comes in many different wood colours it is not designed for outside use but it's acrylic, so when cured if there is a little Lee I would presume it may last quite well as it is flexible and waterproof.

Toby

 

[Andys]

Thanks Toby, I think I'll go for the many coats option, right now I never want to see sealant again!
Andy

 

[Toby Newell]

I agree

I usually use Leyland Microporous traditional oil varnish and apply six coats, otherwise I would also recommend Mylands or Liberon pure Tung oil with a little gum turpentine I would apply eight or ten coats of this, naturally microporous and more hardwearing than the bespoke teak or Danish oils which are just modified tall oil varnishes or oils made with weaker linseed and paraffin oils (Tung is the strongest oil)

T