Testing different textures and finishes
We had a few different possibilities in mind for finishing the deck and adding a texture to it. So, we set out a test board and tried out several different combinations.
The left side of the board is varnish mixed with two texture samples: the commercial additive and beach sand. The beach sand was too coarse and the results were uneven and too sticky. It may have worked with finer sand but Encinitas beach sand just didn't cut it. The non-stick additive mixed well with the varnish and could be applied evenly.
In the center of the board is the sample of black wood stain with the additive. The stain and additive didn't mix very well causing the stain coloring to be uneven and when it dried the additive brushed right off.
The right bottom sample is close to what we ended up using—it's a coat of wood stain topped by one coat of the varnish/non-stick additive mixture. For the final product we switched from varnish to polyurethane because the poly dries faster and is less prone to cracking when flexed.
