Most teak and holly decks are not holly, but usually teak and maple.

Maple is quite fine as a holly substitute, as true (clear) holly is now
almost impossible to obtain. There are some qualities of maple used for pool
cues that are graded for their whiteness and straightness of grain if you
are seeking perfection in a holly substitute.

To lay your own teak and 'holly' deck, I would suggest that you use 1/4"
plywood to adhere your teak and maple strips onto first . The holly/maple
will be only 3/16" x 3/16" so it requires some fiddling and clamping . Build
up panel sections approximately 24 inches (+ -) by the length of your
project, with added length for trim. When these panels are completed and
the adhesive is well cured you can then lay them out in place on your sole,
trim them to fit and then adhere the panels to your existing deck using sand
bags or concrete blocks to hold the panels down until they cure.

In my opinion.....do not use epoxy on teak decks for any teak decking
thicker than 1/8".

In my opinion...Sikaflex www.sika.com and Teak Decking Systems
www.teakdecking.com adhesives are the better products available for teak
decks.

Be sure that your caulking adhesive has a UV light inhibitor.

When it comes to that 'break bond' strip in the caulking groove it has
become proven over time that it is beneficial when decking thickness is 1/4
" or greater. Most teak decking data comes from teak deck performance on
cruise ships. Cruise ships usually only last 30 years before they are
scrapped for the steel and those teak decks have offered up a wealth of
information on the performance of adhesives and bonding to teak decking over
time and adverse weather conditions.

A previous poster was concerned about whether to use a breakbond strip when
he had epoxy overflow in the caulking gap. I believe that he had 1/4" teak
decking. In that situation I would not bother with the breakbond strip as
most adhesives would break free from the smooth epoxy surface prior to
breaking free from the rougher teak surfaces.

However, it has been found that when you have a three sided bonded surface
(with potential movement) that the adhesive join is compromised. A two sided
bonded join (with potential movement) is superior.

Regarding that faux teak/holly plywood.........great for a floating
motorhome.



Ken Chaytor / Island Teak
www.island-teak.com