Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Year old deck, now what?

I built the deck last summer, with all pressure treated lumber. I never did anything with it as far as treating it, because I knew I was suppose to wait a year.
But now the deck is 1 year old and truefully I really don't feel like doing anything with it. It's not that I don't want to work it's just that I don't want to do it everyother year.
I see the guy next door working on his deck every year and I say to myself thats crazy. He's out there for days pressure washing that thing, then treating it.
I had decks in the past when I was younger, and I always painted the whole deck, floor, post and spindals. But now I want to spend my summers relaxing not painting.
Just say if I did nothing with this new deck , what would happen? The only change I noticed in the deck is that some of the spindals did warp, maybe 3 out of the 150 I have. Also 2 of the post have large cracks lenth wise in them. But that is myfault, they were very small cracks when i built the deck and i sould have never used them, they will most likely be replaced next year.

If there is no way around it and I do have to treat it, what do I use?

Its simple, don't do PM (preventative maintenance) and you will be replacing it a lot sooner. Its just like taking care of your car, etc.. don't do it and it will fail sooner then later.

YellowTang,

I agree with Hellrazor in that in the long run, not applying sealers each year would be the same amount of work as leaving it alone, considering you will be replacing the deck sooner.
A concrete patio might have been a less maintenance prone option.

I use a preservative that contains Copper Naphthenate on a 50' pressure treated walking bridge surface that leaves a green surface color that spruces up the surface.
I've used Thompson's products but they don't seem to last as long.


http://www.recochem.com/english/products/wood_preservatives/index.html

YT,

Ever been to the Outer Banks, NC.?
Well, as a former deck restorer/pressure washer, it appears to be a gold mine down there. But 99 out of 100 pt decks are allowed to weather to that silvery gray. Some people like the greying effect. Your minor defects would have occured anyway.
Granted, the wood will last a small percentage longer if protected, but it's your choice. I really believe the deck cleaning/sealing process is more for aesthetics than anything else. I have two decks, one newer and maintained every couple years by pw and oil base staining.
My old deck has only been cleaned/stained one time since I thought I would have replaced it by now. The decking is 2 x 6s, some cracking and shrinking, and lots of gray. The point is tough that the wood is going to last a long time even if unprotectred. This older deck was built in 1978.

So - your choice!

fred

To many variables here. A roof over the deck keeps the sun off it, so it doesn't get baked. Deck facing south vs north, south will show bleaching and problems sooner. North side might get a moss problem. As far as older wood lasting, yes it does. I just ripped a deck off put up in 76, it had a roof over it too. The additon to the deck was 10 years old and looked 10 times worse. That part didn't have a roof. The old deck was painted originally, then sanded off and stained. How many people here have a utility trailer decked with PT and how long does the wood last untreated there? Our trailer at work gets a max of 8-10 years before the wood deteriorates to the points its not safe for the weight it bears.