Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Has anybody tried (Sealing deck)

Hello everyone,
Has anyone out there tried to apply deck waterproofer with a garden sprayer. I have a friend that told me to try it but I'm a little wary.

I have done this. I sprayed it on a section at a time and then used a roller to "push" it into the wood. It also got onto the house siding and would not come off. Watch for that mistake. Good luck.

However you apply it, it has to be rolled or brushed into the surface anyway, so I just apply it with the brush - seems like I'm saving a step that way.

Make sure you use proper prep before you seal so it lasts longer for you. Rolling is not the best way to apply sealer. It goes on too heavy and forms a film at the surface.

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IMO garden sprayers aren't that great to apply selaer/stain. They will work for the thinner coatings. While a roller isn't always the best method of application it will help to work the coating into the wood. A little common sense and care will prevent the roller from applying the coating unevenly or too thick.

So what is the best way to apply the stain?

Has anyone tried a mop sponge pad?

Brush or roller for vertical surfaces. For horizontal surfaces like the floor, they make applicators that look like a mop. Never tried it myself, but a neighbor was happy with the results he got using one - I think it was called a "Stain Stick."

I think I am going to go with the floor mop sponge. It's the yellow sponge that attached to a stick..

Sounds like it's worth a try. Please post back when you're done and let us know how it turned out.

Turned out terrible. The sponge wouldn't drag and spread the stain well at all.
So I quickly abandonded that idea and went with a paint roller. Which applied the coverage very well.

But where I screwed up was when rolling, I should have applied a thicker coat. In some spots you can tell it's thinner and others it's thicker. And I have bad over lap marks that I thought would blend in better because it was still wet.

I rolled it out like I would paint a wall in 3'-4' sections..
And it dried like that. With the overlap marks.


So I emailed Sikken last night and asked if I could apply a second coat with a certain amount of time like 36 hours. They replied back that it was meant to be a one coat stain, so I have to wait until next year when it weathers properly and then start over..

Bummer.

Next time try to coat whole boards at a time, may take a little longer but the result will be worth it.

Experience is always the best teacher :D