Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - deck maintenance

Hi folks.

Just moved into a house with a wood deck; I've never owned one before.

From what I've read, I should clean and stain/seal it every one or two years. Is that correct?

Is there a preferred product for doing this (particular brand name)? Should I be sealing or staining?

This deck is in Wisconsin, if that makes any difference on how I need to care for it.

Thanks!

How long the sealer will last is determined by both the weather it recieves and the quality of coating used. Generally the more the coating costs, the longer it will last.

Thin clear sealers like thompson's waterseal only last 1 yr or less :eek: A semi-transparent stain will last longer and the stain is also a sealer. A solid stain may last longer than semi-transparent but it looks more like paint although it is a good choice for older decks in poor shape.

Go to your local paint store for both the coating and advice. They'll know what the pros like best in your area. Big box stores stock coatings based primarily on cost, cheap coating = short life.

Exactly what marksr said, especially the part about "generally the more the coating costs, the longer it will last".

A couple of name brands that get spoken of highly in here are Super Deck and Sikkens. You won't find them at either the big orange or big blue box store. You'll need to go to a paint store or a lumber yard that deals pretty heavily in decking. (IMHO, you'll also get better advise there!)

You might step into a paint store that has some other brand name than the two I mentioned. See the part about the price above, but also be cautious thay they aren't selling the exact same thing that you could get at the box store for $5/gal. less. The blue box carrys Cabot's, and that's not a bad one either.

Exactly what marksr said, especially the part about "generally the more the coating costs, the longer it will last".

A couple of name brands that get spoken of highly in here are Super Deck and Sikkens. You won't find them at either the big orange or big blue box store. You'll need to go to a paint store or a lumber yard that deals pretty heavily in decking. (IMHO, you'll also get better advise there!)

You might step into a paint store that has some other brand name than the two I mentioned. See the part about the price above, but also be cautious thay they aren't selling the exact same thing that you could get at the box store for $5/gal. less. The blue box carrys Cabot's, and that's not a bad one either.

Thanks guys.

I read a recommendation for Cabot's elsewhere on the web, and my local hardware store carries it, so I was thinking about going with that product.

Are there any guidelines to determine when a new coat needs to be applied? It would appear as though the previous owner probably put something cheap (Thompson's?) on last year. It still looks very good - there are only a couple small spots where it's more grey than yellow.

Would the existing stain/repellent interfere with a new stain? Does it sound like the current stuff will do the job for another year?

Some coatings require removal before a new application. Generally if you wash the deck first, it will be ok to recoat. If water beads up on the surface, the coating is still working although looks is often a consideration.

I usually take a pump up garden sprayer with a bleach solution [never stronger than 50/50] and apply it to the deck, let set but not dry and then rinse off. A pressure washer works best but you can do a decent job with just a water hose. There are also commercially prepared deck cleaners that are more diy friendly.