Deck sealer...use any successfully?

[coachgrd]

Hi guys. I have a 9-year old pressure treated deck that I've spent countless hours pressure washing and sealing on a yearly basis. Invariably it looks pretty mediocre by the end of the summer. (By mediocre I mean doesn't appear to repel water, has a "worn" look to it, and just looks like a deck that doesn't get cared for.) I really love the look of a well maintained pressure treated deck as opposed to the composite look...I just can't find a product I'm happy with. Have any of you?

I've never wasted $$$ on Thompson products as I've heard from countless people that they are junk. I'm wondering if maybe I should just go that route as nothing seems to work anyhow!

As always, thank you!

 

[Gizmo2]

Good post. Our new deck (replacement) is only 3 years old and we've sealed it twice with Thompsons water seal. My wife commented just yesterday how after finishing sealing this year it is beginning to look old already. We've used the clear stuff both times. Not particularly happy about it either. Let's see what others are doing.

 

[MrWoodChips]

Hi guys. I have a 9-year old pressure treated deck that I've spent countless hours pressure washing and sealing on a yearly basis. Invariably it looks pretty mediocre by the end of the summer. (By mediocre I mean doesn't appear to repel water, has a "worn" look to it, and just looks like a deck that doesn't get cared for.) I really love the look of a well maintained pressure treated deck as opposed to the composite look...I just can't find a product I'm happy with. Have any of you?

I've never wasted $$$ on Thompson products as I've heard from countless people that they are junk. I'm wondering if maybe I should just go that route as nothing seems to work anyhow!

Expect to have to treat your deck yearly. I've used Thompson sealers, as well as others. They will all last at best about a year or so. The Thompson sealers were better than SOME of the others I tried, but no better than the best of the rest. I have used some products that appeared to be gone in a couple of months.

I do our deck roughly every other year, which seems to make the stain last longer, and seems a reasonable compromise. Since sealing is far easier than staining, I choose to seal. Seal too often, and I've seen it build up a varnished look, that then may peel off as it ages. Since some areas of our deck are more protected than others, sealing yearly will sometimes be an issue. (We live in upstate NY, not too unlike the weather in PA.)

Sunlight, rain, ice, and snow, all take their tolls on your deck over the course of a year. You too would look pretty ratty if you stood out there all year long. Feel free to wear any rain coat you like. ;-)

On our previous deck, we never did anything, and it took on a very nice weathered gray tone. I very much liked that color, but my wife has other opinions.

John

 

[polo1665]

I have been very happy with "Messmer's UV Plus" My deck is hardwood, but they offer products for pressure treated decks as well. I seriously doubt that you'll find a product that will last more than a couple years though.
I have the same problem as MrWoodChips, the little lady doesn't like that gray look.

Mark

 

[thatguy]

A few years back (3 or so) Consumer Reports did a study and found the Thompson DID NOT work very well.. They rated an Olympic sealer the best..

I reckon advertising works - for years I thought Thompson was the best out there..
brian

 

[ragkar]

I just came in from staining my deck with Cabot ($35/gal) solid color oil based decking stain. I'll let you know in two or three years.

 

[Gizmo2]

I just came in from staining my deck with Cabot ($35/gal) solid color oil based decking stain. I'll let you know in two or three years.

Oh yeah, thanks for the help!

 

[Podunkadunk]

TWP made by a company called Flood. You can now find it at Home Depot (most anyhow) and Ace Hardware. Works good and lasts at least 3 years before requiring a recoat.

http://www.flood.com/flood/

Thompsons sucks, I've never had luck with it and I don't know anyone who has. They have a great marketing department though, I especially like the Niagra Falls commercial. I wouldn't take it if you were giving it away and would deliver it for free.

Podunk

 

[Bird]

When I bought this place 3 years ago, I found an unopened gallon can of Sikkens Cetol Dek (natural). I used about half of it on a 26 x 12 deck 3 years ago and have been thinking I ought to use up the rest of it soon. It's a bit hard to find and the only place in this area I found it, gets $50 a gallon.

I guess everyone knows that Thompson's makes several different sealers, both oil and water based. I used the old style oil based Thompson's on a fence and I am not impressed with it at all. However, I used Thompson's Advanced honey gold water based on a new fence in May, 2006, so over 2 years ago, and I noticed today that water still will not stick to it and it still looks good.

 

[Pirate]

Don't pressure wash. Use some form of deck wash and brush. Hose it down. I only use Olympic sealer from Lowes. The "clear" stuff is oil based and puts a nice finish on the wood.

 

[curly]

Don't pressure wash. Use some form of deck wash and brush. Hose it down. I only use Olympic sealer from Lowes. The "clear" stuff is oil based and puts a nice finish on the wood.

Yeah, I don't ever pressure wash either. Just a good stain. When you have to sweep (or squeegie) the water off the boards you know the stuff is working. I haven't put anything on my porch yet (been 3 years since the house was built) but it's time. I'll probably try one of the premium brands from this thread.

 

[FrogLick]

Anyone use Sherwin Williams Deckscapes stains?

 

[Podunkadunk]

Pressure washing can ruin your boards if you have too much pressure. Also, don't waste your money buying "board cleaner" "deck wash". Just mix up a 50/50 solution of Clorox bleach and water, apply with a pump sprayer. Then, come back after an hour or so and rinse off. Allow to dry for a couple days, then apply your brand of stain.

Works good, last long time.

Podunk

 

[cisco]

Possibly a useful reply - Consumer Reports, June 2008, pages 40-41
No transparent sealer lasts long (remember the original Thompson's Water Seal - since reformulated into something useful), but some of the opaque ones now seem reasonably good at 9 years (Olympic Premium, Behr Plus 10). Note that there are MANY variations on stains within the same brand (esp. Thompson's, Olympic), and the Lowe's special for Labor Day, the so-called Maximum stain, was rated dead last (11th of 11 rated) by Consumer Reports. I'm facing a 400' walkway and dock to stain, and I've no desire to do such frequently - so, a little research ........
Course - in the larger view of things - there's 3 tropical storms currently in the Atlantic, and I'm on the SC coast, so maybe Mother Nature will alleviate me of the necessity of staining my dock - I may not have a dock in a week or 2.

 

[coachgrd]

Thanks to everyone for the help...gives me some ideas for next spring's treatment.

Gary

 

[ray66v]

Anyone use Sherwin Williams Deckscapes stains?

I use the Deckscapes products professionally.

The stripper, (as necessary), followed by the brightener, then the toner. the toner is a sealer, with some pigment, to give a stained effect in one step. Careful pressure washing is usually necessary when striping.

These products work very well. But, the proper maintenance of a deck is an annual thing.

I have been able to do some impressive work on some very ugly peeling decks with these products. The toner can eliminate the peeling issue.

The condition of the deck is main factor in how it looks when finished. If the wood is smooth, and the grain is tight, it will have a slight sheen, and will repel water very well. If the wood is weathered and the grain is open and cracked. no amount of sealer will produce the same sheen and water repelling effect is minimized.

Care should be used when applying any sealer as over application can lead to undesirable results. If any puddling is present, after 5 minutes, you should sop up the excess with a rag.

I personally cannot understand why most people would want a wood deck. Except in the case of a home that actually needs one, due to the lot it is built on, I would not have one. I prefer to build out of concrete, brick and stone.

 

[GeneD14]

If you do any research on log homes or homes that have wood siding the choice is most often Sikkens Cetol. It is extremely good quality. I used it on our deck about 10 years ago in harsh MI weather and a coat would last about 4 years. Our current home has log siding and we used it to seal the logs and the treated deck. It is great stuff!

 

[davitk]

Ask the professional's (builders and remodelers) around here and the brand that most comes up is Cabot's. I've been happy with Ace Hardware brands oil-based sealer, applied 2x/year

 

[Soundguy]

Are you only looking for a clear or invisible treatment.. or will you consider a stain or paint?

soundguy

Hi guys. I have a 9-year old pressure treated deck that I've spent countless hours pressure washing and sealing on a yearly basis. Invariably it looks pretty mediocre by the end of the summer. (By mediocre I mean doesn't appear to repel water, has a "worn" look to it, and just looks like a deck that doesn't get cared for.) I really love the look of a well maintained pressure treated deck as opposed to the composite look...I just can't find a product I'm happy with. Have any of you?

I've never wasted $$$ on Thompson products as I've heard from countless people that they are junk. I'm wondering if maybe I should just go that route as nothing seems to work anyhow!

As always, thank you!

 

[ToadHill]

Thompsons acording to my son in law who works for a hardware chain is wax based and will only last at best 1 year as it has no ability to penetrate the surface. He recommended I get a produce that can penetrate the surface. I just finished using a product called Flood's penetrant and sealer. It is supposed to last 2 to 4 years but at this point the jury is still out.