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.