The Best Way To Seal Your Deck

If you really think about it, wooden decks are quire challenging to maintain. They take a lot of abuse and get plenty of traffic. Often exposed to harsh weather elements, wood decks need protecting with deck sealant if you want to prolong their lifespan.

The surface is under the direct influence of sunlight, rain, and snow. Therefore, they are more vulnerable than any other type of wooden structure. However, with the proper use of a deck sealer, you can prevent further damage.

Here are a couple of tricks you can employ to fix your deck.

Clean

This should be the first step in a sealing process. You need remove all the junk and debris from between the boards. In this case, putty knives and screwdrivers are great tools for this task.

To prepare the surface for a sealer, you previously need to clean everything with a deck cleaning solution. You can find this in any hardware store. On the other hand, if your deck is made from redwood or cedar that is stained, then you need to buy a deck brightener which will help you remove all the stains.

Make sure it’s not too hot outside when you apply a cleaner because it can dry too fast. Choose cloudy, but not a rainy day. On top of that, use a roller brush for a smoother application, or a sprayer.

To clean wood railings and posts, work from the bottom up. If you apply it in the opposite way, then spills can get dry on the wood, leaving stains, which are challenging to remove.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding a cleaner and then rinse thoroughly. Once you are done with the cleaning, wait for at least 48 before applying a sealer.

Deck sealer – application

Stains and sealers are available in the majority of home improvement centers. Approximately, you will require one gallon to cover 250 square feet. When it comes to choosing the best product, you’ve got several options to choose from.

Usually, the more opaque the sealer is, the better the resistance will be. On the other hand, you can go for lighter finishes if you want to achieve a more natural appearance. But, keep in might that choosing a light sealer often involves more work, in terms of maintenance.

However, here are a couple of options:

• Clear and wood-toned sealers – boost the natural appearance
• Semi-transparent – contain a light pigment and can slightly change the tone of the wood. You can find them in gray, blue, red, and green shades.

Before applying a sealer, check the weather forecast because you will need the temperature between 50 and 90 degrees.

Sand the deck to get rid of any frizzy or grain caused by washing. For this, you can utilize 80-grit sandpaper. After you are done, sweep or vacuum the deck and apply a painter’s tape to protect nearby surfaces.

If roller can’t reach all the pores and grains, then use a bristle brush for a sealer. Don’t forget to put the sealer into joints where two boards butt together.