Are you supposed to put wood sealer on your deck each year?

[cjchaps]

I moved into my house last Oct, and now that Summer is here I am starting prepare things, like the lawn and deck and such. We have a big wood deck. Are you supposed to "seal" the deck with wood sealant each year? How is that supposed to work?

 

[NutBucket]

not quite. Should be at least every 2. Depends on what kind of sealer you used to begin with.

 

[cjchaps]

I'm not sure of the sealing history of the deck. An old lady lived in the place before us, and her husband died a year ago, so I assume nothing has been done with it. It rained yesterday, and the water was beading up in places on it...

Originally posted by: NutBucket
not quite. Should be at least every 2. Depends on what kind of sealer you used to begin with.

 

[Sundog]

First of all what kid of wood is it? Pressure treated lumber, cedar, etc????

 

[MrBond]

I've heard good things about the new epoxy sealers. If the wood is in good condtion (ie: looks wood-colored instead of grey) you may look into that.

 

[cjchaps]

Is there anyway to tell this by looking at it?

Originally posted by: Sundog
First of all what kid of wood is it? Pressure treated lumber, cedar, etc????

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: cjchaps
Is there anyway to tell this by looking at it?

Originally posted by: Sundog
First of all what kid of wood is it? Pressure treated lumber, cedar, etc????

Yes. What color is it first of all.

 

[Buttzilla]

Originally posted by: cjchaps
I'm not sure of the sealing history of the deck. An old lady lived in the place before us, and her husband died a year ago, so I assume nothing has been done with it. It rained yesterday, and the water was beading up in places on it...

did he die in the house??? man, i'd be spooked if he died in the house.

 

[cjchaps]

It's kind of a reddish-brown color, and I can't see any wood grain lines or anything on it. I believe it's stained because the color doesn't look natural at all...

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: cjchaps
Is there anyway to tell this by looking at it?

Originally posted by: Sundog
First of all what kid of wood is it? Pressure treated lumber, cedar, etc????

Yes. What color is it first of all.

 

[TechnoKid]

thompsons doesn't hold up to well compared to behr's stuff. Also, a stain will appear to lsat longer than a sealer, so get a combo stain sealer unless you like the natural color of the wood, get a tinted sealer.

 

[cjchaps]

I don't know if he died in the house, but when we first checked out the place, he was in his urn over the fireplace on the fireplace mantel!! :Q

Originally posted by: Buttzilla

did he die in the house??? man, i'd be spooked if he died in the house.

 

[DrPizza]

I do it annually. $40 a year (when it's on sale) plus 2 hours of my time is a heck of a lot cheaper than replacing wood.

 

[m2kewl]

Originally posted by: Sundog
First of all what kid of wood is it? Pressure treated lumber, cedar, etc????

n00b question: what are the differences amongst the types?

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I do it annually. $40 a year (when it's on sale) plus 2 hours of my time is a heck of a lot cheaper than replacing wood.

Yeah, this is what I would think, too. If there is no problem with doing it that often, just do it and rest easy.

 

[IcemanJer]

Originally posted by: m2kewl

Originally posted by: Sundog
First of all what kid of wood is it? Pressure treated lumber, cedar, etc????

n00b question: what are the differences amongst the types?

comes from different types of trees. and the preparation treatment may be different.