Advice for staining/ sealing a wood deck for the first time?

Hi this is Peggy, hope this helps https://www.lowes.com/projects/porch-deck-and-patio/clean-seal-stain-deck/project

Lynn, You are very wise, to carefully consider all factors before starting job.

Proper prep to include cleaning and application as product directs ( application thickness rate , weather conditions time of day/ temperature ( all the fine print on the can) will help ensure a professional and lasting job.

In my experience-I find the Sikkens to be the best for wood toned seals and have also had great sucess with Behr transparent and modest result solid stains. I cant emphasize the proper prep and cleaning enough. Behr and Valspar have excellent customer support if any question or problems, and Behr has provided replacement product when a product failure has occurred with its satisfaction guarentee. It might be noteworthy that Behr has its own deck cleaning product to be used with the Behr sealers

We have two decks, shed and boat dock sealed with different wood sealing products. It’s obvious in our situation-thats sun abusive and waterfront— that the more transparent and semitransparent finishes wear and last? or look best for the longest interval.

This disputes stain product labeling where the solid stain is a project to last 5 to 7 years. Personally —we now regret putting a solid stain on a 2015 newly constructed deck. It’s needed retreatment every year due to its appearance—>splitting, mold mildew and discoloration on a sunny exposure, It did not provide the UV protection and protective sealing coverage that we expected.

Our newer 2015 rear deck is a massive one, and the yearly retreatment due to appearance and seal preformance is quite tedious, we’re hoping this summer’s application will be successful with the free replacement product Behr has supplied.

Good luck with your deck seal and correct choice of a sealer!

Hello Lynn,

Yes -we’ve been sealing our decks ourselves since the 1980s and they’re getting bigger and bigger.

For an initial application on the new 2015 deck we used a paint brush so that the sealer could be applied comprehensively on the boards and in between the boards.

With the reapplication this spring 2018 we used a roller with a brush cutting in Due to rails. It will depend on the product ( viscosity) you using and the instructions to what they recommend and how to apply that specific product. Be sure to utilize the one 800 customer service Helpline they wonderful in their advice and guidance help.

In the screen porch we have the tinted transparent deck finish and its quite lovely. Its held up quite nicely, it is indoors and covered.

Best wishes on your deck sealing project, I can’t emphasize enough to do the proper prep -watch the ambient temperature and utilize all the guidance it’s on the product labeling- for a perfect job done correctly the first time!

You are very welcome. It is my hope our shared experiences can help others avoid our mistakes and ensure favorable results with thier project!

Greetings from Central Virginia!

If you're looking for a good wood sealer then I recommend Tompson brand. It has many high-quality sealing product on the market. This article helped me once to choose the best sealer for my needs, hope it will help you too.

my expert painter insist on doing solid over transparent stain.on new wood, but from what i read it should be transparent or semi. on new wood.

he seems to think when you put two coats on new wood it need s to be solid

can you tell me if he is right or should i stick to the transparent stain i bought