Keeping decks well protected is a big challenge. The wood is in a horizontal position, full of nail holes allowing water to seep into the wood where it will swell, shrink and warp the wood and stress your stain or coating system. Wood that is inaccessible , such as end grain, can't be properly sealed once the deck is already constructed. Most times, furniture scrapes the surface, people and dogs track grit and mud on it, and Mother Nature takes a toll.
Many deck / dock / log / wood sealers and stain product reviews or comparisons rate products in a laboratory setting, and fail to consider the beauty of the wood.
Most deck staining products we see advertised and endorsed carry false or unrealistic claims with respect to longevity. They fail to account for the frequent maintenance required . Many end up looking "paint-like", and lead to eventual stripping. Many contain wax or silicone, which both contaminate the surface for future coating, leading to buildup, frequent maintenance and inadequate protection. Most wax-containing and linseed oil-containing products lead to eventual stripping.
We feature proven solutions for natural wood care that are good for your wood, and are good for your environment. We hope you find this information helpful.
New Deck Lumber
If you are not using kiln dried wood, simply order your wood a couple of months before you plan to build your deck. Have it unbundled and restacked, allowing air movement between the boards. Use thin wood strips or rack wood, and cover from the sun, best indoors if space allows. Wood can be slowly dried (sometimes with dehumidifier) and even sanded and coated,
ALL 6 SIDES, before installation.
More
DECK COATINGS
Many products available have their own distinct
performance and application characteristics.
The product choice for your project
should be determined by finding the most suitable
product available given your specific project requirements. The premium wood coatings discussed below are all proven solutions we have used and tested for various specific conditions.
Trans Oxide pigments provide the highest level of ultraviolet resistance, and impart a very natural look to the wood.
Most of the coating choices outlined below utilize this premium pigment type. New wood should be sanded to remove possible
mill glaze, or to remove grayed wood fiber if deck has weathered during the drying process.
Sanding will usually increase the adhesion and performance
of your coating system. Use
Dust-Free Deck Sanding procedures, and use all precautions with any potentially dangerous sanding dust.
Natural Finish
A product we discovered in recent years is
One TIME® Wood Protector. It is uniquely long-lasting, offering double the life of anything we have tested. One TIME® is very natural looking compared to many stains available.
We believe solvent free One TIME® Wood Protector is good choice
with respect to environmental issues and ease of maintenance. This is a great choice for docks, and severe exposure. It offers beautiful protection with extended easy maintenance procedures.
One TIME® is simply the longest lasting deck protector we have used and tested after more than 25 years in the business. One TIME® is not shiny, and gives a natural looking beauty to the wood.
Shiny Finish
If you desire a shiny satin finished look, consider
Sikkens Dek Finish. The deck must have good ventilation, and be at least two feet off the
ground. Boards must be sealed on the underside.
This is a two coat brush applied alkyd protective translucent finish system for
exterior wood decking.
On properly prepared
wood surfaces, this coating gives practically a look
of furniture, imparting a varnish like shine while beautifully accentuating grain and color
of the wood. This system requires a maintenance
coat about every 3 years if in full sun.
You need to have the pores of the wood grain
open for proper anchoring of the sealer. The first coat preparation is the most important factor
in longevity of the entire coating system. Again, this product is only suitable
if the bottom side of the deck is sealed, and is at
least 2 feet off the ground.
Sikkens Wood Coatings: About Deck Coatings
For a water-based satin finish consider
Structures Nature One. This is the only film-forming satin acrylic finish we have found that performs well on a deck surface.
Low to ground Decking
If the
decking wood is 2 feet or less off the ground, you should
consider only a non-film forming wood protector and sealer like
One TIME®. Maintenance for color rejuvenation could be desired at 4-5 years , but wood is well protected from moisture and fungal damage for several years. This product offers the longest lasting, easiest to maintain protection we have found.
Hardwood Decking
Some exotic hardwood exhibits a high oil content which can sometimes interfere with drying and curing of many traditional oil based coatings. We have proven solutions and specific preparation procedures when dealing with exotic woods.
One TIME® Wood Protector is our best choice for most Hardwood Decking projects. The UV cure, 100% solids, and penetrating properties of One TIME eliminate many of the problems experienced with traditional hardwood oil stains.
If a shiny finish is desired, consider a
Waterlox Marine system.
Staining and protecting Ipe, Mahogany, and other Exotic Hardwood
About Exotic Hardwood
Covered Porches
One TIME® Wood Protector can have difficulty curing in fully covered applications.
Testing is recommended for all covered areas.
Waterlox Marine Satin is a tung oil based alternative where a satin finished look is desired.
Defy for Hardwood is also a good choice for covered porch areas with limited UV exposure where a satin finished look is not desired.
Solid Color
We like California Coatings Enduradeck Solid Color Acrylic Floor Coating System for many projects. The Acrylic makeup gives this coating excellent satin sheen and color retention.. It offers excellent adhesion to properly prepared surfaces that have been previously coated. Enduradeck is flexible and breathable and is a great choice to consider when coating exterior wood decks and flooring.
For a solid painted look on older deck floors,
you could consider Sikkens Rubbol DEK, which is the
only flexible, breathable oil based wood floor coating
(not a paint) that we are aware of. It looks like
paint, but performs like a stain--no film to peel when properly applied. .
It is breathable and flexible when applied to bare
wood. Will require maintenance more frequently if in direct sun.
PORCH FLOORING
Porch and deck floors are sometimes difficult surfaces
to protect, as the softer a coating is, the easier it
wears off, but the better it tolerates moisture transfer
and wood expansion cycles. Conversely, the harder wearing
a coating, the less able it is to handle expansion and
contraction of the wood, so most coating choices represent
tradeoffs to consider.
It is very important to seal the underside of a deck
or porch floor. The best method is to seal the bottom
side of boards and end grain cuts before construction.
If wood is near the ground, and the sun beats down on
the top surface, moisture is drawn from the cool ground
underneath up through the bottom side of the boards.
This causes expansion and contraction of the wood, leads to cupping of the boards, and
greatly reduces the long-term performance of any coating.
For a clear natural finish on porch flooring, consider Waterlox Marine Finish.
Previously Coated Wood
The following discussion explains reasons we should consider sanding wood for best results with any stain or finish when wood has been allowed to weather in the elements, or if a previously applied coating has failed. Sanding opens the pores of wood to accept stain, and also removes loose or deteriorated wood fiber that generally leads to premature coating failure and poor results. Sanding can also be utilized to blend or remove remaining stain after the deck stripping process.
After using strippers, many times wood is "fuzzed" and should be sanded using 80g sandpaper following the stripping process.
For potentially dangerous sanding dust, use
paper disposable dust
collection bags,
and dispose of properly. Use only vacuum capturing sanders, and sweep and wipe clean all surfaces immediately after sanding. Pets and family should not be exposed to sanded surfaces until wood is sealed and protected.
SANDING DECK SURFACE
Even NEW Wood, many times, needs sanded due to "mill-glaze" resulting from the Planing and Smoothing Process at the sawmill , which compresses wood fiber, and polishes new wood making coating penetration virtually impossible. Wood that has weathered unprotected while drying over the first few months after installation should be sanded as well to remove weathered surface.
Norton's
3x series paper is also designed for coating removal.
The paper really does make a difference. The 3X resists gumming when sanding existing stain or coating.
Most floor
coatings will recommend 80g or 60g bare wood sand, but it depends on the
coating you choose. We use a Dust-free
Palm Sander. If you have sharp corners on boards
that could be slightly sanded round, that would be
helpful. We always do a final brush vacuum prior to
coating application, and actually wipe the surface
to insure no dust can interfere with coating absorption
and adhesion.
Click here for Project Consultation
Please call our Deck Care Specialists at
1-866-278-9831
for more information or assistance. |
|