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.



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.


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 Waterlox Marine Satin Finish. The deck must have good ventilation, and be at least two feet off the ground. Boards should be sealed on the underside. This is a 3-4 coat system, brush applied translucent finish for exterior wood decking.

On properly prepared wood surfaces, Waterlox gives practically a look of furniture, imparting a varnish like, but not "plastic-looking" finish while beautifully accentuating grain and color of the wood. This system requires a maintenance coat about every 2-3 years if in full sun. You need to have the pores of the wood grain open for proper anchoring of the Marine 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, or is at least 2 feet off the ground. Specific additional preparation proceedures are required.


Low to ground Decking

If the decking wood is 2 feet or less off the ground, and cannot be underside and end grain coated, you should consider a non-film forming wood protector and sealer like One TIME®. Maintenance for color rejuvenation could be desired at 2-3 years. This product offers the longest lasting, easiest to maintain protection we have found for exotic hardwood.. One TIME does not build up with subsequent coats, and never needs stripping.

Summary

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 an unfinished look is desired.


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.

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

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.

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.

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


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. It gives us long lasting cut on wood.

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.