Construction Contractors Community

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

A lot of our customers want their deck to remain natural looking after it's properly cleaned but still want water and sun protection. Most think to achieve both they should go with a clear sealer. The problem with clear sealers, regardless of what it says on the can, is that they do not protect the wood from harmful sun rays. The reason is because there is no pigment in a clear sealer, but they do give you water protection.

Decks sealed with a clear sealer will normally turn gray within a year due to sun damage. To protect your deck from water and sun you need to choose a sealer that has some pigment in it. There are some good oil based semi transparent sealers on the market that have a toner in them. This toner gives the sealer a little color (pigment) but it's still semi transparent, which means you can see the wood grain through it.

Basically the darker the color the more sun protection the sealer provides. We talk most of our customers into a honey gold or natural tone sealer, which gives great sun protection and gives the deck the natural look they are looking for.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

WFConstructionPro

I have never really thought about the pigment in wood sealers protection from the sun. I will be sure to keep this info in mind the next time I have to seal a deck.

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Just remember to always use a semi transparent as opposed to using a solid sealer. Most of the solids are water based and will start flaking and peeling within a year or so. The problem with the oil based solid sealers are that they are a PITA to strip back off if, down the road, the customer ever wants to change the look of the deck. I've turned down a few requests to strip solid color decks or decks with latex on them. Or the customer almost falls over from my estimate to get it back to bare wood. The solid sealers also tend to form a film and sit on top of the wood instead of penetrating it.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services

Jeannie · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 82

Ok thank you. A semi transparent sealer is what you recommend on decks after they have been cleaned. You always provide such good and informative information.

Bryan C · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 18

I run across decks all the time that have solid stains. Homeowners get tired of the "painted" look and would like to see the natural grain of the wood again. What they do not realize is the expense involved - as Barry mentioned - to strip these stains. It is very time consuming, usually requiring the deck to be stripped several times to get to the bare wood.

A deck with a good, oil based, semi-transparent stain is beautiful and is virtually maintenance-free with the occasional cleaning.

Restore-A-Deck · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

Barry, you bring up a great point about deck sealers needing a good degree of pigmentation to provide UV protection and prevent a deck from turning gray.

Have you hear about Russell's new formula for a sealer? It incorporates nano technology in a clear. Ruessell swears that suspended in an alkyd resin it will get 18 months. This is another million dollar product. [/url]

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Restore-A-Deck · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

Eventually I will, Barr.

I want to give it a year to see if it performs like he says it does. I have too many new things going this year with RAD to get into too many products. I am actually going to endorse Creto Wood and sell it for fences. (its a silica based petrification sealer). I'm also coming out with hose end cleaners, strippers and acids as well as a new stain for soft species wood I think is going to be a homerun (its not made by ESI). Now if I can figure out what to tell a cerain web designer how i want him to move forward with the new website and e-commerce store i should be in business Smile

Restore-A-Deck · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 18

Hit me up on the cell.. We are due for a catch up session.

Barry M · Joined: 05 Sep 2007 Posts: 99 Location: Indiana

Sorry Ken I just caught this post. I'll give you a jingle sometime this up coming week if that's cool.

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Pressure Washing Contractor Providing Deck Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning and Other Power Washing Contractor Services