Preserving/refinishing treated pine deck

[Kopierguy]

My deck has been washed and cleaned with my pressure washer and it looks very good. I have read so many horror stories about the problems with various stains and finishes and most not lasting more than a few years that I have just about decided to just not finish with a sealer and just let it weather again. I gave up on treating with diesel as it could be toxic to my dogs feet. I am still seeking advise as to what to use. Thanks to those that have responded.

 

[ovrszd]

You've gotten more advice about what to use that most people can digest. I suggest you just do whatever you feel is appropriate.

 

[mark02tj]

I am not the OP but. . . I think I'm going to use the "Eddie Method". I was in Home Depot yesterday and found the sander that I think he was referring to. It rents for $47 per day. The guy at HD said that a couple of people have rented it to do decks.

I've never used the cabot products but, based on what some of you have said, I am going to try them as well.

I need to take a couple pics of the board spacing on my decks and them post them here. I think that whoever built them spaced the boards too lose together. They are pretty much butted aganst each other. I am thinking of running a circular saw between them to use the saw kerf to put a little space beteewn them.

 

[HillStreet]

I'm going thru the same thing. So far, the best product I can find is oil based Deckscapes by Sherwin Williams. A guy I know swears it will last for 7-8 years if the prep is right. Right now, I am misting bleach / water solution onto it and letting it dry. It is starting to clean up some after 2 apps.

Pressure washing probably doesn't hurt but you have to wait a while before sealing.

I agree with Sherwin Williams products. Prep is everything when it comes to decks.

Last year I did my white cedar deck with the following process, all Sherwin Williams: stripper (no matter what's on the surface, strip it first); rejuvenator; semi-transparent oil base stain. No sanding necessary, just a stiff brush with long handle. Hose it off between steps but pressure washer makes the job easier. Comes out like new.

Don't just wash/bleach and apply the stain, you're wasting money. Bleach might seem like it clears up the wood, but the rejuvenator product opens up the wood and gets rid of the wood glaze that prevents stain penetration. Solid layer stains form a layer that could peel off or wear. Semi-transparent oil-based stains are the best because they show wood grain but won't peel.

I will do nothing else to my deck, only what I described above. Expect a few good years out of it, nothing will last 5 years or longer.

 

[sld]

I agree with Sherwin Williams products. Prep is everything when it comes to decks.

Last year I did my white cedar deck with the following process, all Sherwin Williams: stripper (no matter what's on the surface, strip it first); rejuvenator; semi-transparent oil base stain. No sanding necessary, just a stiff brush with long handle. Hose it off between steps but pressure washer makes the job easier. Comes out like new.

Don't just wash/bleach and apply the stain, you're wasting money. Bleach might seem like it clears up the wood, but the rejuvenator product opens up the wood and gets rid of the wood glaze that prevents stain penetration. Solid layer stains form a layer that could peel off or wear. Semi-transparent oil-based stains are the best because they show wood grain but won't peel.

I will do nothing else to my deck, only what I described above. Expect a few good years out of it, nothing will last 5 years or longer.

Thanks for the tip on the rejuvenator. I will try that...hopefully this week. Really doing a bunch of yard stuff this year. Since we paid the house off the wife and I have felt like really sprucing the place up. A long project list but it's about time for the deck job.

 

[JDgreen227]

Just some observations that may or may not be informative: I have two decks, one of them is southern exposure and is 12'X16', the 5/4" treated deck boards that were delivered were pure crap, full of knots, checks, and splits. We had to have the deck in place for a truckload of new furniture to be delivered (addition) so we used the boards. A huge mistake...because no matter how carefully I clean and prep the boards for Cabot stain, it won't stick worth a (bleep) Have another 16'X24' deck that faces southeast, I carefully chose the decking boards and paid extra for premium lumber that had no knots, checks, or splits...and despite near identical exposure and foot traffic, the Cabot stain on the bigger deck lasts 2X-3X as long.