Can I seal between deck boards?

While you might be tempted to fill in gaps in your decking with wood filler or caulk, the natural movement of the boards can eventually cause the materials to break loose and make the gaps even worse. However, you can use rope to easily fill the gaps.

What do you put between deck boards?

During installation, make sure to keep your decking material in a cool, dry place where it will not be exposed to excess moisture and expand, which can affect the spacing between the boards. Use spacers, a sixteen penny nail, or a pencil to help ensure even spacing between all the boards.

How do you fill in cracks between deck boards?

Once the wood is dry, fill any gouges, holes, and cracks deeper or wider than ¼ inch with a paintable acrylic caulk. Use a putty knife to scrape off the excess, then allow the caulk to set until it skins over, probably 30 minutes.

How do you fill gaps on a porch board?

Apply high-performance polyurethane -- rather than silicone caulk -- to each gap. Load the polyurethane caulk tube into your caulk gun and run it along the length of each board, working it into the gap and smoothing it flush with the porch floor.

Should I fill cracks in deck boards?

Cracks: Fill and seal.

Although cracking on a deck isn't attractive, it's usually just a normal sign of aging. If the cracks are less than six inches long, all you need to do is fill them in with latex wood filler and then finish off the deck with sealant.

sealant installation in wood deck

Should I caulk my deck?

Decks can crack and split as the wood ages, leaving large voids on the surface, and it can be tempting to fill these voids with an outdoor wood filler. But as the Internet's top authority on wood deck restoration, we do not recommend that you use wood filler or caulk for your decking projects.

Should you paint between deck boards?

You can easily paint cracks between deck boards using a crack and groove brush or a moldable sponge. Use water-based acrylic latex paint that can bridge gaps. First, soak up paint and then apply the paint in the narrow gap by running the brush or sponge back and forth, up and down motion.

What is the best wood filler for decks?

Should deck boards be butted together?

We recommend butting treated deck boards together because as the moisture dries from the wood, the boards will shrink and naturally form gaps to allow water drainage. (Depending on moisture content, cedar, cypress and especially hardwood decking may require deliberate spacing for consistent joint sizes.)

Should I stain between deck boards?

Painting or staining a deck requires getting between the boards. When putting a stain on or painting a deck, the job can seem incomplete if the spaces between the boards are left unpainted or without stain.

Should you gap pressure treated decking?

Leave Gap: If the pressure treated wood has been kiln dried after treatment (KDAT), leave a 1/8” gap (the thickness of an 8-penny nail) between the boards when attaching, since the wood will expand slightly over time.

Does pressure-treated deck need to be sealed?

Although treated wood is protected against decay and termite attack, the application of a water-repellent sealer to all exposed wood surfaces is recommended upon completion of construction. This sealer will help control surface checking (splitting or cracking) and provide an attractive appearance.

Can you stain a deck in the evening?

In the summer, stain your deck in the morning or evening so the deck surface isn't too hot. Remember, the surface temperature of the deck can be much hotter than the air temperature.

Do you seal a deck after staining?

Most of the time, stains also contain a protective sealant. It's a good idea, though, to re-seal your deck (or check that it needs to be re-sealed) once a year. Water-based stains can adhere to water or oil-based coatings already present on the wooden surface. Water-based stains can be cleaned up with water.

Is it better to stain or seal a deck?

Although a wood stain is more expensive than a sealer, it can last up to 5 times longer and looks more professional. So you certainly get your money's worth. Here at DeckMaster™, we recommend using wood stains for your deck and fence maintenance.

Is it better to stain or paint pressure treated wood?

Pressure-Treated Wood Needs Protection

Applying stain to pressure-treated wood offers an additional level of protection that homeowners don't want to be without. Stain offers another layer of much-needed protection from insects and decay, as well as from mold and mildew.

Why are my new deck boards cracking?

When the sun bakes this moisture out of the lumber, it creates significant tension stress within the wood fibers. Tension is the force that happens when you try to stretch or bend something. As the sun cooks out the water, the lumber shrinks. This shrinkage usually causes tiny checking cracks to form.

Can you seal pressure-treated wood?

Sealers may be applied to pressure-treated wood as soon as the surface no longer looks wet. The sealer offers a degree of water repellency and color to outdoor wood without forming a thick coating on the surface. It will also allow any remaining moisture to slowly leave wood after the coating has been applied.

When Should I seal my deck?

DO wait 30 days before sealing a new deck. If you've just built a new deck, you're probably itching to finish the job by sealing it. But preservatives in the wood often require about 30 days' dwell time before the deck can soak up the sealant.