How do I know if my deck is sealed?

Pro tip: “The bead test” is a simple way to check if your wood is ready to be sealed. Pour a small amount of water on your deck. If the water beads up, there's still some moisture in the wood. If the deck absorbs the water, then it's dry enough to be sealed.

Do wood decks need to be sealed?

A backyard deck can be the perfect platform for good times, but a wooden surface needs a proper sealant to protect it against the ravages of sun, rain, and temperature fluctuations.

What happens if you dont seal your deck?

It is highly unlikely that the deck will rot, splinter or decay if you choose not to have it finished and you can always choose to stain and protect the deck at a later date. If you choose to revitalize the natural color of the wood, we recommend our two-step maintenance clean.

Does a 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.

How do I know if my deck is dry enough to seal?

Another way of checking if your wood is ready for stain is to pour a little water on the wood. If the water beads up, the lumber still too wet to be stained or painted. If the water is absorbed into the wood easily, it's ready to be sealed or stained.

When to Seal or Stain a New Wood Deck

How often should deck be sealed?

When Should I Reseal My Deck? You should reapply wood sealer at least every three years. In many cases, you need to seal a wood deck once a year. The more foot traffic and sun exposure your deck gets, the more often you need to apply deck sealant.

Is it better to stain or seal a deck?

Deck sealing will protect the wood from splitting, cracking, moisture, mildew, and rot while maintaining the color and grain of the wood. A stain will protect the wood and provides a more uniform tint or color to the wood to complement surrounding structures.

What happens if you don't seal pressure treated wood?

This pattern of swelling and shrinking can cause damage to the wood such as splits, checks, splinters, cracks, and other blemishes. Protection from UV rays is also necessary for insurance against fading, discoloration, and warping.

Can you leave pressure treated wood unstained?

The good news is that treated lumber is generally more than ready to hold up against wind, rain, sun, and snow for quite a while before wearing down, and many home owners do choose to leave the wood untreated for one reason or another.

What happens if you don't stain pressure treated wood?

Wood stain protects wood from sunlight, cracking, entry of additional moisture, and against the elements. Even though treated wood is already resistant to moisture, insect attacks, and damage, tough stains help make the lumber more durable.

How much does deck sealing cost?

Cost to Seal a Deck

Sealing a deck costs $906 or typically between $551 and $1,293. You'll pay $0.75 to $4 per square foot for both materials and labor. Labor alone makes up 50% to 75% of the total price. Cost factors include regional worker rates, complexity, size, prep needs and accessibility.

How do I know if my deck is pressure treated wood?

Look for a stamp telling you it's pressure treated wood. The end tag should identify the preservative used, the rating, and the preservation company. You'll want to avoid using any wood that was treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA). This preservative includes a form of arsenic.

Do you have to seal deck after power washing?

If your deck is in a great condition and you're simply pressure washing it to remove dirt, dust or mold build up then there's no need to seal your deck after pressure washing. You would be using a gentle soap solution and giving your deck a scrub then pressure washing to remove the cleaning agent and dirts.

Does deck stain also seal?

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.

How long can you leave a deck untreated?

Which material lasts longer? A deck made of untreated wood can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years. Decks made of treated wood and composite materials can last as long as 50 years.

What happens if you don't clean deck before staining?

But don't just slap a coat of stain on in a hurry — you'll need to clean your deck before staining it. If you stain a deck without cleaning and prepping it first, the results will look blotchy, uneven, and, well, amateur. Any time you save skipping the cleaning stage, you'll spend twice over repairing the botched job.

Should you treat a new deck?

Brand new decking needs to left alone to weather naturally so that all the pre-treatment has eroded, ready to be oiled. We recommend you wait around six months for it to be fully eroded. Once you've waited for the coating to erode, treat your new decking as normal with oil or stain.

Can you use a sprayer to seal a deck?

An outdoor deck is more exposed than indoor wood, which means regular sealing is required to keep it protected. While you can apply the sealer by hand with a paintbrush, a sprayer is the much more efficient solution.

When should you seal a new pressure treated deck?

A newly built deck that uses pressurized wood will need time to dry completely before a sealer can be applied. The chemicals used to treat the wood leave moisture behind, and depending on the climate, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months until it's dry enough to seal.

Should pressure treated wood be stained or sealed?

A: Some owners of pressure-treated structures assume the wood needs no protective treatment, and this view at one time was encouraged by manufacturers of the wood. However, most pressure-treated wood should have periodic sealing against moisture, preferably every year or so.

Do you need to apply a sealer after staining a deck?

Applying a clear sealer or polyurethane over a deck stain will cause more problems than it is worth. If you want a clear finish then you can strip off any old stain and start fresh with bare wood. Then you can apply a clear sealer if that is the look you are going for.

Should I water seal my deck?

For most decks, sealing once each year is a good rule of thumb. Depending on the condition of your deck this can be adjusted, but keep in mind that you should never go beyond three years maximum before re-sealing and staining.

Do I need to sand deck before sealing?

Once dry, these wood fibers can remain raised and may cause splinters. For this reason, light but thoroughly sanding your wood deck is a necessary step before staining or sealing. This crucial step will ensure that your refinishing job gives great results.