Question on sealing a deck

AnchorBock · Nov 9, 2011

The deck at my house is about 6 years old and was put in by the previous owners. It's in perfectly good shape, but the inlaws will not leave me alone about sealing it (they are convinced the deck will fall apart if it is not sealed). The deck is made of treated lumber and the wood is completely greyed. As far as I know it has never been sealed, will sealing it at this point do anything to improve the quality/life of the deck? A guy at my work who has a "deck company" said it won't do much of anything for it, but wanted to get another opinion or two.

Thanks in advance. :rockin:

david_42 · Nov 9, 2011

My can of Thompsom Waterseal says, "Not for use on pressure-treated lumber."

FoundersBrew · Nov 9, 2011

If the deck has been there long enough to grey, it has dried of all the treatment and will absorb the stain just fine. As far as preservation, it will help some but most of all it's for aesthetics. Also, make sure you power wash it first.

KayaBrew · Nov 9, 2011

You don't "treat" pressure treated wood (with water seal). Don't do it. PT lasts a long time.

You can stain or paint it, though. PT lumber is already treated against the weather.

JJL · Nov 9, 2011

My FIL has a pressure treated deck that's never been stained or treated. It's probably been there for 20+ years without falling apart. He just pressure washes it each spring to clean it up.

itsme6582 · Nov 9, 2011

http://onetimewood.com/the-ot-difference/I would use One Time Wood. It has 7 year warranty. We got 9 out of on our deck before reapplying. Super easy to apply and it lasts. Pressure wash one day and slap it on the next.

Stevo2569 · Nov 9, 2011

Most PT pine will last 30+ yrs. Sealing will help protect it but stain will hide the grey and look new. Be careful if you pressure wash. Too close too concentrated will open up the fibers and increase the surface area therefor costing 2-3 times as much in stain absorbtion. I recommend to buy a deck/fence cleanser at Depot/Lowe's and scrub with a hard bristled broom: Rinse, Dry, Apply..

Homercidal · Nov 10, 2011

Wash with a power washer. It will get the color from grey back to close to the original. Then you can stain with something to protect the look of it (after it's dried...)