MMH  >  Outdoors  >  Deck

Can you recommend a long lasting deck sealer?

I have a cedar deck that I used a"natural deck oil" on last year. The finish is peeling off after one winter. I want to remove the finish and replace it. You have already answered one of my questions, on how to best remove the finish. Now can you recommend a treatment that will last longer than one season and still show the beauty of the wood?

We do not recommend specific products, but all the big name manufacturers make water repellent products. Some are for wood and concrete. We would avoid those and use a product designed specifically for wood, which would contains UV protection and a fungicide to prevent the growth of mold, mildew, moss etc. These products a quite watery and are absorbed by the wood. They will never peel, like the last product you used. The wood must be dry for good absorption to occur. Unfortunately, despite manufacturers claims ofa twoor three year life, our experience suggests that an annual application is necessary. The product still seems to work, to some extent in the second year, however as the product wears out, the deckbegins to discolor, and the work involved in cleaning the deck before reapplication outweighs the advantage of applying the product every two years.