Concrete Sealers

The concrete surfaces around your home are quickly destroyed by harsh weather conditions and excessive traffic. It’s important to protect a concrete surface with a long lasting concrete sealer to help prevent cracking, chipping, and pitting. A high quality concrete sealer is recommended for better protection and longer lasting results saving you money on frequent resealing. Always consider the benefits of a longer lasting finish in conjunction with the initial price.

There are many different types of concrete sealers to meet your specific needs. Defy Heavy Duty Water Repellent is an excellent product that creates a barrier of protection on concrete surfaces. It gives excellent freeze/thaw protection and it blocks out road salts and de-icing chemicals which can quickly deteriorate concrete. The Defy Concrete Sealer also repels water and many other stains and oils. It’s non film forming and won’t alter the appearance of the cement.

Another recommend concrete sealer is SuperSeal. It comes in a matte finish as well as semi-gloss and gloss. The matte will slightly darken the surface but has a reduced shine. The more glossy finishes give the surface a “wet look” while still providing plenty of protection. SuperSeal is good on all concrete surfaces and brick pavers. It blocks out moisture and helps preserve the appearance of colored concrete as well.

Surebond Water Repelling Sealer is an excellent water based penetrating sealer that works well on retention walls, concrete, and brick pavers. Its natural look won’t affect the appearance of the surface and it’s both fast drying and environmentally friendly.

For protecting stamped concrete, decorative concrete, brick, stone, and masonry surfaces MasonrySaver Decorative Concrete Sealer is a great choice. This non-yellowing acrylic polymer blend sealer is designed for stamped and decorative concrete. It can be applied over both water and solvent based sealers with no adhesion issues.

These are just a few products that stood out as the best concrete sealers that should meet any of your concrete sealing needs. Protect your investment and maintain your property value by sealing and preserving all your brick, masonry, and concrete surfaces.

TWP 100 Series

When it comes to preserving any exterior wood surface, it’s important to know that the wood stain you use can make all the difference. For the do-it-yourselfer there isn’t anything more essential than getting good results. Whether it’s a wood deck, fence, cedar shakes, wood siding, or other wood structure, choosing the right deck stain will make or break the project.

When searching for the right deck stain for your situation you should consider many different factors – overall appearance, stain longevity, ease of application, price, and so on. What you want to avoid is using the wrong exterior stain. Many of the deck stains sold at the home centers are inferior in comparison to a contractor grade stain.

Try to steer clear of deck stains that are heavy pigmented and color solid. Also stay away from stains that are 100% acrylic and/or have silicone in them. These types of wood stains stay on top of the surface and form a film similar to paint. Climate and temperature changes cause these film forming stains to crack, flake, and peel leaving your deck or other wood structure in worse shape than it was. Once this type of deck stain does fail, it’s extremely costly and labor intensive to remove but a necessary evil to restore the wood. It’s best just to avoid these types of deck stains all together.

Most wood experts agree a better choice is a semi-transparent deck stain such as TWP 100 series. This non film-forming deck stain protects against water and UV damage by penetrating deep into the wood. TWP 100 deck stain is mold and mildew resistant to prevent wood rot, decay, and structural damage. The TWP Stain is an easy to apply formula which makes it the perfect deck stain for the enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer looking for professional results.

With over half a dozen tones to choose from, you’ll get the look you want and the protection you need. See why the experts recommend TWP 100 series deck stain. Experience lasting results and protect your investment for years of enjoyment.

For a low VOC version visit TWP 1500 Series

Deck Cleaned

When you’ve come to the decision to refinish your deck it’s important to understand the right and wrong way to do it. Cleaning a deck is the most crucial step in the wood restoration process. While some people may think the only thing that matters is the brand or type of deck stain they use, it’s really the preparation of the wood surface that makes the most difference.

A properly cleaned deck will hold a deck stain for a certain amount of time. If that same deck is not cleaned correctly and the same deck stain is used, it’s certain it won’t look as good or last as long. So regardless of the deck stain, the surface preparation is what will determine a lasting finish.

This isn’t to say that the brand of deck stain you use isn’t important or that the application methods don’t matter. Those are important factors as well, but it starts with the prep work. Get the prep work wrong and you might as well throw in the towel.

The few common mistakes that homeowners will make in preparing their wood deck for a new finish is not cleaning the deck at all, not using the right deck cleaners, or not using a deck brightener.

First of all, let’s be clear, you have to clean the wood before you stain it. This doesn’t mean to blow it off with a leaf blower or rinse it with the garden hose. A contractor grade deck cleaner should be used with a pressure washer or a stiff broom. This will loosen the dirt and gray wood fibers to reveal new wood. If an old stain is present, you need to use a deck stripper instead of a cleaner. The deck stripper will soften the old stain as well as remove dirt and gray wood fibers.

After cleaning or stripping the deck, whichever is the case, the wood then needs to be brightened back to the proper pH so the deck stain will penetrate properly. This is not a hard step but a very necessary step. After washing the deck, a deck brightener is applied, allowed to dwell, and then rinsed off. Now the wood is prepped correctly. After it dries for several days the deck stain can be applied.

Skipping any of these steps, or not using a quality 2-step deck restoration system will give you poor results. The deck won’t look as good and the deck stain won’t last as long. Do the right prep work with quality cleaners and use a good deck stain and you’ll get results like the pros.

To remove old failing deck stains you have to use a quality deck stripper. These deck strippers are strong enough to remove most clear and tinted semi-transparent stains, film forming clear sealers, and water sealers along with pollutants like dirt, mold, mildew, and mill glaze found on newer wood.

Peeling Deck Stain

When dealing with a solid deck stain or paint there are no guarantees. The big box stores offer some of the worst deck stains you can use. They are usually 100% acrylic or silicone enhanced products that always end up peeling but are extremely tough to remove once they’ve been applied.

Your best bet is to apply a strong deck stripper and allow it to dwell for 30 minutes sprinkling it with water to keep it active. You may have to repeat this step several times. Remove as much of the deck stain as possible for the best results. Areas where the stain might have been over applied to begin with may need to be sanded to reveal bare wood again.

The best way to avoid a problem with solid stains or deck paints is to not use them in the first place. They are time consuming and expensive to rid once they have failed. If you are dealing with a stubborn deck stain, a quality deck stripper and a lot of patience is your best bet but beware there are no guarantees.

Once a deck has been stripped, it’s best to apply a wood brightener. This will brighten the wood back to the proper pH level allowing the new deck stain to penetrate properly.

Pressure Treated Pine

There seems to be some confusion on the part of consumers concerning pressure treated decks. This is one of the most popular choices for deck lumber due to its durability and fair cost. Through our experience, we have found that many homeowners are under the impression that pressure treated wood does not need to be stained or sealed.

The main reason that some homeowners think this is due to the word “treated.” Many people believe that treated means that it’s already protected from the weather. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

The chemical treating process that is normally done at the lumber mill, is to deter termites and other insects from eating the wood and nothing more. Similar to railroad ties and utility poles being treated with creosote, pressure treated lumber for residential use is normally treated with preservatives like sodium borates and chromate copper arsenate.

The wood is placed inside a locked cylinder then vacuum and pressure are both applied to force the preservatives into the wood, thus “pressure treated.” Again, it’s all to deter bugs and some types of fungal decay but there is no protection at all from the sun’s UV rays or moisture.

Therefore, like other woods used for deck construction, pressure treated lumber needs to have an aftermarket deck stain or sealer applied to it for sufficient sun and moisture protection. When pressure treated lumber is protected properly with a deck stain, and maintained every couple of years, it can withstand the elements for a very long time.

Pine Deck Stain

Unlike paint, which forms a film atop the surface, wood decking stains penetrate the surface providing better protection and allowing the wood characteristics to show through. Whether you want to make the wood grain pop out with a semi-transparent deck stain or hide it with a more solid color, it’s important that you provide some measure of protection. Another choice is whether to go with oil based deck stain or water based.

Water Based Deck Stain

Water Based Deck Stains

Water based wood stains will normally adhere better to a surface that has formerly been painted or stained with an oil based stain. A water based stain will also retain its color better than oil. They are more breathable meaning they won’t trap moisture which can cause a stain to fail. Other factors worth noting with water based stains are fewer odors, a quicker drying time, are non-flammable, and they clean up with soap and water. Water based wood stains are usually recommended for woods that naturally resist rot and decay, for example cypress, redwood, and cedar.

Oil Based Deck Stains

Oil based wood stains are commonly suggested for wood decks, fences, gazebos, and other surfaces exposed to harsh weather. They offer better penetration than a water based stain and excellent durability in tough conditions. A longer drying time is expected, but this actually allows the stain to accomplish a more even finish.

Oil Based Deck Stain

Hybrid Deck Stains

Some deck stain manufacturers offer a hybrid wood stain consisting of both water based latex and oil. These hybrid type wood stains offer some of the benefits of both water and oil based stains.

Choosing an exterior wood stain should depend on the situation and the surface you are staining. Many factors can determine whether you should use an oil or water based stain. Ask yourself what you are looking for in a stain – durability over better color retention – easy cleanup over a more even finish and so on. Research the stain and see what others are saying about it before you make a decision and be sure you are getting a quality wood stain so you get the results you want.

False Deck Stain Warranties

The wood deck stain industry today is huge business. Most every paint or stain company that wasn’t already involved is jumping in quick. The DIY homeowner faces a huge challenge in choosing one of literally hundreds of deck stains.

The sad truth is that most DIY homeowners will grab whichever stain promises the most years of protection. Some companies claim their deck stain will last anywhere from 5-7 years on a deck. Normally these are acrylic or silicone enhanced stains that come in solid colors. The homeowner will apply this stuff on their deck thinking they won’t have to touch it again for the claimed amount of years. Unfortunately, there is plenty of proof and complaints that this is normally not true at all. In our experience these deck stains do not last any longer than other deck stains. In most cases they will fail faster.

Worse yet, these deck stain companies that are offering 5-7 year warranties have hundreds of loops they can jump through so they are not liable for premature failure of their product. Most professional contractors will tell you there is no stain on the market today that will last that long. Even under perfect conditions and when applied to a properly prepared wood deck, no deck stain will last 5-7 years without showing some signs of wear or in most cases – complete failure.

Once a heavy pigmented acrylic or silicone enhanced deck stain does start to fail most homeowners will add another coat just worsening the problem. These stains do not adhere well to each other and the top coat will normally start to peel and flake within a year. To restore a deck in this condition, all of the old deck stain has to be removed so you can start over again with bare wood. Regrettably, removing acrylic and solid color deck stains is extremely time consuming and expensive. Some professionals won’t even tackle a job consisting of removing this type of stain because they know it’s a total nightmare and the results are never guaranteed.

The only way to completely restore a wood deck properly is to strip off any remnants of old stain and clean the deck of any dirt and mildew. The cleaning is followed by a brightening process to lighten the wood back to a lower pH level. Once the deck is back to bare wood, it is allowed to dry for a few days before a new deck stain is applied. In perfect conditions, without excessive weather, no heavy foot traffic, and using these professional type methods that facts still say no deck stain will last longer than 2-4 years, especially on the horizontal surfaces, regardless of what it says on the stain can. Any ethical contractor or stain retailer will tell you that himself.

Be wary of false claims by some deck stain companies. Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. It isn’t worth the headache, heartache, time, or cost to go down that road. Maintaining a deck is an every 2-3 year project at minimum and as of yet there is no deck stain on the market that has proof of lasting any longer, even under perfect conditions.

Best Deck Stain Ratings

Restore-A-Deck Cleaners

For many years consumer grade deck maintenance products have been nothing more than soap and bleach. Restoration professionals have known for some time that bleach is not the best cleaner to put on your deck. The contractor grade deck cleaners and secrets of the professionals have been kept safe within the industry. The enthusiastic DIYer was left in the dark with no knowledge of the right cleaners or methods needed to get professional results, until now!

The Restore-A-Deck system is designed specifically for DIY homeowners looking for professional grade results. This two step state of the art process will give you results like the pros. Restore-A-Deck will not only give you results you never thought possible, it’s environmentally safe and landscape friendly.

This amazing 1-part deck cleaner 1-part deck brightener is concentrated so the packaging is smaller saving you on huge shipping costs. This deck restoration product was actually developed by deck restoration specialists using special buffers and surfactants causing it to be gentle on the wood yet highly effective.

The Restore-A-Deck cleaner dives deep to get rid of mold, mildew, and dirt. It draws out the sun faded wood fibers to bring grayed out decks back to life. The cleaning instructions are simple and easy to follow. After cleaning the wood, the Restore-A-Deck wood brightener is used to brighten the wood back to the proper pH level. This restores the woods natural grain characteristics and prepares the deck for a deck stain. This is the perfect two step system, used by professionals, to maintain new decks and revitalize neglected decks. It not only makes old decks look new again, it preps the wood giving deck stain the best possible surface for longer lasting results.

DIY deck maintenance has never been so easy. Get lasting results that will save you time and money in constant refinishing. The number one reason a deck stain will fail before expected, is because the wood was not prepped correctly. The Restore-A-Deck system eliminates that problem giving you more longevity out of your deck stain. Make your neighbors jealous with professional results at a fraction of the cost.

See here for Deck Cleaner Reviews

Cleaning and Staining Your Deck

It is possible for you to restore your own deck, but you should have some knowledge of the chemicals, equipment, and methods used. Before tackling a complete deck restoration, you should research and read as much information on the subject as possible.

Most of the woods used in deck construction are considerably soft in terms of wood. When washed with excessive pressure they can easily fur up or splinter. Most people don’t realize the methods and chemicals that are required in restoring a deck properly. This is where they make the mistake of blasting the wood with water and then slapping some deck stain on it. This situation results in a deck sealer or stain that doesn’t last as long as it should have. When a wooden deck isn’t cleaned or sealed properly, it ends up costing you more time and money to restore it the next time.

The proper wood and deck restoration products such as deck cleaners, deck brighteners, and deck stains are all an essential part of getting great results that will last. Most deck stains, when applied to a properly prepared surface, will last a couple of years before needing maintenance. When not done correctly, you will be refinishing the deck almost every year to keep it looking the way you want.

It isn’t uncommon for homeowners to attempt a deck restoration without any knowledge and wonder why the deck stain is fading or peeling off so quickly. Then they fall into the cycle of searching for a “better” or best deck stain that will last longer when in reality it wasn’t the fault of the deck stain but rather the preparation work.

You don’t have to be certified or trained to restore your deck back to a beautiful state. But researching the proper wood deck cleaners, deck stains, and proper methods will go a long way when restoring your own deck.

Penetrating Wood Deck Stain

Wood decks have always been very popular. They add extra outdoor living space to your home, increase your home’s value, and provide a great place for family outings or just relaxing. Wood decks however, do need to be protected from the environment if they are expected to last many years.

To protect a wooden deck you have several choices. Deck stains and sealers come in many different textures, tints, colors, and varieties. Deck stains are certainly the best option for providing adequate protection from the weather and the sun’s harsh UV rays.

Many people ask if painting a deck is a good option. Most experts will agree that paint will not work well for protecting a wood deck. If you have ever seen a painted deck that has failed you probably noticed the paint was cracking and peeling.

Wood expands and contracts naturally with changing temperatures and weather conditions. Paint also expands and contracts but not at the same rate as wood. This indifference in fluctuation causes the paint to crack over time.

Because the bottoms of the deck boards are normally not coated with paint, moisture will still penetrate the wood. Unlike a more breathable deck

stain, paint traps this moisture in the wood which causes the paint to peel and flake. Normally the peeling and flaking is first noticeable near the edges of each board.

Reasons Not To Use Paint on a Wood Deck

• Paint requires time and labor intensive methods to maintain.
• Requires 2 coats to be more effective in the elements.
• To have any duration of protection with paint, a primer should be used first which adds to the cost.
• Paint will inevitably fail by cracking and peeling, and when it does, it’s costly to have it removed and replaced.

If you want the solid color look of paint, a solid colored deck stain is a better option. Semi-transparent deck stains can have tint and color added to them as well. Deck stains penetrate the wood as opposed to creating a film on top of the wood like paint does. Deck stains and sealers are a much better choice over paint for protecting your wooden deck for years of enjoyment.