Homeowners who have a deck often think of it as an additional room outside their home. Our decks get just as much use as the family room when the weather is nice. Deck sealing can help you prevent wear and tear from the harsh elements and keep your deck looking beautiful for years to come. If you are looking to seal or stain your deck, you’ve come to the right place. Follow these five-deck sealing tips to ensure you are sealing your deck properly.
1. Always Check the Weather
One important tip that many homeowners forget to do before they begin deck sealing is to check the weather report. You will need at least two days of dry weather with temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees in order for your sealant to dry properly. The last thing you want to do is be in the middle of deck sealing and get hit with an afternoon rainstorm. It can ruin your deck sealing and not to mention cost a lot of money in additional supplies to fix the problem.
The same goes for deck stain. Don’t learn the hard way. Just check the weather report before you plan on beginning your project to save yourself some time and hassle.
2. Prep Your Deck
In order to get the best deck seal, you will need to prep your deck. Start by removing all of the furniture off of your deck. Make sure you remove plants or anything else that is on top of your deck as well.
Now you can begin to sand your deck. The entire deck must be sanded with a pole sander or a palm sander. Use a dust mask when you are sanding and wear safety glasses to ensure you do not get small pieces of wood in your eyes or inhale them. Sand in the direction of the grain. If you spot any nails that have popped out go ahead and hammer them back in while you complete this process. If you notice some boards are damaged or beginning to rot, now is also a great time to replace those boards. After you are done sawing, sweep your deck free of debris. The last thing you want is sawdust to wind up in your deck stain or sealant. Then cover your siding and plants that are along the edges of your deck to protect them from being painted.
You can cover your plants and siding with plastic, paper, or a tarp you already have. There is no need to purchase something specifically for this task.
Some homeowners also like to pressure wash an older deck before they begin the sanding. If mold, algae, or dirt is caked onto your deck you may want to consider renting a pressure washer or hiring a service to come pressure wash your deck before you sand.
Lastly, make sure you stir the sealant or stain. Now you are fully prepped.
3. Applying the Deck Seal
We often see people asking, “Can I Seal a deck myself?” The answer is of course you can. However, depending on the size of your deck it can be a really big project. Perhaps now is the time to call in that favor from your brother-in-law or even hire a professional to come and take care of the hard work.
If you’ve decided to seal or stain the deck yourself then keep reading. You’ll want to apply a thin layer of sealer or stain over a two to three-board section.
Make sure that the coats are relatively even. You don’t want to end up with one board that has a lot of stain or sealer gobbed on there.
You can use a roller, a hand brush, or even a sprayer to do the job. Two thin coats are better than one thick coat. The thicker the coast the longer it will take to dry and the more chances there are of it not drying properly.
Watch out while you are painting. Do not allow the stain or sealer to puddle. To speed up the process you should ideally have one person apply the stain and one person uses a roller to spread out puddles and work the stain into the wood.
Then after you’ve painted every inch you want to go ahead and repeat the process to give the deck a second coat. Use a small paintbrush for any hard-to-reach areas or nooks and corners.
4. Allow the Deck to Dry
After you apply the second coat you can now relax. The hard part is finished. Now the deck needs to dry. Go ahead and remove the plastic covering from your siding and rinse them off.
Keep an eye on the deck if you have trees in your backyard to make sure leaves or debris do not fall onto your deck while you are waiting for it to dry.
The deck should dry for two days before you can begin to use it again. If you live in a more humid climate it may take even longer to dry because the humidity affects how fast the stain and sealer can dry.
After your deck is dried fully you can begin placing your furniture and plants back on the deck and feel free to walk across it.
5. Hire a Professional
There are so many things that could go wrong when you try to seal and stain a deck by yourself. A professional team who works on decks all the time has the process down pat and they know how to seal a deck in as little time as possible while delivering a great product.
If you’re asking how often do I seal a deck, well the answer varies from deck to deck and how it is used. A professional team can ask you some questions about your deck and give you the best answer.
Deck Sealing Can Keep You Deck Looking Nice For Years
Deck sealing is a lot of work but it can help keep your deck looking beautiful for many years. If you don’t have the time or the patience to seal and stain your own deck, or if you want to make sure it gets done right the first time, call Deck Doc.
Deck Doc is a deck sealing and staining company based in Chicago. Our team of professionals is skilled and knowledgeable and has an unwavering commitment to customer service.
You’ll be happy with the results of your deck after you hire Deck Doc. Contact us today for a free estimate.