Should i seal my deck after power washing

Applying Sealer

Your deck needs at least two full days to dry after you wash it and before you seal it. While you can always apply sealer with a paintbrush, it’s faster and easier on your knees to use a roller or a sprayer.

Sand Your Deck Before Sealing

Pressure washing is the best way to prepare your deck for sealing. After you’ve pressure washed your deck, you’ll need to wait for it to completely dry. Sometimes, this can take as long as 48-hours.

After a deck has been power washed it will have some retained moisture within the wood. It’s important to let the wood dry thoroughly so none of the water that soaked into the wood gets trapped under the stain. In perfect drying conditions, 48 hours is enough for the wood to get to where it needs to be before staining.

A pressure washer is a straightforward machine that can clean very well with only water. However, it can ruin your deck if it’s not used properly. … If you use it with too much jet pressure or place the tip too close to the surface of your deck, you can deeply etch the wood and cause the fibers to splinter.

Rain really will not hurt unless the deck is wet when you seal it. If wet when sealed depending on the type of sealer it may be ok (water based) or with oil based it will not adhere as well.

Decks made of pressure-treated wood are generally okay, too, assuming you don’t hold the nozzle too close. … Not all decks need to be cleaned with a pressure washer. Newer composite decks from brands such as TimberTech and Trex often resist deep staining in the first place and can be cleaned with a light scrubbing.

Beware Pressure Washing Damage

If you have timber deck boards, a power washer’s pressure may cause splintering and damage to the timber fibers. … Depending on the material, a power washer can also scar boards if the pressure is too high. If the power washing becomes too intense, it can even chip the material.

Be careful. And PLEASE, do not waterblast your deck, no matter what the manufacturers of overpriced cleaning gadgets tell you. Powerful jets of water can damage your decking timber, lifting timber fibres.

Splintered, breaking, or just plain rough wood should be sanded first, then pressure washed to open the wood’s pores and allow penetration of the stain. Deeply grooved wood that has mold, moss and other growing things filling the breaks will need treatment with a deck and siding cleaner.

Although the wood is resistant to rot and insect attacks because of the pressure treatment, it can warp, split and develop mildew if not protected from the effects of water. …

Sealing a deck is best for cedar, teak, mahogany, or other quality woods as it enhances the wood grain and natural color. … Staining a deck protects the wood from mold, mildew, moisture, and rot, and UV rays and sun damage.

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.

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.

However, even pressure treated wood may need protection as it is not waterproof; a weather-proofing top coat or base layer preservative is recommended every 12 months to fully protect timber through the winter months. However, it may not be best to treat pressure-treated timber straight away, as this needs to weather.

If you stain pressure-treated wood too soon, the stain will be unable to fully penetrate the wood, and you will not get the protective benefits of the stain. What is the best stain for pressure-treated wood? An oil-based stain is the best for pressure-treated wood.

The effects that can occur due to a lack of treatment are aesthetic in nature. After 6 months, the wood will start to lose its color and will begin to fade. Ultimately it will fade to grey or silver. This is not a problem in and of itself, and some people prefer this look for their decks.

For similar reasons, wet lumber can hinder how well paint adheres to the wood, but the added problem of the preservatives in pressure-treated wood makes it difficult for the paint to bond; this is why it’s advisable to stain pressure-treated wood instead of paint, as painting requires additional preparation.

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.

Water and Oil

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. Oil-based stains will only adhere to wood previously stained with an oil-based product. Oil spills can be cleaned up with paint thinner.

Cost to Seal a Deck

Sealing a deck costs $895 or typically between $551 and $1,277. 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.