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Short Summary
Main recommendation: Restore a weathered deck by pressure washing, letting it dry fully, and then applying a clear coat sealer rather than a colored stain, then re-applying sealer as needed. The presenter argues this keeps the wood's natural look, is far less work to maintain than stripping and restaining, and can extend the deck's life to 40, 50, or 60 years if sealer maintenance is kept up.
Key Points
- Pressure-treated wood loses its protection over time because UV rays from the sun break down the chemicals pushed into the wood, so a finish coat is needed.
- Sealers are preferred over transparent, semi-transparent, and solid stains because stains show overlap marks when reapplied, look uneven across sun-exposed areas, and require full sanding again every 6 to 10 years depending on the product.
- Re-sealing is quick: when water no longer beads on the surface, the sealer has worn off and a new coat takes only minutes, not the 50 to 80 hours of prep a full restoration requires.
- The presenter says oil-based and water-based products both have comparable environmental impact, and that oil-based is their preference.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions:
- Rent a pressure washer if you don't own one. Alternatives are belt sanding or using an orbital sander, which the presenter estimates takes about 50 to 60 hours for a few hundred square feet.
- Hold the pressure washer wand about 6 to 8 inches off the wood, and widen the spray pattern to reduce impact. Getting closer can tear the wood fibers.
- Let the deck dry completely before finishing. Do a water test: if water soaks into the wood within a few seconds, it is dry. Look for a couple of days of sunshine after the last rain; for very new wood, allow three to six weeks depending on condition.
- If sanding, start around 80 grit to remove an old finish or paint, then move through 120 grit and finish with 180 grit for a fine surface.
- Check ventilation: if the deck is more than two feet off the ground, oil-based products are workable, but ensure the sides can breathe (lattice is suggested; solid skirt boards are fine as long as they're high enough off the ground) so air and moisture can escape rather than trapping humidity.
- Re-seal every spring: pressure wash to remove winter moss, then apply a fresh sealer coat without stripping the deck.
- The presenter names Thompson's WaterSeal oil-based product as one they like and recommend, while stating they have no endorsement arrangement.
- Good wood selection matters: the presenter advises choosing a naturally attractive species, such as cedar, rather than adding heavy color.
- The presenter notes that after a few years, a deck that has not been maintained may need replacement, which they estimate can cost about $20,000 for a deck of this size.
Bottom Line
Regular, inexpensive clear-sealer maintenance is presented as the most cost-effective way to keep a deck looking good and lasting decades, as long as the wood is properly dried and cleaned first.
