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In fact, decks built in late spring or early summer that have been protected with Seasonite can wait until next spring for sealing, said Woodbrite owner, Dave Krauskoff. From there, deck maintenance should be a yearly task to preserve your investment. Another word of caution, Krauskoff explained, leave deck cleaning and preserving to the professionals." A lot of people attempt it once but never again. It's too much work and often poor results," Krauskoff said. The biggest mistake made by do it yourselfer's includes the stop and go marks that won't go away until they actually weather off.
Staining versus sealing is a matter of taste, according to Krauskoff. Some people prefer the natural look of wood grain with staining. It's also less expensive than staining and sealing. The combination will cost more money, although the look is spectacular. And never, stain horizontal pieces of wood, or the tops of the rail. After exposure to the sun, the finish will crack and peel. In placing your deck, also consider that shaded areas and sunny areas will weather unevenly, Krauskoff said. This may eventually require sanding. He rarely recommends stripping, since sometimes that doesn't correct the problem and they may have to sand anyway. Why charge a customer for both services, he reasons.
If applied correctly sealer shouldn't need to be removed, but should weather away evenly between applications, according to Krauskoff. For sealing they recommend a product called TWP, or Total Wood Protection. Although this sealer is more costly than some brands, it is the only product that WoodBrite will guarantee for two years. The WoodBrite staff also recommend that you always hire a contractor that is bonded or insured and find out how many years experience they have. They are also happy to answer any questions you have about deck maintenance. "We're very user friendly," Krauskoff said. Call 2483980000. For great new deck ideas, look for Coy Construction's new showroom to be located at 4214 Martin Road in Walled Lake, call 2483633944.
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