If your home has an existing wood deck or you're planning new deck construction, it's important to protect it with a good sealer. Proper deck maintenance will improve the strength and durability of the wood and protect your deck from daily wear-and-tear.

Why Is A Sealer Important?

Once wood is harvested as bare lumber, it looses it's protection from the natural oils in tree bark. It becomes dry, brittle and subject to harmful effects of the elements. Rain, snow and standing water cause wood to swell, while sunlight exposure causes wood to shrink, dry out and become brittle. This constant process of swelling and shrinking causes wood to become unstable, resulting in cracking, twisting and warping. If your wooden deck is not protected with a good sealer, your deck construction will eventually rot and fall apart.

When Is The Best Time To Seal Your Deck?

The best time to seal your deck depends on several factors – the age of your deck, your climate, and local weather conditions. If you apply a sealer at the wrong time, your deck won't be fully protected.

Your Deck's Age – If you have new deck construction, you should wait at least one year before applying a sealer. New wood needs to dry and cure properly for a sealer to penetrate the wood. With a new deck, protect your deck with a new wood treatment for the first year, then followup with a sealer. If you have an older wooden deck, you need to reseal your deck every 12 to 18 months for best protection.

Your Climate – Since most wood sealant products work best in mild temperatures, the best time to apply a sealer to your wooden deck is spring or fall. If it's too hot or too cold, the sealer won't penetrate the wood's surface properly. Check specific directions on your product label.

Weather Conditions – Before you apply a sealer, you need to clean your wooden deck to remove dirt and debris. Power wash your deck construction and allow it to dry for two to three days. When dry, apply your sealer and allow one or two days for drying. Check your local weather conditions and choose five to six days with mild temperatures and no rain forecast.

Poor deck maintenance causes homeowners to repair or replace thousands of decks each year, so protect your wooden deck with a good sealer.

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