A well-maintained wooden deck enhances the aesthetics of a home, making it more inviting. Homeowners can spend long lazy summer evenings enjoying time outdoors with their family and friends at the decks. However, regular use and daily exposure to natural elements like rain, UV rays, temperature fluctuations, and snow cause increased wear and tear to a wooden deck. The best way to keep the decks in tip-top shape throughout the year is by applying the high-quality deck sealer. But which sealer to buy from many available options? This article explains the wooden deck sealers and how to choose the best one.
What are the Wooden Deck Sealers?
Deck sealant is specifically designed to coat the wooden deck’s outside surface using a clear, waterproof finish to protect it and maintain the wood’s natural state. A too-dry or too-wet wood wraps over time and needs to be replaced. Moreover, it can be expensive. Therefore, using a high-quality wood sealant is the first step in wooden deck maintenance.
Cracking, warping, swelling, and rotting are common signs of wood stress and aging. All these signs can be prevented by using regular deck sealant. A quality wooden deck sealer will enhance the wood’s natural grain while lasting 5-6 years before reapplication.
Benefits of Using a High-Quality Wooden Deck Sealant
Some key benefits of using a high-quality wooden deck sealant are as follows:
- Sealants provide an additional protective coating to the wood against regular wear and tear.
- By applying a wood deck sealer, a person can protect it from water, mildew, and mold, which could rot the wood.
- To protect the deck from UV rays and cracking.
- Protection against insect infestation.
- To enhance the wood deck’s natural appearance.
Oil-Based vs. Water-Based Sealants: Choosing the Best Wooden Deck Sealant
Several factors influence the usage of an oil-based sealant or a water-based sealant. A homeowner should consider what type of wood he is using and whether the wood is placed indoors or outdoors. Choosing the correct option for a wooden deck is crucial as both yield different results and require different maintenance procedures.
- Oil-Based Sealants
Oil-based sealants are more durable than water-based sealants. Moreover, using these sealants, homeowners will require fewer coats with longer drying times, giving an individual more time to get a nice, smooth coat across the wooden deck. By using oil-based sealants, one can give wood a deeper, richer color.
- Water-Based Sealants
Water-based sealants are more environmentally friendly than oil-based sealants and are usually non-flammable. These deck sealants require a few more coats to give the wood a richer look and dry much faster. Moreover, water-based sealants don’t use an oil-based formula, making equipment cleaning much quicker.
Conclusion
Over time, wood suffers from wear and tear due to prolonged exposure to the elements. It’s when deck sealants come in handy. Wood deck sealants are essential to protect the wood and improve its appearance. With little research and planning, one can choose the best all-purpose wood deck sealant. Regardless of the quality, a homeowner should consider applying the good quality sealant every 1 to 3 years.
