Sealing your deck from the damaging elements is a necessary part of the maintenance of a deck to be proud of. This maintenance can seem cumbersome, but using the proper tools and taking the appropriate steps can leave you with lasting results, greatly extending the life of your project. Cleaning the deck is necessary to the process. Also, picking the correct kind of stain is important as well. There are many different brands, colors, and other features to today’s deck stains, and deciphering the language of the stains’ manufacturers can be as difficult as applying the stain itself!
First thing is first, it is imperative to clean your deck in order for any stain to work to its full potential. There are different cleaners out there on the market, and most generally are able to successfully clean mold, mildew and dirt from the deck. Some cleaners are better than others. Never ever use any house hold bleach on the wood. House hold bleach is formulated with chlorine. Chlorine bleach will weaken the lignin between the grains in the wood, weakening the wood and making it more susceptible to precipitation.
Instead, oxygen bleach is the appropriate product. Oxygen bleaches such as DEFY Wood Cleaner gently cleans the wood, removing any dirt, mold, or algae on the wood itself. Cleaning even a seemingly clean deck before staining is essential because it allows more stain to be absorbed through the pores of the wood for lasting protection.
Once the deck is properly cleaned and the area cleared for staining, it is imperative to be sure that you are using a stain that will not be causing you problems down the road. Some stains can be referred to as film-forming wood stains. Film-forming wood stains will peel relatively quickly after application because the film that forms is not permeable to the water vapors that are trapped below them. The precipitation builds up underneath the film and eventually causes it to peel, making a project designed to enhance the beauty of the deck an eyesore.
Instead, opt for a wood stain that will form a semi-permeable membrane around the surface of the wood, allowing vapors to move freely after they inadvertently become trapped while still providing incomparable protection compared to film-forming stains. These deep penetrating wood stains sink deep into the wood via its porous surface, providing longer and deeper protection from the rain, and snow when the weather is at its worst. DEFY Epoxy Fortified Wood Stain provides pigment, deep, pore-penetrating color, as well as protection from the sun’s damaging UV rays. This ultraviolet radiation can hasten the deterioration of your deck, making it more susceptible to damage from water and snow and causing it to fade more quickly.
