OT: Deck stains----other ideas.

I power washed the back deck today. Now I have to decide what to use on it.
I have used Super deck, (it sucks). It acts like a top coat that doesnt soak in.
I have used Penofin years ago at the old house, dont remember how good it is or isnt.
Last year after cleaning my current back deck I rolled Minwax wood stain on it and then 2 days later I used Thompsons clear, worked okay but...the minwax stain didnt permenantly color the deck.
--Now for other ideas, A friend of mine that had a deck power washing business said that a customer of his applied motor oil to the top boards, yep motor oil. (I almost want to take a small section and try it) I assume this is new 30 weight or something. Maybe 80w90? Sounds goofy doesnt it. What about used transfluid out of a tractor? Gives a redwood look?. Motor oil is cheaper then $25/gallon deck stain. I dont like deck paint, my inlaws used deck paint 10 years ago and last year me and the BIL cut up that deck and put it in the dumpster, Deck was built in 1991.
If any of you guys have a deck stain idea then rifle it off on here. Or a product that you have had success with.

Use Total Wood Preservative. It comes in many color configurations, as well as clear. It is easy to apply, with a cheap garden sprayer. And, it actually works! You will need to reapply at least every other year, but you won't need to prep much. When I do mine, I just throw away the sprayer, because the mineral spirits will mess with the o rings in the sprayer. It retails for $20.00 per gallon in Omaha. Greg

I use Penofin. I thnik it works great here in Michigan.

Jerry

Cabot makes some good stuff.

The motor oil trick,ever wonder why he is a customer, I think you would regret it although you would not have any whiteants.

If it was up to me, I would have never stained our deck, because once you do you have to keep doing it. But my wife has certain opinions on things, so stain it is.

I prefer Penofin, because it soaks in and lasts reasonably well. Anything that doesn't soak in will end up looking like hell in a couple of years and will be next to impossible to remove and refinish.

My father-in-law used abundant doses of Thompson's on his deck every year, with the result that the deck formed a layer of black crud on top. (Maybe that's where that guy got the wacko idea of using motor oil.) My FIL has been dead for seven years and the deck is just now coming clean after repeated cleaning.

What about Linseed oil or teak oil? Vegetable oil? Last year I bought some stuff from home depot that removes deck stain (top coat). The stuff was Sodium Hydroxide, (lye) it bubbled the old super deck stuff off like it was super cheap paint stain. I just hosed off the top boards and "poof" fresh naked cedar top boards. I agree that Thompsons is not very durable and just collects dirt.
It is too bad that a chemical company hasnt come out with a UV protected polyurethate for decks that holds up for years and.....is maint. friendly, just use the garden hose. Probably not for years to come (or never)

My idea of a good low maintenance deck is concrete.Mark

Very true but.........My deck sits 4 feet off the ground and 6" below the door sill plate.

Regarding UV protected polyurethane, there are some marine polyurethanes that fall into this category, but most of your marine varnishes are of a traditional tung oil and phenolic resin base. There are a couple of reasons for that: First, polyurethane is a fairly brittle finish and doesn't hold up well on surfaces that expand and contract. The second reason is that cracked and peeling polyurethane is difficult to remove, making refinishing very difficult. My personal favorite marine spar varnish is Z-Spar Captain's Varnish. which currently runs around 18 bucks a quart. Z-Spar also sells a urethane exterior varnish, the price is a ridiculous $37 per quart!

Penofin. Nothing else even comes close.

gun guru,
Here in Michigan, I've got a Cedar deck that is 20 years old. Originally used CWF (clear). Mistake I made about 10 years ago was to try the "Cedar" tinted version. Every year the tint peeled a little more. It has finally mostly wore off. I just power washed it 3 weeks ago (last cleaning and application was 5 or so years ago) and put on a coat of CWF (clear). The deck looks great. I had contemplated tearing it down and putting in a stamped concrete patio ($$$$$) but not anymore. The deck is about 600 sq ft with railings, stairs, privacy fence and I used almost a full 5 gallons at $80 for the can.