OT--Protecting Treated Wood

J

Jiles

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I just finished building a 56' x 14' outdoor Deck.
I am aware that Treated Wood Decking Boards should be stained or sealed only after they are dry and have weathered a little--like a few months.
Since winter is fast approaching, here in the South, I would like to get a little early protection.
Would Thompson's Waterseal, or a similar product, be a waste of time and money?

 

MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

Location

Motown USA

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

There is a product called Seasonite specifically for that purpose. It used to be made by Flood and was widely available. I see now that Flood no longer makes it and it's now from the Owatrol company. The only US source I see for Seasonite is Amazon, but the price is exorbitant.

 

Ultradog MN

Well-known Member

Location

Twin Cities

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I never cared for the deck stain stuff.
Have seen too much of it peel off after a few years. Then you have to pressure wash, scrape or wire brush it it to restain.
You also have to use a brush or roller to apply it which is tough in all those hard to get places.
Or use an airless sprayer...
If you don't mind the natural color of the treated lumber then Thompson's is the way to go.
Easy to apply - shoot it on with a pump up garden sprayer and it goes on fast. Lasts for a few years and doesn't peel. Spray on another coat as needed.
BTW
As a carpenter I've built a few decks in my lifetime. But would never build a wooden one for myself. Too much maintenance...
Below is a link to a post I made here a couple of years ago - the deck I put on my own house.
click here

 

F

FBH44

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

Don"t spray on too much. I dont understand Thompson"s, you only spray on just barely enough to barely wet the wood, dosens"t seem like it"s enough, but don"t over-do it.
The stuff is cheap, only need a gallon or two.
And last,to me the clear is somehow better, the white stuff is weird.

 

A

ASEguy

Well-known Member

Location

Festus MO

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I didn't get good results with Thompson's Water seal. It didn't last very long. The best I've used is CWF. Comes in clear, light brown and dark brown. It seems to last quite a while. I usually get 3 years out of it on my pool deck.

 

showcrop

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I used to be a Thompson's fan until I noticed that it doesn't penetrate or last.

 

omahagreg

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

In my experience as a carpenter, you might as well spray it with water instead of using Thompsons! Works equally well! I recommend TWP=Total Wood Preservative. Comes in several color, or clear, choices. I apply it with a cheap pump up garden sprayer!

 

D

Dachshund

Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

Always had good luck with Thompson's.....
Like it has been said - go easy with it.

 

M

Mike M

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I'm not fond of thompsons either.

I'm also not a fan of wood decks or playsets ! They just seem to fall apart and need redone and plus the splinters.

 

S

ss55

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I've quit using clear and semi-transparent stains on decks, they don't last very long. Now I only use opaque (solid) deck stains. I would consider using a porch paint because they outlast a solid deck stain, but the porch paints I've seen so far are all glossy.

 

jm.

Well-known Member

Location

Dover TN

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

We were having to treat each year with Thompson,t but went to CFW and easy go three years. No comparison and the cost is about the same.

 

C

CGID

Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

It's been a few years ago, but I was acquainted with a chemist at a local paint manufacturer. His analysis of Thomson's was that it was a solvent/vehicle and some paraffin. It may be a different mix now but it's always been inexpensive and will shed water while it lasts which isn't very long. Wood, set horizontally to the weather, is hard to manage no matter what you put on it.

 

M

Matt in TN

Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

Back in the day, it took a few months for the CCA to dry out. Nowadays, you can throw the sealer to it after a couple dry weeks. In my opinion, the sooner the better with today's treated lumber.

 

D

dpendzic

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

An old fashioned sealer is a 50/50 mix of boiled linseed oil and turpentine.Used on boat decks and and other surfaces. Waterproofed and kept the wood from splintering--Thompsons drys out after a year or so.

 

R

rustyfarmall

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I built a new deck 4 years ago. Built it out of pressure treated lumber. I left it alone for a full year, until the rain water no longer beaded up or puddled, and then we painted it with latex porch and deck paint. It is holding up very well. Doubt very much I will have to do anything to it for several more years.

Thompson"s water seal does not work on pressure treated wood, and neither does that deck stain stuff.

 

S

Spook

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

What would be the price of that mix ? It's several dollars per quart of linseed oil, and the turp isn't cheap either.

 

L

LenND

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I built a new deck in 2000 and used a then new composite wood. It is new wood color when new but turns a white color with age. No painting or stain needs to be put on. Mine still looks good after thirteen years and I haven't toughed it.

 

P

Paul from MI

Well-known Member

• Oct 28, 2013

• #1

I built my deck in 1984, using pressure treated pine. I have sealed it with Thompsons Water Seal every year since. It's still good, have replaced only a few of the boards in 27 years. Now the EPS has forced the change to a water based solution for Thompsons. Sure hope it is as good as the old stuff, but I have very little confidence in anything the EPA mandates.

 

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

• Oct 29, 2013

• #1

I pressure clean and seal for a living and have stained thousand
of decks.Everyone here is missing a major point that new would
must be pressure cleaned lightly with deck cleaner to remove
mill glaze and wax wich is now used to prevent warping at the
lumber yards nothing will stick to this. I use wolmans dura
stain semi and apply with and airless sparyer and back brush
on floor with a broom.