Kicking back in your lounge chair, with a cool drink in your hand, enjoying a beautiful sunset on your gorgeous deck. Well, like all great things in life, a little work is required before you can relax to keep that deck looking great.
Wood decks take a beating. They are constantly exposed to the damaging effects of the sun, standing water, snow, pets and foot traffic. Without careful, preventive maintenance your wood deck will begin to turn gray and age, and if ignored for long, begin to deteriorate which can lead to costly repairs. To protect your deck against an early demise follow these helpful tips, and for detailed step-by-step directions contact your nearest Diamond Vogel service center.
One of the easiest ways to protect your investment is to apply a penetrating stain recommended for deck surfaces, that repels water and offers protection from the sun’s ultra violet light. Stains that penetrate are preferred since failure doesn’t typically result in peeling requiring additional preparation steps to re-apply the coating. Diamond Vogel’s Grain Stain Exterior Semi-Transparent Oil Stain is an excellent choice. For the ultimate in protection from ultra violet light, look for a penetrating stain that takes advantage of trans-oxide pigments. Trans-oxide pigments are carefully designed to impart beautiful, rich, clear colors that really highlight the natural beauty of the wood. Diamond Vogel’s Grain Stain Semi-Transparent Deck Stain benefits from careful formulation using trans-oxide pigments.
To offer the most protection, the stain should deeply penetrate the wood. In order to ensure deep penetration of the stain, the wood's water moisture content should be very low. In the case of new decks, a sufficient drop in moisture content may take up to six months. A wood moisture meter can assist you in determining if your deck is ready for coating. Your nearest Diamond Vogel store has them and can help you with their use.
As with all coating projects, attentive surface preparation is the key to a long lasting finish. In order for the finish to penetrate and look good, the deck must be free of dirt, dust, mildew and previous coatings. Sanding the wood and wiping it clean will give you the best results but is not always practical. Power washing can be a good second choice and using special deck preparation cleaning products can make the job easier. Your local Diamond Vogel service center can assist you with power washing tips, selection of cleaning products and mildew removal techniques.
After preparation, it is again very important to ensure the deck is dry before applying any finish; allow the deck to dry for two to three days before moving on.
You can apply the stain by brush, roller or spray, but for best results always brush the stain into the decking. Two coats of stain is recommended for maximum durability. It is important to apply the stain “wet on wet,” meaning just after the first coat has soaked into the surface apply the second coat.
To avoid extensive surface preparation and for the ultimate protection of your investment, reapply a new coat of stain every two to three years. If the deck does not show signs of graying, a quick cleaning to remove dirt, dust, mildew and other debris is all that is normally required before applying another coat of defense.
For further information on preparing and staining decks, contact your nearest Diamond Vogel service center or visit the Diamond Vogel website at www.diamondvogel.com.