Here you will find answers to some of the most common questions about deck care. If you've got one that is not listed here, please send us a quick e-mail and we'll respond as quick as we can.

Q- Should I power wash my new deck?
All wood needs to be cleaned before it is sealed. New decks only require a light cleaning before sealing with Seasonite.

Q- Does power washing destroy my deck?
A power washer like any tool must be used properly. When used properly it will not damage the wood, any time wood is cleaned with a scrub brush or a power washer you may raise the grain a little. The raised grain is lightly sanded before sealing to quiet the grain back down.

Q- Will power washing remove the stamps from the mill?
Power Washing is designed to clean the wood. There are many different levels of power washing. Everything from a light cleaning to a heavy duty detailed cleaning. A power wash will not remove mill stamps however, they usually fade naturally in a year or two.

Q- Will power washing remove the green algae stains?
Like all stains you roll the dice on getting them out. Depending on how long the stain has been there and how deep into the wood the stain has penetrated, will affect the final result. We are able to kill the algae and usually lighten the stain some. However if you have an environment that mold and mildew grows in, then no matter what, mold and mildew will eventually come back.

Q- How often should I power wash?
Decks should be cleaned every year. Usually all that is needed is a light cleaning. This can be done by hand with a scrub brush and mild detergent or with a power washer.

Q- Does  Power washing hurt my landscaping?
Power washing will not harm landscaping as long as your careful. Some landscaping is very delicate and could sustain some minimal damage but not life threatening. Most of the time it's not a problem.

Q- Will power washing remove the seal?
Power washing is not designed to remove seal. Power washing will remove some of the loose flaking seal that’s on the surface but not all of it. Seal should never sit on the surface, it is designed to penetrate into the wood.

Q- What is seal?
Seals are designed to penetrate into the wood, coat the wood fibers, and slow down the absorption rate of water into the wood. This allows the water to sit on the surface and evaporate away. However when water sits on the surface for a period of time, some absorption will occur. Seals are not a perfect system, they can only help fight the effects of the harsh environment on the wood. Seals also contain maledicts to protect from mold and mildew. Some seals also contain UV blockers which slows down the discoloration by the sun.

Q- When should I seal my new deck?
New decks should be sealed in the first 30 to 60 days with Seasonite.

Q- What is Seasonite?
Seasonite is a water based seal with no UV block, designed specifically to protect and stabilize new wood. Because Seasonite contains no UV block or solids, it will not change the color of the wood.

Q- Will sealing change the color?
Oil based UV blocking seals enhance the natural look of the wood. Color change will depend on the amount of UV block in the seal, the color of the block used and the type of wood being sealed. Cedar has a rich warm honey look. Pressure treated wood has a richer darker color depending on the age of the wood. All of the seals we use are in the clear seal family. None of them are clear like water. They all have a amberish cast to them.

Q- What is UV Block?
UV Block is a sunscreen protection that slows down the discoloration caused by UV rays.

Q- What  sealers do you use?
We use clear natural, oil based UV blocking seals. We recommend TWP 501 Cedar, Ready Seal Natural, and Super Deck 1901 Cedar.   

Q- Will sealing damage my landscaping?
Seal if not applied carefully, can damage landscaping. care must be taken to cover everything.

Q- What if it rains?
The wood must be dry before we can seal it. If it rains after the seal is applied it depends on temperature, how much rain, how soon it rains and the type of seal used. Most of the time it does not cause any problems.

Q-What is stain?
Exterior stain looks like paint. It contains heavy solids and pigments. Stain is designed to be a film builder, and at the same time penetrate and adhere into the wood. We recommend that you never apply a film building product to an exterior horizontal wood surface.

Q-Do you apply primer before you stain?
Yes . We use a unique primer system called Emulsa Bond. E.B. is added to the stain before application to the wood. When applied the E.B. separates from the stain, penetrates and seals the wood providing an excellent surface for the stain to adhere to.

Q-Should I seal the wood after I stain it?
You never apply a seal over top a stain. Stain will protect the wood by itself , and will prevent the seal from penetrating into the wood.

Q- What is a combination?
The combination process is absolutely gorgeous. We stain all the verticals to match the house and seal the horizontals with a clear sealer, usually TWP.

Q- How does the weather affect  job scheduling?
In our business more than any other the weather greatly affects our work schedule. Normally we can get our decks washed on their regular scheduled day. But sealing and staining is a whole different matter. If it rains we lose that day and the next. Two days of rain can wash out the entire week. If it's to windy we can't work. In the spring we like to see night time temps. 50 degrees for about a week before we start sealing with oil based seals. Sometimes we don't see those temps till the end of May, then it could rain two or three days a week before we can get started. So in our line of work it's important that our customers understand the situation.