It is a common misconception that you cannot stain or seal a new wood deck, fence, pergola or even outdoor furniture for 6 months to a year. When we had our new deck built, our contractor told us just that – to wait a year before we sealed it. We learned the hard way that this was not the right advice. Our deck boards warped, cracked, peeled, splintered and even became soft in some areas. We had essentially taken years off of the lifespan of our new wood deck. To avoid our mistake, we highly recommend that you clean, seal & protect your new deck and fence. It will save you lots of money and time in the long run.
Most wood used in the construction of wood structures is pressure treated (green), cedar, or kiln dried. All are great to prevent rot and insect damage. With pressure treated lumber, it comes from the mill with a certain degree of water repellency as it has been dipped and treated. Once the wood is installed, if you put water on the deck it will more than likely bead up. Cedar or kiln dried lumber will do the same as they have a condition called mill glaze. Because the wood is repelling water, many recommend letting the structure sit for 6 months to a year and tell you that if you seal or stain it, it won’t take the sealer. This is true if you do not clean it first. In fact, mill glaze if left on the wood and exposed to sunlight will actually get worse as the mill glaze further hardens. You need to use a chemical cleaner (we use environmentally friendly cleaners) to remove the mill glaze and the film on pressure treated lumber as soon as possible as within 2 weeks, wood will begin to grey and damage from the elements will start. Many of our Renew Crew clients have reluctantly (at first) asked us if we could do anything with their new deck, fence, etc. They thought they also had to wait and that we, Renew Crew Richmond did not provide any service for new wood decks or wood structures. We absolutely can and do clean and seal all types of new wood decks, pergolas, fences and even furniture. We highly recommend sealing your wood structures as soon as the project is finished. Protecting your wood deck immediately will preserve its natural beauty, prevent the wood from splitting, warping and most importantly rot due to moisture penetration, mold and mildew.
Brand New Deck following our 3-Step process. We applied our Renew Crew Natural Protectant. You can expect this look to last for 2 years or so. The UV protectant that is in our stain will prevent graying from occurring.
Give us a call today at (804) 561-6777 or if you have questions feel free to email us a southjames@renewcrewclean.com. We can recommend a preventative maintenance plan to protect your new deck or fence that will keep it looking as good as new for years to come.
Easy Outdoor Living 