Typically, a clear sealer should last 1-2 years; a semi-transparent stain should last 2-3 years, while a solid stain should last 4-6 years. However, the longevity of a stain or sealer depends on a variety of factors, such as the type of wood, UV exposure, rain, snow and traffic. Also note that vertical surfaces will outlast the horizontal surfaces. It is wise to observe how a fresh coat of stain reacts with rain and snow. When the stain peels, fades or does not hold out moisture then the wood requires a maintenance. Using cheap products and applications can also drastically reduce the longevity of protection to the wood.

It all depends on which products you intend to use on your wood. There is a variety of stains and sealers that offer the advantage of application on brand new wood. These are ideal on detailed structures such as pergolas and gazebos as they will preserve the new wood appearance. If you intend on using solvent based products, it is wise to allow the naturals oils to evaporate. Drying time varies with different wood species.

With the available products on the market today, one can get easily frustrated with understanding the various opinions. Based on results companies such as Sansin, Flood, Olympic and Cabot are all safe bets. What is important to remember is that each product may have different application instructions, so what generally provides the best results is to use a different combination of products for the various tasks involved. Simply because a company that produces excellent stain doesn't necessarily mean that they make the best wood cleaners... Some stains and sealers are more challenging to work with than others and often acquire a poor reputation because of this, even though they outlast many big brand names..

A solid stain looks like paint but isn’t! Solid stains are now available with an oil primer for adhesion combined with a latex finish for the flexibility to adapt during weather changes. Also there are solid stains that provide a urethane finish to give more strength to the stain.

Unfortunately all wood cleaners are not created equal. Most cleaning products on the market contain "sodium hypochlorite" commonly known as bleach. NEVER apply any product with this chemical to your wood structure. They may appear to brighten and clean the wood however, the bleach will destroy the lignin (the natural glue that bonds woods fibers together). If products that contain bleach are applied, the stain or sealer will not properly adhere to the wood fibers.

For regular washing between stain applications just to freshen up your deck is fine. When washing wood prior to sanding and staining, one should always spend a little extra money to do the job properly. Simply washing the wood with water will not remove tough dirt, mildew and open up the pores to allow the stain to properly sink. Scrubbing in a quality cleaner/conditioner will always provide the best results.

It is absolutely essential to sand brand new wood! The milglaze must be sanded off because it will act as a shield to prevent the stain from saturating into the wood. Sanding the wood every maintenance is only necessary when using particular products.

This is a very popular question. Often times people will ask us to stain just one side of the fence. This does add some protection to the wood, however, the result is that the fence is still only half protected. Exposed wood vulnerable to UV rays and high moisture will discolour and be most noticeable in a very short time period.

First off, be sure to get their history. References, pictures and testimonials can go a long way. Many decks can look gorgeous through its first year after staining and then look like it’s been through a hurricane the following year. I strongly recommend finding someone who offers a warranty or else you might be spending $1000 in materials and a weekend with a pressure washer to remove the old stain and start over! What is also important is to understand the future ramifications when it comes time to reapplying the stain. It will need future maintenance and it is a good idea to know what you’re getting yourself into. So know exactly what kind of products that are being used and how to reapply them, IT COULD LITERRALLY SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!!!