I prefer to use a large brush or a mop. You want to get large amounts of Stain Solver liquid on the deck surface. Hand pump sprayers often apply too little solution to the surface. If you must use a sprayer, make sure the product has dissolved completely or you will clog the nozzle! Also, be sure you spray on lots of liquid.

When you're looking for a painted-kind-of-look to match you home exterior, or when the deck has been totally neglected, solid stains hide and conceal any cosmetic imperfections that the lumber may have.

Ans: The insulating additive will help keep the deck cooler while providing a slightly slip resistant surface.

All of our products are high end. Certain products will do better then others depending on your particular environment or type of wood that you have. If you came to our store looking for a certain brand name then we would suggest sticking with that. Please email us if you have any questions and we will be more then happy to suggest a certain brand depending on your situation.

That's an opinion call, but if you do, you will have to do it again every year. We recommend letting it grey naturally and washing it 2 or 3 times/year with Sunlight dishwashing soap to keep it clean and pollution-free.

Creative Wood Products has their own private label stain called Deck Gold. Deck Gold is an oil based semi-transparent sealer and stain in one. It is a unique blend of resin, pigment oil, mildewcide and UV protectors that penetrate deeply into the wood to protect and preserve it. Deck Gold can be used on all types of wood except Redwood. We also carry Superdeck Products, Superdeck is a natural oil, transparent stain designed to maintain the beauty of your wood.

You should certainly protect your deck from unnecessary moisture intrusion and the harmful effects of the sun's ultra-violet rays. Use of a penetrating stain, containing water repellant ingredients in most cases will protect your deck best. The pigment in the stain will absorb the ultra-violet rays from the sun and protect the wood fibers from degradation. In most cases a stain will need maintenance every 2-4 years while clear sealers require maintenance every 1-2 years.

Every deck expands and contracts in the summer and winter months, causing nails to pop. This requires maintenance to hammer the heads back down.

If using a semi-transparent stain, like DEFY, apply only as much stain as the wood can easily absorb and take care to brush out any puddles that may form. If you put enough stain on to form a gloss on the surface, it has been over applied and will, more than likely, in time, peel. The Spring and Fall certainly offer the easiest conditions to work in.

Sure can! We can change your deck's color and look from red to blue. This is only available in staining products.

Even though the lumber may be kiln-dried before treatment, using water-borne preservatives restores moisture to the wood. Too much moisture in the wood may prevent the stain or paint from penetrating the wood sufficiently. It is best to test the wood by painting or staining a scrap piece to see if it applies properly. If not, wait until it does. A water repellent should be applied annually. Do not use latex paints. Semi-transparent, oil-based stains work best.

On a horizontal surface, Penofin may be expected to perform for an average of 9-18 months and 3-5 years on a vertical surface. The time will vary depending on the percentage of sunlight, weather, etc... Yes. All Penofin wood finish colors contain the same ingredients, just different amounts of colored pigments. However, you will not be able to make the surface lighter by applying a lighter shade. As always, you should test a small area before use.

No, "New Wood Defender" is recommended on pressure treated wood, as well as Cedar and Redwood during the first year of weathering. Wood Defender is a latex based product used to stabilize new exterior wood. This product is treated with fungicide to prevent the growth of mildew.

Not really. Rollers were developed more with paint in mind. Using a roller will often times simply push the stain around on the surface and not force it into the pores. It can also leave a stipple effect in the finish when the stain has dried. If you are using an oil-based stain…definitely. You can use DEFY stains, which are water-based products, even when the surface is slightly damp.

Crystal Clear sealers will not filter out UV rays for very long or at all. A transparent tinted sealer acts like sunglasses for your wood, filtering the UV rays and prolonging discoloration. You can use a clear sealer but it will gray very quickly.

A film forming coating is a product that does not penetrate into the wood completely. A product that does not penetrate can result in premature peeling and or flaking. All of our wood deck stains will penetrate into the wood when applied properly.

The product does not require traditional timber treatments or any other kind of treatment BUT it will of course require normal cleaning with a pressure washer or hose/brush with a weak bleach solution or proprietary deck cleaning product to remove surface debris.

Pressure treated wood will not rot, but it will cup, warp, split and splinter if it is not sealed so water will not absorb and then evaporate in a number of cycles

The decks will get stained when your unit comes up for re-painting. If you want to restain your deck yourself, our Deck Stain is Cabot "Clear Solution" #3002" (Phase I and II). For those homes with mahogany decks, (Phase III only) ask for Cabot "Australian Timber Oil 3400 Mahogany". Cabot Stains are available at Botello's Lumber on Rte. 28.