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Spring projects - Opaque wood sealer information wanted

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lighter:
I'm happy to report I'm swinging a hammer and flatbar this week.  Ahhhh the lovely feeling of driving screws with a quality drill. 

::nodding::

Deck, gutter, and concrete repairs will be complete tomorrow, then on to pressure wash the house, then the deck, and seal the same with a good opaque product. 

Anyone have recommendations for deck sealers?  Southern exposure, gets quite a bit of water so the wood really takes a beating.  I've used FLOOD clear sealers in the past..... so expensive, but good results. 

Lighter

sKePTiKal:
Well, my past experience was with Thompson's Water Seal on cedar. Stinky stuff and I don't like ladders; not my favorite job. But it lasted 5-7 years before needing another coat.

Where I'm at now, though, I look more for marine sealers - anything that'll hold up to torrential rain, lots of UV protection, and salt air. I think MinWax makes some exterior sealers, too. BTW - I prefer the look of a semi-transparent sealer, that lets the wood variations show through. The totally opaque stuff - well, paint does the same thing. The wood will soak up everything... so resign yourself to maybe having to do 2 coats.

Suggestion: spend an hour or so, in that aisle at Lowes or Home Depot and just read the cans and pick the brains of the people who work there. And one thing I've noticed, is that in this kind of stuff, "you get what you pay for" isn't always the case - sometimes the less expensive (not the very cheapest) - brand is just as good as the priciest.

(I'm in exactly the same mode this spring! Lots of projects like this.)

lighter:

--- Quote from: sKePTiKal on April 18, 2013, 06:25:29 AM ---
Suggestion: spend an hour or so, in that aisle at Lowes or Home Depot and just read the cans and pick the brains of the people who work there. And one thing I've noticed, is that in this kind of stuff, "you get what you pay for" isn't always the case - sometimes the less expensive (not the very cheapest) - brand is just as good as the priciest.

(I'm in exactly the same mode this spring! Lots of projects like this.)

--- End quote ---

I'm looking for the mid range product that does the same job as the pricey ones..... exactly.  Whatever I do, the results have to be worth the time and trouble of pressure washing, sanding, replacing rotted wood, and prepping for whatever it is I'm going to take a day or so to put back over the wood for protection. 

Getting 7 years out of a product would suit me just fine.

I've finished deck repairs, and the gutter work, and going to school to get new program off the ground with first big meeting of volunteers!  Whoo hoo!  We're making more tree chandeliers for May Day, which is a very whimsical event in our community.  Walking meditation, but boy dumping the wood at the landfill.

Oy. 

The

stench.

I forgot how much fun that is; )

Lighter

Hopalong:
I'd Google "low-VOC opaque wood sealer" since I'm pretty committed to those kinds, for both health and enviro reasons.

Good luck,
Hops

sKePTiKal:
My dirt's here! My dirt's here! My dirt's here!
YAY!
My dirt's here!    :oops:

Silly isn't it? Outside: dirt is GOOD; Inside: dirt is BAD. Oh well.

Dirt, rocks and mulch... here I have to BUY same. The only thing I can "make" better here than any place I've ever lived is leaf mold; about 3 months on the concrete - and I've already got 2-3 inches of fine black dirt -- LOL.

And so, the weight lifting starts - 40 lb bags from the pallet to the wagon... AFTER much stretching and bending cleaning up the beds around the pool... leveling... building raised bed from kit... adding the most important part - the liner, so the dirt doesn't wash away in the sand... and then I'll need 4 bags of dirt for each large bed. THEN: relaxing by the pool in a new bathing suit...

Seriously Lighter: take advantage of your local hardware stores (ACE is really good) or even if you have a Southern States - farm store and ask them what they sell a lot of; farmers don't like doing home repairs/maintenance frequently... they got aminals and fields to tend; so if it's home related, they want a good, cost effective product that'll last.

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