Does IPA Need to be Sealed?

Objectives of Wood Finishing

Whatever your objectives, cleaning the wood, protecting it, or creating the color you want, whenever you finish or refinish your wood deck, there are three main goals.

1. Preparation: First, you need to clean the wood or remove the previous finish to prepare for applying a new finish. Otherwise, the stain or sealer may not penetrate and bond properly.

2. Weatherization: Second, a protective topcoat of stain or a sealer/preservative weatherizes the wood, limiting its ability to absorb water. Water absorption leads to rot and invites mildew and algae growth that can prematurely damage the finish. The topcoat also helps to block out ultraviolet sunlight, which will fade wood's natural color, age the finish, and dry out the wood until it cracks or splits.

3. Aesthetics: The third goal of finishing is the most obvious: staining allows you to change the wood color and either hide the wood grain or enhance it, depending on the product you choose.

If you think of finishing products in terms of cleaning, weatherizing, and coloring, you'll have an easier time choosing the right products for your wood deck-finishing project.

Overview of Finishing Products

Here is an overview of each category of finishing product to help you decide what is right for your deck.

Deck Cleaner

If your deck's current finish has faded or the wood has algae or mildew growth, use a deck cleaner to remove the stubborn stains. Deck cleaner will restore gray, weathered wood to its original color. It will remove general dirt and grime as well as grease spots left by grilling.

Maintenance Tip: If the deck is just dirty but not weathered, try using a dilute solution of ordinary dish soap, followed by a good scrubbing. Soap may be all the cleaning agent your deck really needs.

Waterproofing Sealer

Oil-based waterproofing sealers and wood finishes penetrate the wood, carrying silicone or wax additives that keep the wood from absorbing water. Most sealers contain mildewcides and UV inhibitors for added protection. Use a waterproofing sealer when you want to preserve the natural color and grain of the wood.

Visual Appearance & Maintenance

Some products will impart a bit of tinting and color, but generally, a sealer will leave the wood looking natural when it dries. Unlike stains, sealers have little or no pigment to ward off fading from sunlight. You'll need to reapply a sealer every one to two years to maintain UV protection. Check the manufacturer's specifications on the can.

Semi-transparent Stain

Semi-transparent stains offer protective qualities similar to a waterproofing sealer, but with more pigment added to help the wood resist fading. The more obvious purpose of the pigment, however, is to color the wood or blend different wood tones without obscuring the grain pattern.

Application Benefits

These stains are oil-based and penetrating, but they do not form a film on the wood's surface. They're a better choice for decking, benches, and horizontal surfaces than solid-color stains, because they won't peel. Plan to reapply every two to four years.

Solid-color Stain

Solid-color stain contains much more pigment than semi-transparent stain, and the formulation is closer to thinned paint than to stain. If you want to completely hide wood grain, a solid-color stain is the right choice for the job. It's a blend of oil and latex (or latex only), so the stain forms a film on the wood surface instead of penetrating it.

Durability and Warnings

As long as the film doesn't peel or crack, it provides superior protection against both water and UV degradation. However, it doesn't stand up to foot traffic as well as an oil-based stain. Solid-color stains can be blended with thousands of paint colors. The finish can last five years or more, but generally, it will need to be stripped or sanded first before recoating.

Important Note for Specific Woods: Avoid using solid-color stain on redwood or cedar decks. These woods contain tannins and resins that can bleed through the stain and leave spots.

Protect Your Deck With Redrra

Cleaning, weatherizing, and coloring work together to keep wood strong and looking fresh. When you choose the right cleaner, sealer, or stain, you help prevent water damage, mildew, algae growth, and sun fading while getting the finish you want. For trusted deck care and a finish that lasts, choose Redrra for professional guidance and quality results.