Deck treatments (townhouse, to buy, live in)

[WannaComeHome]

All of you out there who have decks on your house... what have you found to be the best stuff to treat it? We have a good sized deck along the back of our house that probably hasn't been treated in a few years. Never having done this before, let alone different weather situations, what's good? And is the first week of Nov too late in the year for southwest NH to do it (assuming he's got good weather)?

[nicolem]

We treat ours twice a year-once in spring after the snow is gone and once usually in October to prepare for winter. We use the Thompson's water seal plus wood protector-I believe it is called. It is supposed to offer UV and mildew protection as well. Overall we have been satisfied with it.

The drawback to doing it in November could be the tempature. I think the one we use you cannot fall below a certain temp-maybe 50 degrees, cannot remember exactly.

I live in a townhouse community and you can really tell the difference in the condition of the decks between those people who treat them and those who do not. The decks that are treated look way better.

[CityGirl52]

If you can try to use the cleaner in October it might work out better with our weather. Although you might get a good day in November with the sun on it that will work out just fine.

My sister uses the Thompson's deck cleaner, that IS a really good one.

We were clueless when we got our porch built on the front of our house in the last 4 years because we got the trek deck for flooring instead of wood. So we went to Home Depot and asked about it and they recommended this 2.5 gallon bottle of "Olympic Deck Wash". I poured it in a bucket with 1/2 water and used one of those sponge mops across the floor of the porch. Then I let it sit for about a 1/2 hour I think it was and then just hosed it off. Well, it came out BEAUTIFUL. All the mold and mildew dark spots came right off the steps & also where the rain was pouring off the roof to the floor of the deck, there's no sign of that any more there. WHAT a difference it makes, it really comes out awesome. In fact, I can't wait to use this stuff again in a few weeks! I usually try to do this in the middle of October, around Columbus Day or right afterwards when we bring the rocking chairs & table in the house for the winter months. We also use this stuff in the Spring too, it's that good!

Wait till you see the difference it makes cleaning the decks, no matter what you use, you'll love seeing the difference, whether you have wood or trek, it's amazing to see the change! I know the Thompson's deck cleaner is a really good one and so isn't this one too, if you see it in the Home Depot or Lowe's, it's called Moldex Deck Cleaner, it's another non-bleach formula that eliminates the mold & mildew to look for. I'm going to take a look at this one too to see if it also works on the trek decks.

Although I lucked out with this Olympic Deck Wash, it's JUST wonderful and where I know it works good, I better not change now!

[WannaComeHome]

Ok, so I'm assuming we need to power-wash the deck first, and then follow the instructions on the Thomson's. DH thinks he's wants to wash the deck with a scrub-brush... it's about 30feet long!!

Unfortunately Oct (or Sept) isn't an option. We won't be there until first week of Nov, so it's then or wait until next spring and hope the weather is good on that trip up. does it really need twice a year? I thought only once!

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by WannaComeHome

Ok, so I'm assuming we need to power-wash the deck first, and then follow the instructions on the Thomson's. DH thinks he's wants to wash the deck with a scrub-brush... it's about 30feet long!!

Unfortunately Oct (or Sept) isn't an option. We won't be there until first week of Nov, so it's then or wait until next spring and hope the weather is good on that trip up. does it really need twice a year? I thought only once!

Yes-we power wash ours first. I am not sure if it needs it twice a year but that is what we have done since we moved here. Overkill? Perhaps. I do know a few friends who only treat their decks once a year. I also know many people who never treat their decks.

[CityGirl52]

Oh I forgot to tell you this part. We had our porch power washed this past year for the first time since we had it built (4 years ago) and it still came out the exact same as when we used this deck cleaner solution ourselves! May be because it's the trek decking and not the wood though, because a lot of people I know power wash their decks, especially the wood ones. I thought it looked just as good as when I did it myself with this solution to tell you the truth. I mean we could probably just quickly buy the power wash machine instead of hiring some one to do it, (but that's not going to happen any time soon!) We kind of thought it was a rip off hiring some one to power wash it, but you live and learn. I mean may be in a few years again we'll have it power washed, but I'm telling you, this deck cleaner is GREAT, you can just do it yourself and in no time it's done. It looks brand new again in minutes.

[WannaComeHome]

hmmmm, does the Olympic Deck Wash say it's good for use on wood decks? or just the trek decks? Ok, I could see him spongemopping the stuff on and then hosing it off (we did bring a hose up, but we'd have to buy a mop) - certainly a lot better than a scrub brush!

[NewNHguy]

rebuilt ours just a few years ago with the composite decking material. Most I do is a powerwash after the winter, and 2x a year it gets a bath with car soap.

[CityGirl52]

You can get one of those sponge mops in MarketBasket or any of the Home Depots/Lowes or other supermarkets in the area.

You know I checked the basement and I just so happen to have an extra Olympic deck cleaner, (good now I don't have to buy another one!) It says it's recommended for use on decks, wood siding etc...make sure you spray all plants & vegetation with water before and after the application around or near the deck. Also test a small hidden area first, rinse it off & let it dry before using it on the whole deck. I remember we did that the first time we used it.

I'm pretty sure it was Home Depot where I got it because I remember it was near the paints and all that @ the one near where we live. No matter which one you use, it'll be worth it you know! Olympic or Thompson or any of the other ones they have on the shelf. I just prefer this one where we were told to get it from the guy at Home Depot the first time we looked for something good & now we're hooked on this particular one where it worked so well in the last few years...

Also I just noticed, this one doesn't say recommended for trek decks, ONLY wood is mentioned on the label, so you're good to go if you have wood. Oh well, I used it any way on the trek and it's working out fine. No side effects on the floor of the porch that we can see any where. I even had my sister take a look at it too where she's a perfectionist with everything and she couldn't believe how great it came out.

[MtDreamer]

I just finished power washing and refinishing my balcony. Re-stained it with a semi transparent red wood stain and deck sealent. This is over treated lunber. Well today I look outside and there is a squirrel on the balcony. I step outside and he had no where to run so he flings himself off the balcony but hits the ground running. I look where he had been on the balcony and he was nawing on the wood. Now I have to touch it up. What would possess the squirrel to chew on stained treated wood especially when I am surrounded by a forest of trees? I would think it would taste awful. Do you think he might do this again??