Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Does the 25-year guarantee on the sealant mean that I’ll never have to do anything to my deck again?

Answer: No.  Like any outdoor surface, your deck will get dirty.  Dust, dirt, pollen and other airborne pollution, not to mention birds, will contaminate your deck.  Plus, exposure to sunlight will turn the wood to a silver-grey color.  However, the good news is that clean-up is easy.  First, we recommend that you clean your deck every spring using a deck wash product from any home improvement center.  Then to restore your wood to its natural color, we recommend using a wood brightener product also available at most home improvement centers.  For a professional clean, we offer a maintenance cleaning service to restore wood to its natural beauty.

Question: You say that your stain will hold its color for 2-4 years, but I’ve heard about stains that are guaranteed to last longer than that.

Answer: I have researched many stains available in the market and most manufacturers that I'm aware of DO NOT GUARANTEE THE STAIN COLOR for the duration of the warranty period.  Rather, the warranty typically covers the sealing capabilities of the stain, not the color retention of the stain.  As a result, you will need to re-apply the stain at some time throughout the warranty period in order to recapture the richness of the color.

Question: How soon after Seal-It Wood Sealant is applied can I use my deck again?

Answer: You should be able to place most of your deck furniture back on your deck after 24 hours.  However, it is best to wait 3 to 5 days before placing extremely heavy furniture back on your deck.

Question: How soon after the application of Seal-It Wood Sealant will you add the stain?

Answer: We schedule the stain application anywhere between 10-14 days after the sealant has been applied to allow the wood time to thoroughly dry and the sealant time to cure.

Question: My deck is painted. Can you remove the paint and seal the deck?

Answer: Unfortunately, there are no safe chemicals that will effectively remove paint from the wood.  If you have a single layer and it is wearing thin, we would come out and assess the situation so see if we could safely and effectively remove the paint.

Question: I just built a new deck. How long should I wait to have it sealed?

Answer: For green-treated pine, it is best to wait 6 to 9 months, in order to allow the wood time to thoroughly dry from the pressure-treatment process.  With cedar, you'll want to have it sealed and stained shortly after construction (4-6 weeks).  To determine if the cedar is ready to be treated, sprinkle some water on the surface.  If the water is absorbed immediately, it is ready to be sealed and stained.  If the water beads up, you should wait a little while longer, then test again.

Question: I have an engineered/composite deck. Will I ever have to do anything to that?

Answer: Like any outdoor surface, even engineered composite materials need to be maintained.  If your composite deck is showing signs of mold or excessive dirt, our maintenance cleaning services are the perfect solution to restore it to a "brand new" look.

For your free, no obligation estimate, give us a call or email us.

651-204-0468