How often should I stain and seal my deck?

Generally, decks need to be stained and sealed about every two years.

Several factors can determine your deck's need for maintenance. The biggest factor is the deck's exposure to the sun. If the deck gets mainly afternoon sun, it's subjected to a lot of heat, which makes the wood dry out more quickly than it would in the morning sun.

You also need to consider the tree coverage around the deck. Trees that provide shade really help protect the wood from the sun.

The amount of traffic on a deck also comes into play. A family with a 110-pound dog that's on the deck a lot will have to stain and seal more often than others.

The original condition of the wood also makes a difference. People used to think that you needed to wait a year before staining and sealing a new deck - to condition the wood, but that's not true. This just begins the damaging process on your new deck.

What is the most common material for decks?

The most common material used to build decks is Georgia Southern pine. As long as you maintain it and keep it stained, it will keep a long time. There are other woods used such as redwood, which is naturally resistant to rot, and more recently we've seen a lot of South American hardwood, such as ipe. Ipe is a lot more expensive, but you get rock solid boards - almost like concrete - that will last a long time.

What are some tips for staining and sealing a deck?

The key to staining and sealing a deck is good preparation. Make sure you thoroughly clean the wood and remove all dirt, algae, mold and mildew. I use an environmentally safe white foam spray that does all the cleaning and then use low pressure to wash it away. The environmentally safe foam works to condition the wood as well as remove impurities.

There are two reasons people stain and seal their decks - to protect the wood from the elements and to make it look better. The need to stain and seal a deck can be subjective based on these two factors. Some may call me sooner than others because they don't like the look of the deck, even though it is still in good shape to protect the wood. And others wait until the stain no longer prevents moisture from getting into the wood.

If a deck is not properly maintained, the effects of moisture can cause the wood to splinter and become brittle because of the constant contracting and expansion. Properly maintaining your deck keeps it looking its best and keeps board replacement to a minimum.