Thompsons Water Seal
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ingmansinc
US Veteran
If you can reach the underside easily I would coat it each time I applied the seal. If the deck is on the ground level then I would pressure wash, let dry, and apply. Just slop it on liberally, no need to smooth out, it will soak in and look good and protect.
There was a product called Superdeck that was supposed to be much better than Thompsons. I don't know if that is still the case or if they have improved Thompsons, but I would research it a little before you buy some. Replacing a deck is not cheap as you already know.
oldRoger
US Veteran
Put it anyplace you can reach, I have used a pump-up sprayer on vertical surfaces and underneath and a roller on horizontal flat surfaces. Ends of boards are critical.
Is it effective? I have my doubts, but no alternative.
Is it effective? I have my doubts, but no alternative.
slowburninsteve
Member
Thompsons stinks
Anything is better than Thompsons. It will wear off after about 2 or 3 rains. Use an oil based stain/sealer like Olympic. I used one with a walnut color. My deck looks way cool! The flat areas need to have a new coat put on about every other year due to foot traffic and direct sun exposure. The uprights still look fine.
Steve
Anything is better than Thompsons. It will wear off after about 2 or 3 rains. Use an oil based stain/sealer like Olympic. I used one with a walnut color. My deck looks way cool! The flat areas need to have a new coat put on about every other year due to foot traffic and direct sun exposure. The uprights still look fine.
Steve
Stain it, don't paint it.
I have had terrific results with a product made by Flood called CWF. It will protect for 3-4 years and returns the wood to a nice honey-brown color. My fence is 16 years old and I re-did it early this summer. Looks better than new. Product lasts longer on a vertical surface, so floors may need to be re-done sooner. It is too thick to spray. I use a roller, then back brush with a 4" brush. Has no odor and equipment cleans up with soap and water. Worth a look.
buckeyeshooter1
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Having been a factory regional manager for both Cabot and Duckback (Superdeck) for the last 15 years --- I'll give you the benefit of my experience.
1st in construction of your new deck the best thing you can do is clean the wood with deck cleaner before staining and stain all 6 sides before installation.
reasons; even though it is 'new' wood you have no idea how long it has layed in a lumberyard or if the wood maufacturer allowed it to cure long enough before shipping. By sealing all 6 sides initally you leave no accessable edge for water or bacteria to wick in.
2) there are 3 types of stain transparent, semi-transparent and soild color. The more pitment in the stain, the longer it lasts. Transparent (3-4 years), semi-transparent (4-5 years), solid (5 years+)
3) darker colors last longer than lighter colors because they have more pignent to fight UV. Clears-- of any type generally last only 1 to 2 years.
4) clean the deck with deck cleaner late fall every year before the snow falls, this will kill all bacteria and mold and give you maximum time between recoating.
Personally I like the superdeck transparent products (1900/2000 series) the best, Sikkens/ Cabot and Superdeck all make a very good quality semi transparent stain of equal good quality and I think Cabot makes the best solid color stain on the market.
As far as Flood goes--- they were bought 2 years ago by Akzo-Nobel and the product made today is not the product made before. The old Flood company of Hudson Ohio made great products, but its gone now.
I would not Use the Thompson's product for anything.
1st in construction of your new deck the best thing you can do is clean the wood with deck cleaner before staining and stain all 6 sides before installation.
reasons; even though it is 'new' wood you have no idea how long it has layed in a lumberyard or if the wood maufacturer allowed it to cure long enough before shipping. By sealing all 6 sides initally you leave no accessable edge for water or bacteria to wick in.
2) there are 3 types of stain transparent, semi-transparent and soild color. The more pitment in the stain, the longer it lasts. Transparent (3-4 years), semi-transparent (4-5 years), solid (5 years+)
3) darker colors last longer than lighter colors because they have more pignent to fight UV. Clears-- of any type generally last only 1 to 2 years.
4) clean the deck with deck cleaner late fall every year before the snow falls, this will kill all bacteria and mold and give you maximum time between recoating.
Personally I like the superdeck transparent products (1900/2000 series) the best, Sikkens/ Cabot and Superdeck all make a very good quality semi transparent stain of equal good quality and I think Cabot makes the best solid color stain on the market.
As far as Flood goes--- they were bought 2 years ago by Akzo-Nobel and the product made today is not the product made before. The old Flood company of Hudson Ohio made great products, but its gone now.
I would not Use the Thompson's product for anything.
m657
Member
I devoutly used Thompsons YEARLY in a former life over the course of going from a 'brand new deck' to a 'ugly old rotted thing' in less 6 years.
I would recommend the ex's cooking before ever mentioning that product to ANYONE.
I would recommend the ex's cooking before ever mentioning that product to ANYONE.
Black_Sheep
Member
As others have stated, Thompson's is bad news. I'm not sure what to recommend as an alternative, I have yet to find a retail product that works. Treated lumper needs to "season" a while before you try to seal it. I would suggest that you stay away from stain with high solids or paint. Use either one and you are committing to an annual ritual of pressure washing and refinishing. I used composite decking on the last deck I built, it looked good but it was more costly than treated lumber.
Indiana George
US Veteran
Ron,
I worked for a commercial coatings contractor several years ago and would echo what Buckeyeshooter said.
There are excellent products on the market today, but Thompson's (and now CWF Flood) is not one of them.
As noted, surface preparation is key.
I worked for a commercial coatings contractor several years ago and would echo what Buckeyeshooter said.
There are excellent products on the market today, but Thompson's (and now CWF Flood) is not one of them.
As noted, surface preparation is key.
gunlovingirl
Member
Thompsons
-1 for Thompsons. Doesn't last.
-1 for Thompsons. Doesn't last.
DaveB57
Member
+10 for Cabot products!
truckemup97
Member
Are you using pressure treated wood? If so, whatever you do, don't do anything until the wood has dried out a while. If using a clear sealer, four to six weeks will be OK with the newer treating process. If you are painting it, you may need to wait as much as a year. If you don't wait, the paint will peel as the moisture tries to get out of the wood.
Bond Distributing - One TIME WOOD is supposed to last for seven years. It's a little expensive, but much better than sealing your deck every six months with Thompson's.
Your time is worth something.
Bond Distributing - One TIME WOOD is supposed to last for seven years. It's a little expensive, but much better than sealing your deck every six months with Thompson's.
Your time is worth something."...I don't know if that is still the case or if they have improved Thompsons..."
Thompsons has a different version out now in addition to the original formula, put it on the deck a few weeks ago, so will have to wait and see if it is better.
Also place Thompsons on any pressure treated lumber (cut ends and all sides before installing) in a horse trailer floor, and it seems to help the wood resist horse urine and manure better.
Sometime in the distant past I read that pressure treating lumber opens up the pores and grain somewhat, and applying a sealer helps.
Thompsons has a different version out now in addition to the original formula, put it on the deck a few weeks ago, so will have to wait and see if it is better.
Also place Thompsons on any pressure treated lumber (cut ends and all sides before installing) in a horse trailer floor, and it seems to help the wood resist horse urine and manure better.
Sometime in the distant past I read that pressure treating lumber opens up the pores and grain somewhat, and applying a sealer helps.
Gutpile Charlie
US Veteran
I've used an Olympic, semi-transparent stain on my deck twice. It was built out of pressure treated lumber and I let it age about a year before I put the sealer on it. It looks like it should probably be done about every other year. The Olympic has worked great.
1968hawkeye
US Veteran
I too vote for Cabot's. Also, you said that you were using PT wood. I recommend that you wait until the wood drys before you seal. I'd wait 6 months to a year before sealing. If the PT you used is anything like the PT available here it is dripping wet with the treating chemicals.
Hawkeye
Hawkeye
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