Waterproofing is a term that is sometimes used when referring to staining or sealing a wooden deck. After decks are cleaned, prepped, and allowed to dry for a couple of days, a wood deck sealer or wood deck waterproofing agent needs to be applied.

Waterproofing decks is obviously done to protect the wood from water damage. Water and moisture can warp, split, and splinter wood over time so it needs to be protected. When a clear deck sealer is used, it will only waterproof the wood, but if a deck stain with a toner in it is used the pigment will also protect against harmful UV rays.

It is the sun that turns a deck grey over time and protecting against that is also highly recommended. Why protect the wood with a clear deck waterproofing sealer just to have it turn grey in a year’s time? Most deck waterproofing products are offered in semi-transparent tones to give the deck just a little bit of color while still letting the wood grain show through.

All types of wood used in deck building need to be protected with a wood waterproofing sealer. Even pressure treated wood needs this extra step. The treatment in pressure treated lumber deters bugs from eating the wood but does not protect against Mother Nature. A waterproof deck will last many years longer than one that is not protected.

Many folks that have had wooden decks here in Indiana in the past are now going with a new composite deck because they are tired of the maintenance involved with wood decks. These composite deck materials are sold as “maintenance free” so buyers think they have rid themselves have having to mess with the deck every few years.

I can tell you as an experienced deck cleaning contractor, anything that is exposed to Mother Nature is going to get dirty and will need to be cleaned. These composite deck materials are no exception, we have had to clean greying, mold, and mildew from many of these types of decks. We have even had composite decking companies call us wanting an estimate to clean thousands of their decks across the Midwest for upset customers. This is usually the end result of some type of law suit that they have to make good on.

Many times our customers have expressed to us that they are upset with the composite material NOT being maintenance free like they thought. They still need cleaned every few years and yes it is just as expensive to clean them as a wooden deck.

Deck cleaning in Indiana is something that we enjoy, it’s always nice to have a solution to our customer’s problems. It doesn’t matter if it’s a wooden deck or a composite one we can help. We just do not like seeing people tear down their wooden deck that could have been restored to put up a new composite deck thinking they won’t have to sink anymore money into it down the road. Maintenance free does not exist so please consider this before making any haste decisions.