Looking for Deck Stain/Sealer Recommendations

Etruett

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Anyone have any product recommendations for Deck Stain/Sealer? Going to be redoing my deck next week and undecided which stain/sealer to use. Last time this deck was done was about 10 years ago and my girlfriend says it was done with Thompsons. That's not to mean that it lasted 10 years by any means. Probably been needing the rework for at least 5 years if not longer. Pressure washed it down to the raw wood, but being this old its probably going to soak it up like a sponge. Around here whats available is Thompsons, Ready Seal, Valspar and Behr. Since I work for Home Depot I was sort of leaning towards Ready Seal based on the fantastic reviews, but not committed to any particular brand.
Anyone had any good luck with anything?
 
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I got some Behr last time. I did not like it at all. It seemed to soak in the wood and did not really seal it. The best I have used was Flood.It is sold at local store here. That is what i am using again.

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I recently began looking at deck stain/sealers to use on a couple 6x6 posts I’ll be installing for shade sails. From my limited research, Flood seems to be well regarded, I’ve seen good reviews on Cabot, haven’t seen a ton on valspar and haven’t even looked at Behr yet.

Following this thread.

ETA: oh and I’ll need to know what to use for my best friend’s deck when we completely re-do it in Fall.
 
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Following too. I tried the deck renew type paint that is supposed to fill in cracks in the grain. It lasted about a year and was peeling like crazy.

I just replaced the decking a couple of weeks ago and am wanting to seal it soon.
 
@Etruett
Is there any way for you to contact the HD buyer responsible for that category? I’d guess he/she should have some thoughts about the various brands.
 
I have been at my house 15 years. I used Thompsons, Behr and Flood. Of those, Flood was best hands down. Next time, I will get the medium tinted rather than the light tinted. It seems to penetrate less but leaves more of a coating on top.

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Cabot is the best but it's $50 a gallon

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@Etruett
Is there any way for you to contact the HD buyer responsible for that category? I’d guess he/she should have some thoughts about the various brands.
In my experience with buyers (including THD & Lowe’s), their strengths lie in negotiation, planning, and to a lesser degree inventory management, definitely not product knowledge.
 
@Etruett
Is there any way for you to contact the HD buyer responsible for that category? I’d guess he/she should have some thoughts about the various brands.
Might be possible but as @Jerzsubbie stated, the buyer is probably more responsible for cost and profit versus quality and since I work for a different division than the retail stores, it might take an act of congress to get to the right person. Back when we installed Hardie Plank, we used a special paint that was tested and approved by my division and it was separate from all of the formulas that the stores sold. Also to add more mix up to the equation, a lot of products are regional. You may be able to get a product in the SE through Home Depot and it not be available out west. I think that situation is the same with Lowes as well. That's why I turned to the forum where I might find some actual users.
 
Back in another life, I had a log home. The logs were northern white cedar. The manufacturer for the log home kit recommended Flood CWF. I used it and put it on with a garden sprayer. It worked great. When the wood would start turning gray, it would return it to it's more natural color. But, this was 35 years ago so the formulas may have changed some.
 
Back in another life, I had a log home. The logs were northern white cedar. The manufacturer for the log home kit recommended Flood CWF. I used it and put it on with a garden sprayer. It worked great. When the wood would start turning gray, it would return it to it's more natural color. But, this was 35 years ago so the formulas may have changed some.
35 years ago? that must have been your Lincoln Log Play set. You weren't old enough to have a house 35 years ago!
 
35 years ago? that must have been your Lincoln Log Play set. You weren't old enough to have a house 35 years ago!
I was old enough to lose it in a divorce.
 
I've been really pleased with Cabot's. I use their Australian Timber Oil on the deck and spray the clear on our fence. Won't ever lose money buying Behr again, that sucked.
 
We have sherwin williams on ours now.. been 4 years and has held up ok.

We use sikkens cetol on our cabin whuch has held up really good. Next time ill give it a shot on the deck to have just one brand of product in use.
 
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