So before I go off and stain my new pool deck green I have a question. Is there any finish I can put on a new pressure-treated wood deck that is a natural clear finish that will hold up around the pool and keep the wood from turning gray and retain that wet look?

I have not been able to find anything but the wood looks awesome when wet and a protective finish that would retain that look would be really nice. However, apparently it takes the pigments in a stain or paint to provide a high degree of UV resistance. The exterior clear finishes I find either don’t recommend use around a pool or reviews say they just don’t hold up or one said it required two or three applications per year. There are cheap additives for slip resistance that can be added so I’m not really worried about that.


Just chasing my options Before I succumb to the inevitable... thanks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: cparktd,

Oil or water based stain?
I like TWP “honeytone#115 oil based.
https://www.twpstain.com/twp10...on-gemini-kit-detail

I would think a clear epoxy (think two part garage floor) would work. You would probably want to sprinkle some sand in it for texture/grip.
I used a two part Sherwin Williams epoxy in my old garage. It started life clear, and they added the white pigment to it.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
I would think a clear epoxy (think two part garage floor) would work. You would probably want to sprinkle some sand in it for texture/grip.
I used a two part Sherwin Williams epoxy in my old garage. It started life clear, and they added the white pigment to it.

I wouldn't recommend using epoxy on a deck, because on a deck the moisture has to evaporate from the top, as there is no way to seal the sides, bottom and ends with the wood on a deck and moisture rises. Also when it screws up, which it will, you'd have to strip it all off to re-do it.

Flood makes a good clear as far as things from Home Depot go.

My recommendation though, which is going to be more expensive than Flood is to use Sikkens Cetyl Marine clear coat. Do 3 coats, and as soon as you see it get dull looking, run a 3M doodle bug pad/holder on a pole over it just enough to scuff it and put another coat or two.

https://cetolstains.com/sikkens-cetol-marine/


Now if you want easy. The Thompsons water seal clear is super easy, put it in a 1-2 gallon pump up spray bottle and spray it on like spraying weeds with roundup, but it doesn't last......you'd have to religiously do it annually or you'll lose color.

How new is the PT? It's best to wait a few months for the wood to dry out and leech excess PT. Otherwise it will resist efforts to paint/stain it.

Here’s another info link.

https://www.deckstainhelp.com/

Will research all the suggestions.

FYI
The deck I just built this summer, started it ~first of Jun.

This ain't my first rodeo . I have built with treated lumber on occasion for decades and understand the wait time associated with pressure treated lumber. Its important... good someone pointed it out.

Here is my normal process... used successfully for many projects.
ASAP I spray down the new lumber and scrub it with a brush using a mixture of 1 cup of trisodium phosphate and 1 cup of Clorox to a gallon of water. This is sprayed on with a garden sprayer and left to soak a few minuets but not let dry out. Then I pressure wash it off as vigorously as possible without damaging the wood. This strips off any mill scale or wax and opens up the pores of the wood so that it can dry out faster. Then I wait... and periodically test with a moisture tester.

I stain the wood to be only partly coated anytime after the moisture content falls to ~15%.
I stain the wood that is to be completely covered on all sides only after the moisture falls to ~12%. It's really almost impossible to get it any lower in this climate.

When I have the lead time I scrub, sticker and stack the lumber and wait until it is dry before I built. No shrinkage after the build! A big gazebo done this way I stained with Cabot Simi-solid deck stain. 8 years later it still looks like the day I finished it.

The current deck is hovering around 12-13% now with 10 dry days of weather predicted so its time to go.

quote:

Originally posted by arcwelder76:
How new is the PT? It's best to wait a few months for the wood to dry out and leech excess PT. Otherwise it will resist efforts to paint/stain it.

I was just going to say this.
Around here the PT wood is literally dripping wet when we get it. Remember PT wood is usually not kiln dried. We recommend waiting 6 months to dry out..

If you've gotten 8 years out of Cabot in your environment, I'd be inclined to use their clear stain on your deck. Decks and horizontal wood, stain probably only lasts half as long as stain on verticle wood (fence/gazebo walls) since it gets more sun exposure, foot traffic and water sitting on it. But that sounds like a good long run.

the old Cabot is not the new Cabot.

Cabot was bought BY Valspar and they did away with all the oil-based high VOC formulas.

The new stuff does not cover like the old.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
the old Cabot is not the new Cabot.

Cabot was bought BY Valspar and they did away with all the oil-based high VOC formulas.

The new stuff does not cover like the old.

Yea I just saw that elsewhere, too bad, cabot was a top rated brand for decades. They do still sell an oil based version at Lowes but it is a cheapend up version... like almost all of Lowes paints. It gets just ~fair reviews, however it generally reviews better than the Low VOC water based version.

I wonder if the Cabot sold at an actual paint store is better than the Lowes version since the Lowes version is cut to compete on price as dictated by Lowes.

I have already put the Lowes version Cabot oil based on the less demanding vertical railing. Now I am ready to put something on the actually deck floor. Was thinking using the same Cabot but in a darker color if not a natural finish. Now... ?

Oh well, it is just an above ground pool deck... I'm 64 now and not likely to maintain it for more than 10 years tops anyway.

There is nothing you can apply that will give you the "wet look". Clear finishes will allow the wood to gray, no matter what's being advertised; they themselves will not change color, but the wood will. You must use a stain of some fashion (be it semi-transparent, semi solid or solid) and be ready to maintain the color every 2-3 years, depending upon the exposure. I am the guy who manufactures TWP, Total Wood Preservative, I'll be happy to give you a un-biased opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
So before I go off and stain my new pool deck green I have a question. Is there any finish I can put on a new pressure-treated wood deck that is a natural clear finish that will hold up around the pool and keep the wood from turning gray and retain that wet look?

I have not been able to find anything but the wood looks awesome when wet and a protective finish that would retain that look would be really nice. However, apparently it takes the pigments in a stain or paint to provide a high degree of UV resistance. The exterior clear finishes I find either don’t recommend use around a pool or reviews say they just don’t hold up or one said it required two or three applications per year. There are cheap additives for slip resistance that can be added so I’m not really worried about that.


Just chasing my options Before I succumb to the inevitable... thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by cusingeorge:
I am the guy who manufactures TWP, Total Wood Preservative, I'll be happy to give you a un-biased opinion.

Thanks.
I will absolutely take you up on that offer via your profile e-mail.

Cusingeorge, I wonder if I may email you a question of a similar nature, as well.

Cusingeorge,
I also have questions regarding deck seal. Email sent .
Thanks

A spar urethane? I’ve seen that do well on a vertical post, not sure on decking.

Hey guys, I’ve responded to your emails, and offered my office number so we can chat further. If anyone else wants suggestions feel free to call me at 800-262-5710 and ask for Brian in technical services.

I refinished my deck this year. Lots of stripping and power washing. Deck is about 5 or 6 years old. Had been pressure washed and sealed with Flood each year. After the cleaning and drying I used Thompsons clear sealer. I did not like the color so I gave it a coat of Thompsons Tinted sealer. Its available in several colors. What I like about the tinted sealer is it lets the grain of the wood show through. I hope next year a light power wash and a fresh coat of the tint will make it look like new again.

Update:

So I went with TWP oil based stain, the lightest premixed color they have, Honey Tone" after consulting with member "cusingeorge" and he helped me find a vendor for it. It looks great, and soaked in like a sponge. One coat for now, likely a 2nd next spring. Not glossy, but that would be slippery when wet so it's better it is not.

Testing it in one section...

Deck is not complete but close.