As some of you know I have been testing several deck sealers here in central Florida. All sealers have been applied to properly cleaned pressure treated pine according to the sealer manufacturers instruction. I tested both penetrating sealer and acrylic sealer.
All the boards were placed out on my boathouse roof in full sun in Sept. 1999.
Boards were checked today for fading and water absorption. The results are as follows:
Penetrating Sealers
Ametco TWP: Both clear sealers were gone after 6 mos. so I didn't report on them.
TWP 101 cedartone faded somewhat as did the TWP 501 cedar. The 501 cedar did not absorb water quickly but the TWP 101 did.
Both cedar sealers would be acceptible.
Wolman F&P natural/Raincoat Cedar: The F&P also faded somewhat as did the raincoat cedar. Both of these sealers repelled water the best of any of the penetrating type sealers.
Olympic Natural Look Protector Plus: This sealer which I have used many times, Held it color the best of any of the others. It did however absorb water quickly. It was the least faded of the penetrating sealers.
Ready Seal: I tested several colors of this sealer from the Gold to the Dark brown. All the colors faded quite a bit and this was the poorest performer of all the sealers. It also absorbed water quickly, without repelling any.
These are the findings on the penetrating sealers. The best performers were the Wolman sealers. The Olympic sealer held its color the best but appeared to soak up the water.
The TWP cedar colored sealers were OK and were similar to the Wolman sealers. The Wolman sealers however repelled water better.
The Ready Seal which I know is a favorite with many deck restorers did not hold up good in either test and I would not recommend it in Florida.
Acrylic Sealers:
Wolman Extreme: This sealer held up very well as did all the acrylic sealers. It darkened slightly however and repelled water well. I feel the Honey color is a little too yellow in color.
Wood RX: This sealer is similar to the Extreme but is a little more brown in color using the Natural shade. This sealer can be mixed in a number of shades. It held up the same as the Extreme and is a good choice.
Tropitech: I tested both the Natural and Sedona shades. Both colors held up well with little lighting of the Natural. The Sedona which is Dark brown showed no fading. The Natural shade is like the Extreme and a little too yellow for my liking.
All these acrylic sealers repel water the same. Water just sheets off of them. Other than the difference in color they are all basically the same. These will outperform any of the penetrating sealers hands down.
The downside is they need two coats and may be hard to remove if they are to be cleaned and replaced.
These are my findings and may be different in other areas of the country, or with other applications.
Roy Moren
Decks and Docks
Odessa, Florida
------------------
All the boards were placed out on my boathouse roof in full sun in Sept. 1999.
Boards were checked today for fading and water absorption. The results are as follows:
Penetrating Sealers
Ametco TWP: Both clear sealers were gone after 6 mos. so I didn't report on them.
TWP 101 cedartone faded somewhat as did the TWP 501 cedar. The 501 cedar did not absorb water quickly but the TWP 101 did.
Both cedar sealers would be acceptible.
Wolman F&P natural/Raincoat Cedar: The F&P also faded somewhat as did the raincoat cedar. Both of these sealers repelled water the best of any of the penetrating type sealers.
Olympic Natural Look Protector Plus: This sealer which I have used many times, Held it color the best of any of the others. It did however absorb water quickly. It was the least faded of the penetrating sealers.
Ready Seal: I tested several colors of this sealer from the Gold to the Dark brown. All the colors faded quite a bit and this was the poorest performer of all the sealers. It also absorbed water quickly, without repelling any.
These are the findings on the penetrating sealers. The best performers were the Wolman sealers. The Olympic sealer held its color the best but appeared to soak up the water.
The TWP cedar colored sealers were OK and were similar to the Wolman sealers. The Wolman sealers however repelled water better.
The Ready Seal which I know is a favorite with many deck restorers did not hold up good in either test and I would not recommend it in Florida.
Acrylic Sealers:
Wolman Extreme: This sealer held up very well as did all the acrylic sealers. It darkened slightly however and repelled water well. I feel the Honey color is a little too yellow in color.
Wood RX: This sealer is similar to the Extreme but is a little more brown in color using the Natural shade. This sealer can be mixed in a number of shades. It held up the same as the Extreme and is a good choice.
Tropitech: I tested both the Natural and Sedona shades. Both colors held up well with little lighting of the Natural. The Sedona which is Dark brown showed no fading. The Natural shade is like the Extreme and a little too yellow for my liking.
All these acrylic sealers repel water the same. Water just sheets off of them. Other than the difference in color they are all basically the same. These will outperform any of the penetrating sealers hands down.
The downside is they need two coats and may be hard to remove if they are to be cleaned and replaced.
These are my findings and may be different in other areas of the country, or with other applications.
Roy Moren
Decks and Docks
Odessa, Florida
------------------