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Whether you have a brand new fence or a deck that's been around for years, it's important to seal or waterproof exterior wood. For one thing, wood soaks up water like a dried compressed sponge, then as the wood dries out, it contracts.
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It's this continuous expanding and contracting, as the wood gets wet, then dry, that causes it to crack, warp and splinter. In addition, ultraviolet rays from the sun break down wood cells, which deteriorates the wood. And finally, rainwater can actually wash the color out of certain woods like redwood and cedar.
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The solution is to seal or waterproof exterior wood, and maintain this waterproofing as needed. Fortunately, that's pretty easy to do these days because there's a new type of wood waterproofing product available. It can be applied to new pressure treated lumber as well as freshly cleaned damp lumber. This means you can now clean and seal your wood in the same day.
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Waterproofers can be brushed on, or they can be applied with a garden sprayer. If sprayed on, it's best to follow up with a brushing to work the sealer well into the wood.
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Sealers or waterproofers come in both clear and tinted varieties. There are so many tinted sealers available that you can create almost any effect you want.
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Here's an easy test that you can do to determine when your wood is ready to reseal. Simply splash some water on the wood. If it beads up, you have protection.
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But if the water soaks into the wood, it's time to retreat.
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