Take
Care of it
All wood exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sunlight
will turn gray, crack and warp over a period of time. (Look at the fences in
your neighborhood.) The best way to protect your wood project from these harmful
effects of the sun is to create an “umbrella” effect over the wood. This can
be accomplished in a number of ways, with a wide variety of products, from
several manufacturers. Sealers
and Stains Sealers/stains are available in
clear (for
those that prefer a gray color), tinted (for a natural wood color),
semi-transparent colors and solid
colors. The more tinting of color in the
product, the more “umbrella” effect you will have. We have found that most
customers prefer using the semi-transparent oil based stains for a long lasting
application. These semi-transparent stains
are available in several colors,
and some manufacturers will “custom match” to the color of your home. Follow
the Instructions Be sure to follow all the manufacturers’
instructions and recommendations. For example: Some call for using a natural
bristle brush, where others call for a synthetic bristle brush. Some recommend
spraying and some recommend brushes/rollers. Temperature is a very important
factor when applying your sealer or stain. Check the Label! Composite
Decking The general public has been led
to believe composite decking (such as Trex or Choicedek) is "maintenance
free". The correct wording should be "low maintenance". These
products do not require sealing or staining, but they do require occasional
cleaning. Failure to keep the product clean will result in increased spotting
due to mold/mildew. The Trex
website and the Choicedek
website both have excellent information regarding black spots caused by
mold/mildew. We
Care At Peaceful Settings, we take a great deal of
pride in building your outdoor wood project.We
hope you will take that same great pride in keeping it looking like
new!
