deck treatment

[hancoveguy]

We have a 300 sgft P/T deck 40 feet from the water. This will be its 3rd season and we never treated it. Its starting to get dry and almost brittle.

Question-
Is it too late to treat it?

If not, what should we treat it with (could use a little color as well)?

How much should I expect to pay for materials?

Thanks as always,

HCG

[Grady223]

Not too late. I have used the Benjamin Moore Alkyd Transparent Stain in silver on my docks every three years since they have been in (10 years) they have held up and look great.

[sky's]

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

We have a 300 sgft P/T deck 40 feet from the water. This will be its 3rd season and we never treated it. Its starting to get dry and almost brittle.

Question-
Is it too late to treat it?

If not, what should we treat it with (could use a little color as well)?

How much should I expect to pay for materials?

Thanks as always,

HCG

we are currently staining a 10 year old Mahogany deck using Sikens stain. if you have a Pressure Treated deck Sikens can be applied as well. we generally power wash to remove mold and try to bring back the original color of the wood. if you are looking for a solid color i agree with Ben Moore prods. good luck

[Belmont Resident]

I've been using them since being in business and use them on my own decks as well. I'd stay away from Sikins products because unless they have changed they require you redo them every year. They make a great product for siding but most painters stay away from their deck products.
I like deckscapes because you can use the product to fill in a lot of the cracks that have begun due to weathering.
Either way good luck with it.
Oh one more thing, apply 2 coats as recommended.

[NoBozo]

Mystic Seaport Museum, entering the Pavillion and Visiter Center, (Mystic, CT) and the Mystic Village boardwalk (Not Museum) along the riverfront just south of the drawbridge has Mahogany Decking. No Maintenance Required..EVER. Just Sayin. NB

[Belmont Resident]

I’ve sanded, pressure washed and stained many Mahogany decks in this area.
If left untreated they weather, and eventually crack and split just like most other woods.
They generally loose that beautiful color and start fading within the first 2-3 months if not treated with oil such as Australian timber or other similar product immediately.
I’ve been searching for a product that lasts more than 1 year but have not found anything that keeps it natural.
I have switched to Penofin marine oil and it does last longer than the recommended oil for hardwood but still not much over 1 year.
Unless it is a covered porch I would never build or recommend a mahogany deck in New England.
I built my own out of Cedar and treated it with Penofin oil on all sides before installing it, and after one year it looks brand new.
One of the biggest killers of decks is lawn furniture and using a shovel with a metal blade to remove snow. Both wear or scrape the finish off and once that’s done water has a way into the pores of the wood and eventually works its way outward.
I always suggest people put protective pads on the feet of their furniture and buy a cheap plastic Wal-Mart shoved for clearing the snow off any treated surface. You wouldn’t use a metal scraper to clear the snow off your car, same thing applies.
Oh on the original post of 40 feet from water. I’ve done all the docks at Southdown shores which are over the water. It makes no difference as long as the surface has proper time to dry out before you apply the product. Call Brian and ask how the product is holding up down there. In that application with the level of traffic they needed to be redone every other year but do not. You know how it works with associations, they wait until it absolutely needs it before acting in most cases. Which is too bad because they usually wind up paying more in the end for repairs.

[Winni4life]

First question...do you want to protect only? If so use a true preservative that will allow natural aging look (gray). Storm Stain Clear Wood Life Extender #20024.
Clears that protect from graying are great, but lots of maintenance.
Mahognany use a Hardood Oil Finish designed for Mahogany.
Linseed Oil Semi Opague for decks low to ground or near water.
Avoid Solid Decks products for decks low to ground or near water.
Clean first and remove mildew.
I really like the Califormia Paints(rated #1 in Consumer Reports this month) Storm Stain LIne it is available at Johnson Paint (Wolfboro) or Home Beautiful (Belmont).