What is the best type of sealer to use on outdoor decks after they have been power washed?

I wonder what the difference is in using Thompson water sealer (or similar brand) and a clear oil based stain? What is the major difference?What is the best type of sealer to use on outdoor decks after they have been power washed?
Thompson Water seal is the best the difference is once that you put the clear oil based stain on it you have to reapply it after a couple of years, it just doesn't hold up to the weather. Oil based products do not do good outdoors espicially paint it will always crack on you and then you can never cover the crack unless you take it down to bare wood.What is the best type of sealer to use on outdoor decks after they have been power washed?
thompson isn't worth the powder it'd take to blow it to he11.


if you want clear use a boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits mix...dispose of all masking and rags by imersion in water (the solution is combustible via spontaneous combustion).


or use a product called Penofen available at any commercial paint store dealing with Coronado paints and such as that. (i don't think sherwin williams dealers deal the stuff nor do porter or benjamin moore in this area). Penofen is gawdawful smelly and ruins the clothes you wear when you are applying it, but it penetrates deep into the wood and preserves a long time, probably the best product on the market for what you want to do.


i hate the stuff because i apply alot of it, but i will use it on my own place because i won't have to do it very often at all.
All of the clear deck sealers are made from some form of parafin wax. They last anywhere from 3 months to a year. For longer lasting results try a stain with some color to it. You can get a stain with a semi-transparent color and it should last from 1 - 3 years. One of the best on the market is Sikkens SRD. SRD stand for Siding, Roofs and Decks. I will say this for the Sikkens, It is expensive but worth the money when you consider how often you have to reapply other sealers or stains. If you want to test your deck to see if it needs resealed try this. Drop 1 or two drops of water on the deck if it beads up the sealer is still good if it soaks right in you need to re-seal the deck. Hope this helps
a stain (oil based) does exactly that..stain the wood.it does not typically add protection unless a sealer is added with it.sealer (water based or water clean-up)is typically clear although it does come tinted.so really there isnt a lot of difference.i like sealers as they show more of the natural wood grain.
Thompson's water sealer for decks is fantastic, lasts for years