HI EVERYONE Just looking for some feed back on these and other deck related issues as well as these 2 finishes , i intend to rebuild my rear deck was leaning towards composite but as pricey as it is i feel that might not be in the budget , anyone ever use veranda ?? lots of my suppliers are saying go back to the basics use wolman seems like even alot of my suppliers cant get straight answers from some of there composite deck reps ( exspansion , color fadeing )
being and old timer as much as hate to admitt my age i dont trust what suppliers might be doing to products without us knowing it espceially giving the fact of the present economy , will the pressure treated really be like it usta be ( 5/4 )will the composite decking really be manufactured the way it should be . i used westren red cedar on 2 decks about 12 years ago and they both went to hell . On mine i used a sikkens finish coated the end grains also, joist were 12″ centers 5/4 decking lots of direct sun in the summer in north east pa .Should have never listened to my wife !!! deck is only 18″ off grade i wanted to do a raised patio with pavers at that time she wanted a deck , anyway see how confused i have gotten LOL i dont know what i know lol !!! So if you were using wolman how long would you wait to treat it , which finish would you use ( penofin / sikkens) would you back prime the boards if this deck goes to hell after it is done my only hope will be that i get altimzers so i dont remeber how many times i rebuilt it
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There have been a few recent threads on this you might want to look at where the virtues of both are hashed out at great length.
Another of the many benefits I have found since switching to Penofin from years of using Sikkens is the ease of re-coating. With Sikkens wind and insects were a constant worry. Penofin sheds both bugs and pine needles without leaving residue on the surface.
I used Penofin on my last cedar project (deck close to the ground). Only issue: smell, for over 4 months by the homeowner's count. Treat it late in the season so you don't have to live with the smell all summer ...
Yeah, that stuff STINKS! And for quite a while.
At least it's not too chemical of a smell, more of a funky organic oil smell... but really funky.
Sure does seem to do a good job though.Paul
I'm a big fan of Sikiens, but not for horizontal surfaces ..
I once got into the Sikkens, Penofin thing, but bowed out after the cost and difficulty to find made it a chore. Plus, they didn't last as long as I had hoped or they had advertised. I now use Cabot products and find them both reliable and affordable. Mother Nature will win in the end, and it's mainly a matter of your pocket book for the same result.
Honestly, I like Penofin. But the bigger question??? I would go back to your idea and do the patio. I have a lager mahogany deck, that I love to look at, but once we put a patio in, well, it gets no use. The patio is great low maintenance and if you put the time into design patterns textures etc. the reults are stunning. This comes from someone who love fine wood materials. If you stay with wood, definetly finish all sideds and edges. Lastly, Penofin also makes a great stain product specifically for PT which is available in multiple tones, let the PT dry, sand it then Penofin, it is gorgeous, you would never guess my 6 x 6 posts are PT.....