Deck Care 101

When it comes to outdoor living spaces, people are moving their living areas outside, making decks more popular than ever. Whether your current deck is an extension of your family room, includes an outdoor kitchen or dining area, or boasts a vine-covered arbor for shade, decks are a reflection of America's desire to be outdoors and connect with nature.
And now Sherwin-Williams can help you spend more time enjoying your deck and less time caring for it. If you're trying to breathe new life into an old wood deck, a new technology just introduced by Sherwin-Williams can revive even seriously weathered wood. DeckScapes Coating Life Extender literally binds loose wood fibers to form a sound, smooth surface that creates a better bond for your topcoat. It penetrates deep into the wood to provide UV and weather protection. Not only will the wood look better, the protective finish you apply to your deck will last longer as well.
Before you apply any protective coatings, be sure to remove dirt and mildew using a cleaner designed for deck use. After cleaning the deck, Life Extender is easily applied with a brush or roller. Approximately four hours later, you can apply the topcoat-such as DeckScapes Waterborne Semi-transparent or Solid Color Stain-for a finish that will look new for years.
If you have a new deck, start with Life Extender for the best possible protection. Life Extender is also ideal for cedar and redwood decks.
And here's a tip from the trade: If you want the wood grain of your deck to show, choose a semitransparent stain. If you want more durability and don't want the grain to show, go with a solid-color stain. Products designed for deck use will beautify and protect your outdoor room for a long time when used correctly.
Sherwin-Williams is the nation's largest specialty retailer of paint, stains, coatings, wall coverings and associated supplies. With more than 3,000 stores in North America, the company is dedicated to supporting the do-it-yourself consumer with specialized products, superior technical knowledge and one-on-one, personalized service that's focused on the do-it-yourselfer's unique project needs.