How to Seal a New Redwood Deck

Having a deck attached to the outside of your home is truly a gift as it gives you an outdoor space for drinking, dinner parties, entertaining or having a glass of wine or cup of tea in the fresh air before bed. A redwood deck gives you a natural wood grain with a glorious reddish tinge that makes the deck a bright and cheerful place. The key to having a deck last for a long time is in the care and maintenance. Sealing a redwood deck properly is crucial to protect it from the sun and rain, as well as mold and mildew.

1 cup TSP
1 gallon warm water
Bucket
Scrub brush
Rubber gloves
Hose
Electric sanding drum
100-grit sandpaper
220-grit sandpaper
Vacuum cleaner
Paint roller pan
Sealer
Paint roller with extended handle

Instructions

- 1
  Combine 1 cup of TSP (trisodium phosphate, available in hardware stores) with 1 gallon ofwarm water in a bucket. Put on rubber gloves and dip a scrub brush in the liquid, mixing the two substances well.
- 2
  Scrub down the deck thoroughly, targeting areas where there is mold or mildew. Rinse the deck well with a garden hose at low pressure and allow the deck to dry for 24 to 48 hours.
- 3
  Sand the deck with an electric drum sander and 100-grit sandpaper. Move the sander slowly over the surface of the deck, from right to left, covering all the surface area. Repeat with 220-grit sandpaper.
- 4
  Vacuum up all the dust from sanding.
- 5
  Pour your sealer into a paint roller pan. The sealer should have built-in protectors against UV rays, water, mildew and mold. Dip a paint roller with an extended handle into the pan and roll on a single coat of the sealant. Allow it to dry for 24 hours and apply a second coat. Allow that final coat to dry for 48 hours before walking on the deck.

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