Green deck sealants?
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I just bought an old home that has a 2-months-new, unstained/untreated redwood deck. I want to stain/seal/treat the deck to protect it, and am hoping the community could recommend a low/non-toxic wood treatment appropriate for the application. Our current candidate is Biowash Deck Oil and its associated cleaners and pre-treatments (http://tinyurl.com/2aoj74m). Does anyone have any feedback on this product, or recommendations of alternatives?
Another related question, though not specifically about green building: We are also going to need to replace the roof. My thought is to clean and seal the deck first, before the roofers get to work, on the theory that sealing the deck now will make it easier to clean up roof detritus, and the sealant will protect the wood. Is this sound thinking, or am I hoping for too much from my deck sealant? If I want to protect the deck, should I just throw a tarp over it before the roofers start work?
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Replies
Brent,
It is the roofers' responsibility to protect your house and yard and to clean up all debris.
Of course, roofers vary in their ability to fulfill basic responsibilities like this. If you are in doubt about the capabilities of your roofing contractor, insist on references and interview past customers of the contractor.
Before your roofing contractor begins work, ask them about their plan to protect your deck and landscape plants, Ask them how they intend to clean up debris. If their answers are vague or evasive, that's a bad sign.
Brent,
Many green products are listed in GBA's green product guide. One manufacturer of such products is Weather-Bos, the manufacturer of Deck Bos.
Click this link to read more about Weather-Bos finishes.
I like Land Ark Exterior wood finish for outdoor projects - we use it on timbers and black locust decking. It's a bit pricey compared to other choices, but it's easy to use, all-natural and smells like a citrus grove.
http://www.landarkwoodfinish.com/index.html