Does wood sealer actually work?

[captain.wizbang]

Works fine, if you want to do it every 6 months. I used it, lasted only a few months.

[Stevesbe]

My dad used this in the deck and it now is almost 40 years old and still looks good

[abacab]

Thompson's probably isn't the best, but I had a lady clean and put that waterseal on her deck religiously every two years, and her deck still looked really great after 15 years. I never visited again after that, so I don't know what it looked like at 30. Most decks would be showing their age at 15.

[LuminairPrime]

Lots of big talkers in the comments without suggesting anything better. Thompson's is just wax and oil in paint thinner, so it won't last long, but it's cheap and easy and better than nothing. Multiple coats of real paint is the absolute best, but failed paint looks bad and requires work to scrape off; failed Thompson's doesn't look like anything, so you can apply it however and whenever you feel like.

[creekfinds]

Nearly every professional paint forum I've been on, and people that have done this work for years say Thompson's is the absolute worst. I have often heard about the pink "hue" that it leaves. Just found out what they meant on the last deck I stained. It had a glazed pink hue from what had been put on previously, and I have to believe it was Thompson's.

[rlthereal]

I’ve used Thompson water seal before and it will hold up for about a year max. The plus side is it goes on clear so no worries about accidentally getting on siding by mistake. I just switched to Behr Premium stain and sealer (about $200) for 5 gallons which was more than enough to do with left over for touch ups. It says it can last for up to 6 years but we shall see. I power washed and cleaned the deck pretty well and let it dry before applying

[jameskirk]

Yeah but fug brushing it on, spend $20 on a garden sprayer you'll throw away, spray it.

There are many better products than Thompsons, but Thompsons works fine if you clean and apply it yearly for the first 5 years of the deck. Or pay all at once to have it stained and sealed with a marine grade product that will last 2+ years, for the same cost as doing it 5 times yourself with clear Thompsons. The only stuff that works in one coat is two part sealers, and even those suffer in the sun.

[ernie]

Ive user marine spar varnish and a good job takes many coats. If you really want the most perm job, use marine epoxy, a number of light coats. Stuff is tough.

[winstonian]

Penofin Red Label. Trust me. Best stuff I've ever used. Still, in direct sun, nothing really lasts longer than a year. But at least it doesn't flake, so only light sanding required on re-application.

[Skreebee]

Used Thompson’s Water Seal for a bunch of jobs and our own! It works great! 👍

[dino.jay]

Well, I guess I will add my comments about a great outdoor wood protectant. I'm in the PNW, so we receive above average levels of precipitation.

I build outdoor furniture, decking, and pergolas, etc. I build mostly with western red cedar for its durability.

My go to for protection is a brand called "Sansin." I like to use their SDF product. It's a penetrating stain made with some solids ... I like their 'Natural Cedar' color for most of the decking and furniture. It penetrates very deeply and works with the natural cedar to allow it to breathe while minimizing water penetration. It also holds up very well against UV.

When its first applied, it will bead water on the few occasions. Afterwards, the water will just sit on the wood and only penetrate the top a few millimeters deep. Its breathability works with the natural cedar and its oils to dry quickly and thoroughly.

[blueteamsix]

In my experience, you want a stain with some color in it. This will protect your wood from UV rays. UV rays are what turn your wood gray.

[bradgingrich]

In the PNW Thompsons will last about 3months, don't waste your money on it a marine grade product.

[JT_]

I used Olympic deck stain and sealer on the boards of my utility trailer. It worked great and lasted a long time. Read the reviews about Thompson’s and comparisons of Thompson’s to other similar products. Thompson’s always finishes last in durability, most likely because it’s a wax based product.

[charlesbuckalew]

I researched and went with oil based Ready Seal. #510 golden pine. Looks great and should protect a fence for many years.

[Roger-iliw]

I thought it would take multiple coats, but I realized the stuff was legit, because it wouldn’t even take a second coat 😂

[Rado]

Used it one time, never again. It stopped the water, but made the deck surface sticky to walk one, specially on hot days. And it recommends being done every 1-3 years. Motor oil would do a better job.

[MRC_]

My great grandpa used this on his deck about 70 years ago, and it still looks brand new !!

[bobbyroberts]

Ready seal from Home Depot is a sealer stain in one and oil based. It’s great and last years

[erah]

My adirondack chairs turned gray on all horizontal parts within 2 weeks after several layers. I have to redo them again. Still better than the bare wood, but I did not expect to get ugly that fast