Let’s face it: outdoor wood projects like fencing and decks take a lot of time and work to maintain. There are just so many elements in play that threaten both the lifespan and look of woodwork exposed to the elements.
Rain and moisture lead to mold, mildew, rot and decay. Cold weather contracts wood and warm weather expands it, both of which cause warping and splintering. Leaves, twigs, pollen, fungus and other organic matter discolors wood. Boring bugs turn it into swiss cheese, compromising its structural integrity. And frequent use, grease from BBQs, and decorations like planters and shrubbery tend to cause irreparable staining and damage.
If you’re going the traditional route, maintenance should be done weekly or at least monthly and repairs need to be made as soon as you notice something’s amiss. (But we'll show you a quicker, easier and more affordable way below). Basic fence and deck maintenance includes the following:
- Whether from spills, fallen leaves, pollen, or decorations, stains need to be addressed immediately to prevent permanent discoloration. You’ll need to sweep your deck weekly to keep staining organic matter off the surface.
- At the first sign of mold or mildew, you need to deep clean, scrub or pressure wash your decks and fencing.
- Sadly, most stains fail in a year. And paints aren’t much better. Because these provide at the very least some protection from wear and damage, you’ll need to reapply annually, if not sooner.
- It doesn’t take long at all for damaging pests like powderpost beetles, termites, carpenter ants, boring bees and more to get inside your woodwork and start destroying it from the inside out. So you’ll need to reapply potentially toxic pesticides often.
- Rotten, decayed, and splintered boards need to be repaired or replaced immediately to avoid injury or further damage to the wood.
- Lastly, a deep clean with scrubbers and a harsh cleaner or pressure washer should be done at least once every year, if not seasonally.
In other words, if you want to keep your deck and fencing looking nice and lasting long, it’s going to take a lot of maintenance, diligence, and patience.
Thankfully there’s a much better and easier way.
And it doesn’t matter if your wood project is old, new, painted, stained, or built from soft or hardwood. Just one wood treatment can prevent all the common problems outlined above, it’s quick and easy to use, and it will save you hundreds in man hours and thousands of dollars.
Introducing Cedarshield wood protection. After application, it will strengthen your wood against warping, cracking, rot, decay, moisture damage, and damaging pests—and it will extend the life of any wooden project, including decks, fencing, outdoor furniture, and garden boxes.
Here are 3 quick tips for applying Cedarshield:
1. Prep The Wood
Cedarshield soaks into wood and removes all moisture, mimicking the early stages of petrification, thereby strengthening it against decay and damage.
To improve and speed up the application process, Cedarshield is best applied to moist wood. It doesn’t need to be wet, just a little damp (think: morning dew). Whether it’s new wood for a new project or just your current deck, fencing or outdoor furniture, we suggest a light spray with a water hose or spray bottle the night before applying Cedarshield.
If the wood is already stained or painted, a quick once-over with sandpaper will help the Cedarshield absorb more quickly. Sweep off any leaves, dust or dirt before applying, too.
2. Protect With Cedarshield
Applying Cedarshield is easy and there are several ways you can do it. You can soak or submerge boards, which is especially easy for new wood before builds. For existing projects, spraying, brushing, or rolling all work well.
Unlike stains or paints that need to be reapplied often and carefully maintained, Cedarshield is usually a one-and-done wood treatment. In some cases with especially thick wood, you might need to reapply or at least check on the wood in 5–7 years. You’ll know you’ve achieved a successful application once the Cedarshield will no longer soak into the wood and begins beading on the surface instead. Cedarshield is best applied to semi-damp wood in temperatures above 45°F.
Although Cedarshield will not leach any toxic or harmful ingredients, we suggest applying it in a well ventilated space and wearing gloves, eye protection and a mask just to be extra cautious.
3. Stain or Paint
After your Cedarshield applications have dried for 72 hours, you can then use any paint or stain you like, oil or latex, it doesn’t matter. However, because Cedarshield supplies all the protection you need, staining or painting is by no means required.
Still have some questions? Click here for answers to our most frequently asked questions about Cedarshield.