Ask the Remodeler: What kind of stain should I use on my pressure-treated deck?

Plus, this window got a small crack, and then it became a big problem.

Solid stains are more paint than stain and invariably have to be recoated often.

By Mark Philben -- Globe Correspondent

June 12, 2024

Q. Help! I let my pressure-treated deck go a couple of years too long without recoating it with the solid stain I’ve applied since it was built 15 years ago. I’m using the Diamabrush tool (highly recommended!) to remove the layers of stain and get down to the good (well, splintered and weathered) wood, but I’m stuck sorting out what to use as a finish. The resident artistic director loves the look of the light pine and would like a transparent coating so that the deck would appear similar to the light-red oak floor of the adjacent family room. I’m struggling to find any product that doesn’t have bad reviews for either durability or consistency of finish. I’m almost at the point of returning to the solid stain that I’ve had to recoat every other year. I’m leaning strongly toward something oil-based, because I think it’s more weather-resistant. What are your thoughts on this?

ROBIN

A. Robin, we haven’t installed pressure-treated decking in some time. Our experience was that pressure-treated wood doesn’t hold solid stains very well, especially if the wood has weathered. Solid stains are more paint than stain and invariably have to be recoated often. Otherwise, it will peel and/or flake off like paint. We always had better luck with a clear, penetrating oil finish. These don’t sit on the surface of the wood like a solid stain. They actually do a better job of preserving the wood in the long term. What you will find is that a clear, penetrating oil will darken the wood and bring out the grain, which may or may not be the desired look. What you want to look for is ultraviolet protection, because the sun is going to do more damage than water, believe it or not. The best oil finishes have up to 99 percent UV protection. Start your search by looking at the companies that make finishes for tropical hardwood decking like Ipe and Meranti. Some of these companies will make finishes for pressure-treated wood as well. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to exterior wood finishes, so finding a supplier that sells these higher-quality brands and can steer you toward the right one is key.

The problem started out as a small crack.

Q. I am a regular reader of the Globe and your column who lives in Melrose. This is a strange one. The Sears-brand window above our kitchen sink got a crack in the glass a few weeks ago out of nowhere — not when we opened or closed it or while doing anything to the frame around it, etc. This morning, the crack that had been a few inches long turned into a series of cracks running along the length of the bottom of the window. There aren’t any cracks to the frame or the tile around it. The window isn’t new, nor is the house (built in 1930). Nothing else involving the window or even that area of the house gives a clue as to what could have caused it. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated!

GRANT, Melrose

A. It is hard to say what caused the initial crack in the first place; there is a screen there, which would rule out a bird flying into the window. Some people take their screens out in the winter to help bring in more light. I’m not sure whether that is something you do seasonally. I highly doubt that it is any kind of structural issue with the house. It looks like a vinyl replacement window that sits inside the original window frame. This insulates it for the most part from any movement of the house.

As far as the crack getting bigger, it is very common for glass to do that once it is damaged even slightly. You see that with windshields. A rock hits the windshield, creating a chip in the glass. Typically, within a couple of weeks, the chip turns into a crack that will just keep growing over time.

Bottom line, it is not worth trying to fix the glass. It will cost more to have that Thermopane window pane replaced than to just get a new window. A replacement window like yours makes for a very easy swap out. You will also get a much more efficient window in its place. Modern windows are far superior to anything installed several decades ago.

Mark Philben is the project development manager at Charlie Allen Renovations in Cambridge. Send your questions to [email protected]. Questions are subject to editing.