WOOD PRESERVATION
POWER WASHING AND SEALING OF DECKS AND FENCES

Why Should I Pressure Clean and Seal my Deck and Fence?
Even though most exterior wood decks and fences are made of Wolmanized or treated lumber they still are not invulnerable to nature. Treated lumber is just normal pine wood which has undergone a chemical pressure treating process. When the original chemicals in the wood dry out (approximately six months or sooner), it is time to start applying sealer to the deck. The sealer or wood preservative basically seals the water out of the wood while conditioning the wood and blocking out harmful UV rays. This keeps the wood from warping, splintering, graying and cracking. This coating virtually quadruples the life of your deck and when done, along with POWER WASHING, also makes it much more attractive. For the price it costs to seal your deck or fence regularly it is not worth the extreme damage which can happen when they are neglected. Over Thirty percent of all new decks constructed are being built to replace existing neglected decks. POWER-WASHING and sealing of your deck should be an annual or bi-annual MAINTENANCE program for your deck. Annual maintenance is needed for specialty woods like Mahogany and Epay, while bi-annual maintenance is recommended for standard treated or Wolmanized lumber.

As stated in the Cuprinol Brochure:
"All the Rotten Things That Can Happen (rain, blistering sun, extreme temperature changes). The elements work 24 hours a day to break down wood. Water seeps deep below the surfaces to tear them apart. The sun bakes them dry and brittle so that even the toughest pressure-treated wood can crack and split. Moisture on wood creates a breeding ground for mildew and worse, rot. Watermarks and ugly streaks can destroy the beauty of wood. To survive, your wood needs protection."

Buckeye Painting and Decks’ Wood Preservation Process

First Step (First Day)
POWER WASHING:
Like any other painting procedure the surface has to be clean to get good results when coated. We use an ELEVEN horsepower pressure washer, which outputs three thousand pounds of pressure, to wash the deck or fence. This high pressure results in removal of the mildew on the deck and removes the unnatural gray in the wood which is caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays. POWER WASHING restores the natural, like new look to your deck/fence while cleaning the surface. NO chemicals are used in this process so you do not have to worry about damaging plants, grass or shrubs. The transformation of the color of your deck/fence is AMAZING. The wood grain is much more prevalent and accented after POWER WASHING.

Second Step (Second Day)
One day should be allowed for the deck or fence to dry from the POWER WASHING process. After the deck is dry, it is then swept or blown to remove any debris which may have fallen on the deck since the POWER WASHING process. Now the deck is clean, dry and mildew-free which is the perfect environment for applying sealer. All loose nails are hammered down and galvanized screws are installed where needed.

Third Step (Second Day)
Application of Wood Preservative:
There are many wood sealers and preservatives on the market today. After many tests, Buckeye Painting and Decks has decided to use Sherwin-Williams Cuprinol Deck and Siding Wood Finish for the following reasons:

• Sherwin-Williams bought the Cuprinol company in 1993, therefore not only do you get the product guarantee from Cuprinol you also get it from Sherwin-Williams (whom we know stands behind their products).
  "Cuprinol’s Promise: We promise that Sherwin-Williams Wood Protection Products, by the Cuprinol Group, will save you time and help protect and beautify your wood. We also promise that our products will outperform any similar products or we'll refund your money."
• The Cuprinol group has been making quality wood preservative products since 1908.
• Cuprinol is good for immediate application to pressure treated wood after construction.
• Cuprinol has a high amount of solids in its makeup, therefore providing more protection from the elements.
• Cuprinol Deck and Siding Wood Finish (nicknamed Black Label) is a honey tone pigmented sealer that slightly darkens the color of the wood while still allowing the wood grain to show through. The light tone is what protects your deck from the harsh UV effects of the sun and keeps the wood from graying prematurely. A totally clear sealer offers no protection from the sun.
  
  *Cuprinol Black Label can also be applied in a large variety of semi-transparent stain colors which allows your deck to have a color other than the basic tones. The stain will tint the color of your deck while still allowing the wood grain to show through and providing all the protective properties of regular Black Label as stated above.

The wood preservative is sprayed on and brushed through. After being treated with Cuprinol, your deck is virtually impervious to the elements which maintains its integrity and value.

Quotes:

"Pressure-treated wood provides long-term resistance to decay and termites, but it does little to protect wood from the effects of the elements. Water seeps into the wood, then mold, mildew, oxidations, the sun's ultraviolet rays and everyday usage all take their toll."
  -   Laura Diamond of the American Wood Preserver's Institute

"It could even become splintered, warped and split, which is not only unsightly, it can also be hazardous. I modify a common theory of auto maintenance and apply it to the care of wood, I wash my car and give it a coat of wax from time-to-time. Sure, I do it so my car looks good, but also to save the paint and protect it from grit, salt, acid rain, sun et cetera. It helps me uphold the value of my car. Similar care will preserve the look and value of wooden structures."
  -   Bob Lytle, Vice President of Construction for U.S. Structures, Inc.

"It is estimated there are approximately 20 million wooden decks in the United States today, and too many millions of fence board feet to even approximate. With the strain new construction puts daily upon the world's forest land, care and maintenance of existing structures - versus their replacement - is vital."
  -   The Plain Dealer