As we draw to end of the Summer of 2006 thoughts change from picking a vacation locale to getting the kids back to school and before you know it, its time for holiday shopping. Often times your deck is the last thing on your mind. For everywhere but our southern most readers this can be a mistake. Temperatures drop, rainy seaons start and up north the snow begins to accumulate. This is when your deck can start to get really damaged if it is left untreated.
What Cold Temperatures Can Do
Down in the wood fibers of your deck moisture is ever present in the form of evaporation, condensation, rainfall and melting snow. When the temperature drops this moisture can freeze. The expansion of this freezing water puts stress on the wood causing it to warp, crack and check. A deck needs protection from the winter elements.
In the spring and summer many of us use a tinted sealer on our decks so that it looks good and is not an eyesore for our barbecues and liesure activity. During the colder months it is even more essential for your deck to be protected.
Many of the commercially available sealers you find at your local hardware, paint store or big box outlet have had to modify their formulas to meet ever tightening VOC standards. The results have not been satisfactory in most cases. We have heard customers complaining about excessive mold growth, color shifting and very rapid deterioration.
In keeping with our company goal of supplying do-it-yourself enthusiasts with contractor grade products and tools we are very happy to introduce Baker's Gray Away to our lineup. Baker's has been around for 15 years. It is a high quality penetrating oil with colors that are exceptional. It provides protection as well as makes your deck look outstanding.
Baker's has been tested and found to have superior quality by the Forest Service at Texas A&M (we have a copy of the letter on our website) Woodsavers of Texas, a professional wood restoration company has used this product exclusively for ten years with results that would blow you away.
Whats Coming in 2007?
In spring of 2007 RAD Systems will be announcing a new sealer that will work wonderfully on ipe and the hardwoods. Our test results have been very promising. One more northeast winter will be the true test. The new product has double the quality ingredients (mildewcides, pigmentation quality and amount, top grade oils) of just about everything on the market. It is also 50 state VOC compliant. It is much more enviromentaly friendly than other products that are loaded with volatile organic compounds. Stay tuned..
