Preserve a Cedar Deck with the Right Stain

Find out how to protect a cedar deck from the problems associated with sun exposure, such as cracking and splitting. Get tips on using a semi-transparent stain that will shield the deck from UV rays.

LESLIE: Now we’ve got Tom in Nebraska on the line with a decking question. How can we help you today?

TOM IN NEBRASKA: I’m building a cedar deck and I’m trying to figure out which products to use in order to preserve the life of it.

TOM: OK. Well, cedar is a good choice because it’s naturally insect-resistant, so you don’t have to worry so much about decay. But if you want to stop it from cracking and checking and splitting, which it’ll do simply from exposure to the sun, then you really need to think about putting a product on it that’s got a UV protectant in it, like a stain.

Now, since it’s brand new, I might suggest, in this particular case, a semi-transparent stain that’s going to give it some UV protection. It’ll help even out the color and it’ll protect it from the cracking and the checking that goes on.

You can pretty much put it on right away but sometimes when people put – build cedar decks, they want to enjoy them for a few months, just until they start to gray a bit, and then they’ll stain them. So the choice is yours but a semi-transparent stain would be a good option for you right now.

TOM IN NEBRASKA: OK, cool. I wasn’t sure what to do, you know? I appreciate it, man.

TOM: You’re very welcome. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.