Helpful Tips for Staining Toronto Hardwood Decking
When gorgeous mahogany is your choice for Toronto hardwood decking, you have little to worry about specific to insect damage, rot and weather damage. However, if the mahogany wood is left untreated the wood is subject to the harsh UV rays, which tend to break the lignin that holds the cellulose fibers together. Eventually, this will affect the wood’s longevity.
For sealers, you have several options. While clear sealers prevent the wood from absorbing moisture, sunlight will still change the wood to gray naturally. If you want this look, then a clear sealer is the right choice. On the other hand, you could use semi-transparent sealers or toners on your new hardwood deck, which also blocks moisture absorption while providing protection from the sun.
The nice thing about semi-transparent, toners, and solid stains is that you can choose from a broad selection of colors. This means the natural richness of the mahogany wood can be enhanced or completely changed. Remember, the pigmentation is unique for each wood species. The color charts should only be used as a guide since the outcome can vary slightly.
A better way to determine how your new Toronto hardwood decking will look is to test the color on a sample board. If you feel comfortable, this is something that you can do on your own. Otherwise, you can have a professional decking company perform the color testing for you. With toners, you can expect to see most of the grain. The grain’s appearance will be less noticeable with a semi-transparent sealer.
Sealers come in oil-based, water-based, and oil-modified-base versions. Compared to a water-based sealer, an oil-based product will penetrate your new Toronto hardwood decking better. However, a water-based sealer typically provides more coverage. One huge advantage of a water-based sealer is that cleaning is easy with soap and water. For an oil-modified sealer, you get both good penetration and easy cleanup. Regardless of which sealer you choose, your deck will need to be refinished every one to three years based on exposure to the elements.
