20 Best Finish For Cedar Deck (2023 Updated)

These Deck Plus self drilling exterior screws, with a lifetime guarantee no less, are very good fasteners. I have gone through about half of a box while framing an extension to my shop. I use them in places where I need higher fastening strength than a nail, and where I need fastening for temporary purposes.

They grab, tap and pull down extremely well, and make a tight connection very quickly. When used for temporary fastening, they back out well and are in good enough shape to use again. They have a star drive type flat head that makes for positive engagement.

If enough care is used to make sure the bit is properly into the head of the screw, there is no slippage or stripping of the screw head. Each box even comes with a quality bit! I see nothing to not like about these screws as far as the way they work!.

I am a huge fan of these screws. They don’t break when I torque the screws down. Meaning that my crew can move faster when using them. Drive the screw in until they hear the clicks and move on. Further, it’s cheaper to order in bulk here than to get them off the shelf at Lowe’s or Home Depot.

I literally spent around $700 in screws at Decks Direct. Saving 2 – 5 cents a screw adds up.

These deck screwsx are great because they blend with most lumber very well. You can see what you are getting through the window on the box, which is helpful. The box comes with a free drill bit. You do not need to pre drill with these, so they are quick to install.

I have not had any issues with them and am satisfied with how my wood project turned out.

Some of what we learned might help others. We had fun doing it and the results are spectacular. My wife and I did 95% of the work in constructing our 12×12 Meridian Gazebo ourselves. As I built the beams and roof panels, she handed me the right screws, and also removed the film from the metal parts, which easily cut the time in half.

We recruited a couple of neighbors to help with connecting the posts to the beams and also for raising the roof panels. I found it better to assemble the long beams/sections and roof sections on our flat concrete patio, as opposed to on a raised table as recommended.

It was easy to keep the assemblies straight that way, as opposed to just eying things. One of the things I wish I had known before starting is that the gussets keep things squared when squaring the beam assemblies to the posts.

I drove myself crazy with a tape measure, level and square, going from post to post to try to get things perfectly squared up. As I tweaked one post another would move slightly. Finally I realized that if I leveled and squared one post and then attached the gussets to it, that post stayed in place while moving to do the same thing, post to post.

I used four concrete wedge anchors (3/8 x 3 1/2) per post, which worked well. I sunk them all a bit over two inches deep and then cut off any protruding bolt ends with an angle grinder. (Whenever I use an angle grinder I wear goggles and a mask.

No exceptions. ) When attaching the roof panels to the rafter assemblies, I used a battery powered drill that had a variable torque setting, from 1 to 20. A torque setting of 4 or 5 proved perfect, got the screws snug but not overtightened.

For us the hardest part by far was getting the roof panels all connected and squared. We got them up and bolted together in about an hour, and then I spent another two to three hours micro-adjusting to get the corners squared and everything lined up.

This part of it was more complicated than I thought it would be, because we had a couple of warped rafter corner boards. I had to install an extra bolt in two of the rafter corner connections to pull the warped pieces into place.

I also used C clamps while getting things aligned. Once done everything did line up square and aligned perfectly over the roof to post brackets. I also had trouble getting one of the four ridge caps on.

I had attached one of the eight roof panel ridge clips too tightly over the screws along that edge, so the cap would get caught as I pushed it up. Three went on easily. One was a problem. I ended up finding a long wooden dowel I could use to nudge the ridge clip up as I slid the cap over each bolt head.

While this gazebo was moderately easy to assemble, I do recommend you enlist some friends to help with putting it all together. The instructions are straightforward, and I only needed to flip back and forth in the booklet a couple of times to figure out what part they were talking about.

The parts are well-labelled and the instructions use the label numbers in a mostly clear manner. During assembly, some of the pre-drilled holes do not line up precisely, leading to some uneven edges – nothing that impairs function, just esthetically unpleasing.

I was able to assemble the posts, beams and roof sections by myself, but attaching them together required help. The metal roof sections all had plastic covering both sides, which was extremely tedious to remove.

I enlisted help for that step. The posts and beams attachment can be done with two people, but as the instructions suggest, the roof requires four people on ladders. I also purchased the mosquito netting, which was easy to add after the gazebo had been assembled.

We are very happy with the final product and have been using it daily all summer. The only reason I did not give five stars was because of the misalignment of some of the pre-drilled holes, the plastic sheeting on the roof parts, and the laboriousness of attaching the roof segments to the rest of the product.

I had first seen this gazebo towards the end of summer 2020 and knew I needed this. Obviously it was sold out, summer 2021 rolled around and by the time I was ready for it, sold out again. April 2022 rolls around and it’s available so I jumped on it.

Delivered by Home Depot within 48 hours. I stored it in the backyard until end of May and it even survived (in the boxes) the derecho that blew through our area. I decided to sand and stain it the same colour as the deck I built and the patio furniture fits absolutely perfect.

The colour is beautiful and I’m so very pleased with the install. The men I hired said peeling the plastic off was the longest and worst part of the job, but with 4 guys it went relatively well. The structure is sturdy and very well crafted.

A couple of the boards were warped a little but I chalked that up to me storing for a month or so outside in the elements. Not warped enough to not be able to use them though. I am beyond happy having invested in this piece as it completes my little outdoor oasis.

Roller shade and solar lights to follow shortly. Can’t wait to be using this almost full time for quiet reading time.

I use this product and really like it but this ad looks like you get 5 bottles. It is desceptive. I was reluctant because I have always paid more than the per bottle price. I didn’t catch it until I checked out and saw one item.

Luckly I was able to cancel my order. I guess the old saying is true. if it looks to good to be true it probably isn’t.

So far so good. I was initially hired by Bunk and Brew to pull a white Douglass fir off of a bath house which had blown down in a storm. Once the repairs were finished to the bathhouse , I Milled all of the timber into 3 1/2 inch slabs and created 3 seating arrangements and a 18ft long table.

Everything built at Bunk n Brew is from 110+ year old white and red Douglas Fir, which were planted on the property as the Lucas house was being built in 1909. everything will be treated with Outdoor Defense.

I loved to see how it made the colors of the wood pop. I hope it will protect this wood for decades to come.

Using it to protect air dried 110 year old white oak that was milled on a bandsaw. I am constructing a “Korean” floor for my outdoor work shop. Although the area is covered with a roof and doesn’t get exposure from that direction, I wanted to provide extra assurance that the drying and protection would continue slowly and “repel” any moisture.

I have applied 5-6 coats in the application areas. I have been using this product for a couple years with good success.

I used ODO as a bath for a walnut sign which is mounted outdoors in an exposed location. The previous treatment I used did not protect it well, but the ODO seems to have soaked in much deeper (though I gave it a 72 hour oil bath to make sure!) I just ordered two more gallons to protect a cedar greenhouse frame.

This product absorbs deeply and quickly and requires multiple coats. On rough-milled cedar or crosscut ends a pint covers about 8sqft for the first coat, so maybe 64sqft per gallon. It goes further on milled stock and subsequent applications, but don’t expect the 400sqft per gallon on the description.

The first gallon I received had a very strong orange smell, so presumably the Tung Oil has been cut with citrus solvent. That was not mentioned in the description. No big deal – the oil is the right consistency for application and absorption – just be prepared for the very strong smell in your work area.

Finally, shake well before use. There is a sediment in this product (presumably the aluminum UV protection) that settles to the bottom. Stir or shake well before use. If you buy it by the gallon and intend to separate it into smaller amounts, shake well before dividing it.

Boat Detailing firm ceased to operate, so I had to do this myself. I chose to put in maximum effort, so I washed all non-skid surfaces thoroughly with West Marine Boat Wash, rinsed thoroughly, let the deck dry.

Then I light hosed down the deck, started firmly brushing in Star Brite Deck Cleaner, kept it up for a while, using a stiff brush. By the way, knee pads help! – did this on hands and knees, very thoroughly.

I waited until it dried (not exactly package instructions). Then I rinsed off the deck. I was surprised how great – brand new – the deck looked wet and after thoroughly drying – awesome, and this is a 16 year old boat.

Starbrite cleaner lifted most stains that Boatwash and elbow grease didn’t completely get. Admiral was also amazed, wondering why I don’t work this hard cleaning at home. Rain overnight – and the deck looked wonderful the next morning, even after drying.

I tested to see if the deck was slippery, and it was literally “squeaky clean” and non-slippery with Topsiders on. So, I’m very impressed, I’m looking forward to seeing how long this great, new appearance continues to look a month and two months later.

I’m likely to make this an every other month priority, as I feel confident that this frequency will keep the deck cleaner, even more non-skid, sound and easier to clean in the future. I’ll use this product without the Boatwash prep next time.

Worked really well at removing spots and stains from my non skid deck. The key is to let the product sit for a few minutes after applying with a brush, so that it takes effect and then brush briskly and wash off.

Might need a second application for really stubborn stains, but overall works really well for intended purposes!.

Cleaning non-skid is an inherent contradiction. Its gritty texture physically grabs dirt, salt, blood, and slime better than its waxed gelcoat counterparts. Having said that, a health squirt of Star Brite’s Nonskid Deck Cleaner on a wet deck helps a scrub brush loosen whatever soils your deck.

There are times that I wished that this product had more “oomph” but that’s when a supplementary squirt of Soft Scrub with Bleach gets the dirty job done (thus the missing 5th star). I like buying this product on sale or in bulk so I don’t feel so bad about using too much product during each cleaning session.

Wow! This is so much better than the stuff you find at Home Depot (Watco brand?). I bought an old weathered teak patio set last year (pic 1), and first sanded and applied that other stuff (pic 2) — it was a mess, not to mention dangerous (flammable!), left a sticky residue, and didn’t even last the whole season.

This must be real teak oil instead of flammable chemical oil – it was so much easier to apply, and and made my furniture look way better (pic 3)! Plus it’s cheap and I only needed less than 1/4 of the bottle to oil the entire set.

I’m in love! Note: I didn’t use the teak cleaner or brightener first as directed, just applied this oil directly to the wood and rubbed off with a dry clean cloth. It first looked yellow but then settled into a nice rich brown.

No streaks, no sticky spots. Looks even better in person!.

Actually, none of the “describe this product” options is what I would choose for this product. It is a good product but way overpriced. I started using it years ago and feel like I am “hooked” in order to continue the maintenance on my home with the transformation stain.

I am looking for other options. I gave it 4 starts because it is good stuff, but any recommendation comes with a disclaimer due to the cost. Over $500 for a 5 gallon can. Really!??.

Bought this to appease my wife 🙂 I was more into a gazebo for shade, but turns out wife was right (of course). While still allowing sunlight, it adds a sense of designated space and makes our boring concrete patio usable.

We added string lights as well as motion sensor lights (for our little dog at night) using the included all weather power strip. By no means am I a carpenter, but a friend and I put this together in an afternoon.

We also stained the wood a cedar color to better suit our style, as well as protect it from sun, rain and weather. An outdoor table, rug, and seating makes it the perfect area to hang out. Couldn’t be happier with our purchase! Definitely recommend adding this to your backyard space.

We are very pleased with this purchase. It is very sturdy, the fit and finish of the parts are very good, and the assembly instructions are clearly written. Was very pleasantly surprised to find the nuts and bolts to be coated to prevent rust, were grouped in individual packages clearly labeled to match the instructions, and each type of nut and bolt was provided with a spare or two in case one was lost during assembly.

Most of the assembly can be done by one person, but there is one step that is recommended for two people but really needs a third person to hold one of the legs steady for 5 minutes. I actually found assembling this kit to be fun.

Purchased this pergola and couldn’t be happier. Plenty of features that make our backyard area much better. Multiple power outlets power our outdoor lights as well as motion sensor lights (coyotes in our area).

Also has a great option for charging phones with the included stand. Gives our boring concrete pad some defined area, and somewhere that the family can hang out at all times of the day and night. Relatively simple to build – longest time expenditure was the small diameter pieces that make up the top.

Clorox bleach is known to be good. What I found and I bought a dozen gallons, it seems to be watered down. It takes multiply applications to work. Its costs has risen more than the competition For the price, other brands are better.

The Walmart brand works well. The Clorox is a rip-off , to bad it was good.

First off… I Love this Carolina Pavilion! It has made a Huge difference in the yard, and I feel as if I have added a whole new living space to my home overall. The Pavilion is very well built and sturdy! The instructions were well put together, and the Helpful Tips Video was a big help.

I was able to do most of the work myself, but I needed help to set up the columns, and to put the roof in place. Both operations went quickly with a bit of planning. A few of the pan-Head screws inside the roof area were missing (not enough to finish), but they sent them to me within a couple of days when I noticed they the shortage.

It is a good idea to do an inventory with a count of the parts, and to be certain that you are using the “correct” screws at specific points. Some screws are very similar, but slightly different. There was an excess of the most basic wood screws that hold the structure together, but the Pan Heads are cosmetically more important, and a lot of them are not used until you are almost finished with the final steps.

I was very pleased to find that the columns have a hollow center (until you reach the top where it is very solid), and I was able to run an electrical line up the center of one column and install an outdoor outlet near the top to plug in my lighting and anything else I might want to power.

One of my photos illustrates the pre-planning for that operation. Make sure to use the proper outdoor-rated Romex and underground electrical PVC. I drilled through the wall of the house to tie into an unused outlet in my Living Room.

Pavillon Méridien 11’x13′ This is a real nice piece, I’m totally satisfied. 5 Stars for sure. There’s some minors flaws but for a kit pre-cut/drilled I’m impress that just those little things. Everything is well labeled, pre-drilled holes was spot on, fairly easy to install and it adds so much character.

The kit comes in 3 boxes and all the pieces and screws are well labeled. Till you keep your things well sorted, you can’t go wrong and mix things. Keep all the screws in their bag. The metal screws (34 exactly) was a pain to drill, they did hold to my drill and I scratch the roof because of that.

Minors scratches, but I screwed 100’s of screws in 2 days and the only time this happen was with the metal one, I tried different/new bit and nothing to do, just poor head screw. 2 wood pieces was bend, but I’m surprise, for the number of wood pieces only two was bend, all others was straight.

And only one give me some difficulties to screw it right (Roof rafter) I was alone so it was difficult to hold and screw at the same time. But everything finish at the good place. It’s wood after all, it can bend.

But it’s a thousand time better than small metal post. I was alone the assemble the kit and it took me approximately 10-11 hours including 45 minutes in the middle(after 5h) with 2 others to get the frame up and at the end to put the roof on top (1h30) I used clamps to get everything align especially the roof pieces.

It was perfect to have a good fit. Take your time and everything will go as planned. Make the extra step to be sure everything is flush as it can be and it will save you problem later. Finally it’s a great kit, I’m glad I purchased it.

If you look for a sturdy gazebo with a natural look, go for it, it’s really a beautiful piece for your backyard.

This solid cedar unit is well made and accompanying instructions are clear. 2 people is preferable for assembling but much of it can be done alone. Probably 3 people are required (with ladders) to lift up roof panels but that part only takes half an hour.

There is a fair bit of work to assemble it all but it is quite satisfying when you’re done. In my case, I assembled it on a deck 2 inches away from the house. Although it is designed to be made with access from four sides, I was able to find a way to do this without access to one side.

The size of the pavilion works well with other products like a 10ft long roll up shade. We bought 2 of these shades from Home Depot as well. Very satisfied.

It’s definitely a stain and not a paint, or actually it’s more like a dye. But as a stain, applied and wiped off, it’s wonderful. If it’s not wiped off, everything above the stained substrate can be removed with water.

This means that a coat of urethane or varnish will temporarily protect it but if water gets in through a scratch or scuff it will bloom and color will come out. (note that if you are using an acrylic i.

e. watersoluble coating, it can smear the Unicorn Spit when you are applying it, so be careful about that) Just something to keep in mind.

It’s great!!! Really vibrant color to add just enough bold look to a normal boring project. But it didn’t work for what I wanted to use it on glass beads for a chandelier and still have light shine through them but its not translucent like I hoped it would be.

anyone know a product I could use on glass that’s bright colors and still able to have light shine thru? Like a stained glass window paint. ? I could use any suggestions please and thank you.

I’d seen YouTube videos on the subject. I am small time carving wood – some decorations like tiki beads for my hats, small decorations for music case projects, etc. I wanted to color the wood good colors but can’t even find a good green at the local hardware store, and much more expensive.

This is good since can go as thick as a paint or thin with water to be a wood grain glaze. I reccomend some kind of sealant after giving int +24 hours to dry, like polycrylic but is amazing. If you want to lightly stain it’ll cover far FAR more than a $15 pint can some contemptuous there to keep the store from walking away on tiny legs worker will mix for you – think one drop+a capful of water for a small carved item – covering something thick/opaque equivalent to that much latex paint but very high fluidity/pigment so again quite worth it for coverage alone.

Going to buy more to experiment with some wild patterns and stuff based on YouTube videos but well worth it just to get Red, Green, Blue, Yellow tiki bead carvings without playing with very expensive exotic woods and/or buying huge cans of hardware store stuff.

We hired someone to help us stain our new wood deck. The gentleman suggested applying Cedarshield before staining. He had so many great things to say about it; how it protects the wood from water, bugs, ect.

I was so happy to hear he recommended and loved the product. We had purchased it a while ago but had not had time to apply it. I was surprised that he knew about the product but he was more surprised to see we knew about it and had it in our basement already.

We ended up ordering more because our deck is very large.

I did not use a respirator and got rather ill from breathing the fumes. I have no sense of smell so I was not able to perceive that I was breathing much in. I was outside in the breeze so I’m very surprised it affected me.

I Heard from your company that it’s not typical to have any problems with the fumes. So I may be hypersensitive. I am eager to see how my recycled deck boards will fair over time after this cedar shield treatment.

In the past I sealed a log cabin with cedar sheild and it was awesome.

The star drive really torques down without stripping. They really do pre-drill themselves into most wood. They don’t bleed. The threading really bites hard into wood and really joins two pieces of wood tightly.

The reason for the 4 stars and not 5 is I have had these things snap when I drilled into hardwood without pre-drilling. I have found that once you start screwing them in to hardwood then don’t stop. If you want to drive it just a little deeper they snap off.

Because these screws grip so well it is hard to get a broken thread out. If you are constructing with softwoods such as redwood then you will never notice this problem. Once you learn to avoid snapping the screws then you will never want anything else.

These are heavy duty easy to drive fully functional exterior Grade screws that also happen to be pretty e when hanging items that work better if the head is exposed. I leave the head up a little instead of countersinking them.

They look like little flowers. I ran out, and discovered my local Ace store was the only place I could find them. Not even all Ace stores have them. So having them available on Tryit is terrific. The color is not true brass or bronze but I’ve used them for both and find the color very complimentary.

We use the longer ones for heavier duty jobs. Exelent calidad.

I had some pressure treated railings on my deck that had poorly affixed balusters. They were attached using very thin nails and came off easily. I used these screws to firmly attach the balusters. It was a little bit of overkill, but I never have to worry about them disconnecting, and creating a dangerous gap in the fence.

So far these have held up great, and have shown no signs of rusting. I am also a huge proponent of the star drive. There is basically zero risk of stripping the head, and these things go in very easily in pressure treated wood.

A few years back, I cleaned out my parents’ house and was really surprised at the yellowing of the oil based finishes (one of the best available at the time) on my mom’s old artwork projects. Many actually obscured the image below the finish.

I design and build laser cut ornaments, signs, and other ornamental items. Since I like to think many of these will survive generations to become family heirlooms, I wanted a finish that would look good and hold up for many years without yellowing.

My previous experiences with brand name, water based polyurethane finishes available from the big box stores had been at best, dismal. They never even looked good initially and self-destructed quickly even in moderate environments.

General Finishes Exterior 450 was recommended and I have used nothing else since. The finish sprays on well (HPLV), is VERY forgiving (self-leveling what would have been ugly runs with other finishes), dries very quickly, and filters out UV rays that otherwise would brown out exotic woods such as Purpleheart and Padauk.

When sprayed inside, odor is minimal (my shop is in our house but my wife has never even chased me outside to try to finish a project). Sand lightly (400 grit) between coats and the appearance goes from excellent to spectacular.

A welcome sign I made 4 years ago hanging outside beside our front door looks the same as the day I made it (well, after you dust the pollen off this time of year). The laser cut star I designed this year weathered incredibly well even with the extensive edge cut Baltic Birch plywood surface area.

I highly recommend it for ease of use, finish quality, and durability!.

Our pergola was installed a few months ago and in need of being stained. Traditionally, stain is applied after the wood has been weathered for a year, but with this stain, it allows you to either apply to new wood or weathered wood.

I like that this is self-priming and that it has stain and sealant in one, cutting down on the workload. Since our pergola requires a ladder, I was also looking for a product that would not have to be applied every year or two.

This solid stain protects up to 5 years on decks and 15 years on fencing and siding, so I am optimistic. Due to temperatures and rain, I have been unable to prep and stain my pergola properly, but I did a test on one of the pieces of board remaining from our project.

Since our patio is in the sun nearly all day, the UV protection is a must and should help the stain last longer, thereby protecting the wood. The mildew resistant coating is also an added benefit I like since I live in the humid south and it can be easy for surfaces to mildew if not properly treated.

I applied one coat and two coats on my sample board. The one coat shows quite a bit more of the grain, whereas the required two coats provides a more solid, protected surface. I found it helpful to back brush to get the stain in the dents and crevices and to leave a wet edge while working.

I only did 1 board, but I used a 1″ brush and the wet edge is a must to encourage uniformity. Although I only did a small sample, I am satisfied with this solid stain. It provides even coverage and I can’t wait to get it applied to my pergola.

Olympic Exterior Wood Protector Water Base Semi Transparent Redwood Stain made our deck and fence look so professional, Our fence looked so old and needed something, and this was the ticket to bringing it back to life.

Olympic Wood Protector Semi-Transparent, COLOR: Redwood Semi-Transparent. Is a durable semi-transparent stain that provides a subtle natural redwood stain color and allows the natural wood grain and texture to show.

Exclusive Scuff Guarf stain formula gives the wood a tough finish and an enhanced level of protection. 100% acrylic latex wood stain formula is self-priming and cleans up easily with soap and water. It does take time putting this stain on but its worth it in the end.

I recommend Olympic Exterior Wood Protector it looks and smells like cedar. Everything ive used it on looks great. For all exterior wood. Bare wood,Finished wood , Old reclaimed wood , Stained or unfinished wood This stain is great for wooden decks and fencing and thats what I used it for.

I wanted to keep my fencing looking good and preserve the wood which was our deck. Olympic Exterior Wood Protector, protects for 3 years its mildew resistant, UV protection, waterproof sealer, you can also use a roller or a sprayer.

You will love this product.

I got the Olympic Wood Protector Solid in Deep Redwood Solid to update my shed, which was several years overdue for some protective coating. I like that this is solid so it helps hide flaws better, but the color was not what I was expecting.

I know it is called deep redwood but the picture examples on the Olympic website show this to be closer to brown. I was shocked at the bright red color in the can so I started with a swatch test before going all in.

It applies just as bright but when I checked it the next day after it dried it did deepen, though it still has more red to it than what is shown on the website (see my attached pictures for swatches).

There is a color dot on the sticker label on the can, though I am not sure that it came from the color in my can as it too is more brown than what is in the can. So once I was over the color shock, I decided I was going to roll with it and have a pop of color in my yard for the shed.

I still give this 5 stars because I like that it is a solid stain and sealant in one with waterproofing protection and UV defense. It is nice that it can last up to 5 years for decks and 15 years for fences and siding so I won’t have to apply more for a long while.

My shed is exposed to plenty of sunlight so I haven’t had mildew issues, but it is nice that this has a mildew resistant coating for additional protection if needed.

We decided to use the Countertop 880 over the Polyaspartic 745 because we are not fans of the gloss finish. We redid our kitchen in the farmhouse style and wanted a product that would keep the rustic, raw, natural look.

Although the 745 would have given us the best performance as far as being able to leave wine and lemon spills on the counters for extended amounts of time, we still decided to use the 880. Here are my thoughts after 6 months of applying the sealer.

1. Application is pretty easy and straightforward. Make sure there are no previous sealers or waxes on the countertops or make sure they are removed by sanding with a palm sander. The sealer itself is ready to use right out of the container so you did not need to do any sort of mixing.

You can literally just roll it right onto the countertops with a small roller or brush. Apply subsequent coats after the first coat while the first coat is still wet but dont allow the coats to pool or puddle, work them into the countertops.

It dries within a few hours and when we did the water drop test, the water seems to bead right away. Since we wanted some additional protection we used the Countertop Wax on top and that was one of the best decisions we made.

The wax does give a little sheen but it definitely gives you a little extra time to clean up spills. Lastly don’t expect the world out of this product. Yes, it repels water great and it also does a good job of resisting staining.

You just have to be diligient and clean up spills. You cacn leave them and expect the sealer and wax to repel them for more than a few minutes. But a few minutes is all you need to clean up a spill. Use cutting boards and don’t cut directly on the counters.

Also don’t use any citrus based cleaners as they tend to remove the wax. Other than that overall this was easy to apply and has held up good. I recommend and would buy again.

Product just pours out of the bottle, does what it claims, performs beautifully. I’ve used other Ghostshield products, they outperform their claims and I live in the desert with 115-degree sunshine which is a real test! Sealed my driveway, two patios, walkway and veranda.

This stuff wears like iron and looks great. Used Countertop 880 for outdoor kitchen poured concrete countertop and again it does what it says, protection and it’s invisible. Highly recommended.

Compared to other concrete countertop sealers I have used in my almost fifty years of construction, I would have to rate Ghostshield 880 at the top of the competition. I applied easily, wasn’t gummy or sticky like other products I have used, no noxious odors, penetrated well took the second coat easily and allowed me to apply the countertop wax the next day.

These products were used in my own residence and I’m very happy with the results. I am very impressed with the product line and look forward to using them on an upcoming large commercial project in the near future.

The transcend line seems to be one of the better composites offered. The multi-colored tones and wood grain texture better mimic natural wood but it is more durable and has a much lower maintenance cost.

You should pick this product if you plan on staying in the location you are installing it. The value of this product continues to grow the longer you are able to use it. You are more likely to get tired of the style before this decking needs to be replaced.

I did a few tests with my sample and have included pictures with this review. The board was about 12” and approximately 2 lb 8oz. I took a picture of the top texture, and the bottom. I also included a photo showing the texture of the deck after taking 80 grit sandpaper and performing 30 swipes under moderate pressure, as well as slicing the surface with a razorblade.

I used a deck screw through the surface to observe the puckering at the fastening point. Overall I’m impressed with this board. I would recommend getting the hidden fasteners because they don’t damage the surface and look very clean.

As an added bonus, if you have the money for a curved deck, this board can do that. You can use this board for most applications/ creative applications.

I replaced all of the horizontal boards (>1500 board feet) on my deck, including stairs with Trex Transcend. I simple got tired of re-staining the wood every 2-3 years. I stained all of the vertical wood to come close to the appearance of the Trex.

I did all of the work by myself. I thought installation was relatively easy. Aside from a few boards that were delivered with flaws (they were replaced at no charge), I encountered no problems with the boards aside from some minor warping.

That was easily corrected during installation. They do scratch – I hit one with the router and I have one where a still spinning saw blade touch it. I replaced the one and left the other. They are slippery when wet, maybe a little more than the wood, but not much.

They seem much warmer in direct sunlight, but that’s not much of a factor on our shady deck. I used the solid stain on the cut ends of some of the boards and, for now, it looks great. Not sure how long the stain will last, but the cut ends accepted the stain very well.

This requires maintenance, but not like that. Now I have to figure out an easy way to get walnut stains off of Trex.

We are planning on building a deck on the back of our home and we have been looking at sample boards and trying to find the perfect one we both like. Well, I got this Trex Sample- Island Mist and absolutely love the look, it looks like real wood with grain effects and the color is perfect.

It is really heavy and I am pleased to say it protects against rot, warp, termites and splintering. It is backed with a 25 year limited residential stain and fade warranty. Another big factor in my decision is it is made with 95% recycled materials.

To me that is awesome! I highly recommend to anyone whom is planning on building a porch, deck or any type of outdoor flooring to consider Trex, you will not be disappointed.