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It can be devastating to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars building a new deck only to have it ruined by water damage. If you hire a contractor to do the job for you, chances are he will warn you about having your deck protected and it may be included in the cost of the job. If you build your deck yourself or buy a home with an existing deck, making sure it is protected will be left up to you.

If you build your own deck, hopefully you used the correct metal hardware. Galvanized or stainless steel metals resist rust much better. If you have an older deck, replacing metal pieces that are not rust proof might be a good idea especially if they are exposed.

If your home had an existing deck, you should inspect it carefully on top and underneath and replace any rotting or water damaged wood.

Picking out a top quality water sealing product is essential. The better the product you use, the longer it is likely to last. Water sealing is a process you really do not want to have to repeat very often. If your deck is old, it will probably need a good cleaning before you use the water sealing product.

You can do this with a water hose, detergent, and a scrub brush, or you might consider using a pressure washer. If you do not own one, you can rent one. There are cleaning products available specifically designed for cleaning your deck. Allow the deck to dry thoroughly before you apply your water sealing product. You can get water sealers in clear or tinted colors.

Choosing how you will apply the water sealer to your deck is up to you. The most common methods of using a brush or a paint roller are still old stand by methods. The newer and fastest way to get the job done is with an airless or air sprayer.

You can buy smaller inexpensive versions or you can usually rent one by the day. Make sure you get one that is used for applying stain and sealers. These sprayers are great items if you use them correctly. Another and probably the easiest, but not necessarily the cheapest, is to hire a professional to do it for you.

Depending on the specifications of the water sealer you used, most products will last for several years and some longer. The main thing is keep an eye on the wood about the time the sealer wears off and do not put off the retreating the wood overlong.