For those that add Cascade to your housewash mix...

[For those that add Cascade to your housewash mix...]

I have never tried it, so I picked some up at Sams Club 2day. I've hear that it helps with window spotting. How much do you add to a 5 gallon bucket? I usually downstream. If you x-jet, please feel free to respond also.

[2006 Sealer Poll: Which are you using this year?]

I've been using Deckscapes/Cuprinol for several years, and I have been pleased with it. It is readily available, and the price is excellent. For those that use Readyseal and others, what is you reason for doing so? Durability? Ease of application? I can't say that I know of anyone that uses Readyseal or Wood Tux in my area, so I am interested in the reasons.

[masking a house]

Just tarp the railings with a 9X12 canvas tarp. I never tarp the house. If you are spraying the floor, you need to switch to hand brushing. Call me if you need to. I can explain better over the phone.

Jarrod, I'm curious as to why you hand brush the floor v/s spraying. Have you had bad results? I spray the floor and backbrush with a roller, and I am pleased. If better results can be had, I'd like to try.

[Masking tools for sealing wood]

I always mask the house with .5 mil or 1 mil plastic the length of the deck + 8' or so. I use the tape used for hard to stick surfaces. It works well on vinyl as opposed to the blue painters tape. For the rails, I drape a bed sheet on one side and attach with spring clamps. How does everyone go about taking down the plastic that you mask the house with? Are you walking across a not quite dry deck?

[Darker sealer spots???]

I use old bed sheets as drop cloths when staining. I use some cheap spring clamps to hold them on the rails, and then tuck the excess under the rail. The sheet catches the overspray from the airless, and the area tucked under the rail catches any mistakes. They are a lot cheaper than drop cloths, and absorb the stain unlike the plastic. Try a local thrift store for cheap sheets.