mirage47

Thanks to all here for their advise and thoughts. Clarification on the pics, they are the day after the deck was built and before any sealer was applied. The "contractor" pressure washed and the applied Cabot semi transparrent cedar stain to the deck top and sides, not underneath. The framing is treated and the rest, including the skirting and covering of the posts are cedar. Right now, the deck looks very good, but I am meticulous in trying to keep it that way for a long time. I am convinced that sealmaxx will harm the cedar in the long run, and have opted to not put that on the deck. My wife and I really like the look of the Cabot semi clear, but I do not want to do this every year. Any thoughts???? I will give Tropical Wave a shout as well. Again, thanks for the comments....

I don't think that it needs any stripping as it is fairly new. I had the local put on a semi transparent stain/sealer I do not recall the brand. The deck looks very good right now, but the floor and rail tops needs something before winter here in IL. Here are a couple of pics prior to staining last year. OOPS my jpg files are too big at 448. Any suggestions to upload these pictures? The link you gave me goes nowhere. If there is a professional on this site from the Chicago suburb around Glen Ellyn, I would be interested. Otherwise, I will try it myself. Sometimes if you want it done right, you have to do it yourself. The overspray issue still has me bummed about contractors. I have a cold water pressure washer that does OK on decks and concrete tire marks. I will try the hotwater pressure washer with the chemicals. I then will try the concrete sealer as I like my driveway and decks looking like new. Thanks for all the responses, I appreciate it.

I was considering Sealmaxx for my front deck and driveway until I stumbled onto this forum. I do not like the idea of petrified wood on my beautiful front deck on my raised ranch. The deck is above the driveway and is 12 feet by 22 feet. I had a local "contractor" clean and stain last year, but the idiot oversprayed on my new concrete driveway and front steps. I am still hoping mad about that. The bum tried to clean it off, but alas, stain does not come out of concrete. So, I so this Sealmaxx booth at the dupage county fair and have reseached a little. Now the grime scene states that this stuff petrifies the wood, and that is NOT something I want to do to this 3 yr old cedar. What do you suggest to this now DIYfer? Is the sealmaxx stuff still OK for a concrete driveway???? Thanks for any advise you can give....