YONKERS, NY – With meteorologists predicting a wet summer all across the country, many homeowners need to coat their outside deck with the right treatment to help it weather any storm, as well as prepare for anything winter may bring. The July 2006 issue of Consumer Reports features expert advice and ratings on choosing the best deck treatments to make sure decks not only last this summer, but for a few more seasons as well.

 

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Consumer Reports testers found that Cabot Decking Stain 1480, an alkyd that cleans up with solvent, and Cabot Solid Color 1880, a latex that cleans up with water, are both outstanding opaque treatments that topped the ratings. Both prevented color change as well as resisted dirt and mildew, but the Cabot Solid Color 1880 excelled in cracking prevention. In addition, the Wolman DuraStain 18146 is the best semitransparent stain for wood worth showing off. While it’s an alkyd like the Cabot, it also cleans up with water.

 

For homeowners interested in having the most natural look, CR deemed the clear Olympic WaterGuard 55560, a latex that cleans up with water, as the best and only choice.

 

To test deck treatments, CR staffers built a deck behind the Yonkers, NY, testing center, where 500 pieces of pressure-treated lumber were coated with a variety of products before baking in the summer sun, chilling under the winter snowand generally putting up with whatever nature dishes out. Deck treatments were tested on CCA (chromated copper arsenate) lumber, a type no longer made for residential applications because of safety concerns but still in wide use. CR has also begun to test on ACQ and copper azole lumber, alternatives to CCA.

 

Treatments that scored high in Consumer Reports' ratings were those that remained close to their original color, prevented the wood from cracking, picked up only a small amount of dirt and prevented mildew growth. The two opaque treatments atop the ratings kept up a very good appearance after three years. Opaque is CR’s description of a finish that totally hides the woodgrain. Ratings for three-year tests are available in print, while ratings for one-year tests for newer treatments are available online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

 

© Consumers Union 2006. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes.

 

 

 

About Consumers Union

Consumer Reports® is published by Consumers Union (CU), an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, CU tests, informs and protects. To maintain its independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports itself through the sale of information products and services, individual contributions and a few noncommercial grants.