Why Use a Preservative?
The real question is why not?
Most stains are made to leave a coating on your wood, that will flake or peal in time, leaving you with exposed wood. Wood doesn't rot because of water, it rots due to the oils getting baked out. The water get absorbed because the wood is looking for it's oil. Wood preservatives replace that oil the wood is missing.Wood preservatives come with pigment, which is why most would call it a stain, but it shouldn't leave a film floating on top of the wood. The pigment in a wood preservative is how you get your UV protection, which will allow the product to last a few years. The stain on the deck is much like wax on a car, the cleaner, drier and less sun exposure, the longer the finish will last.
Tips
- Keep it clean dirt and debris become acidic and ruin the finish faster.
- Blow it off because puddled up water will deteriorate the finish over time.
- Keep a schedule because each time you go too long you're causing damage.