The truth about Ready seal?

JR Wood

New Member
O.K Guys it has been a couple of years since Ready Seal has been around and I know a few of you that frequent this board use it and often talk about it.I wanted to start using it this year but I was put off by a test I did on my own back stairs.I used the light brown on my pressure treated steps in my back yard.The results were not that good...it seemed to fade in 4 months and it never appeared to waterproof.There were similar results posted on this board earlier this year by Roy Moren with his test on some boards on his roof.There are some on this board whose oppinion I value (not that I don't value every ones oppinion just thiers a little bit more)GCR AND MH and of course DF .I just want to know what to expect from switching sealers.Does it last? does it give good enough protection? Is it easy to maintain, Is it really as easy as they say to apply.I did a lot more decks this year than I have ever done in a year before and I know next year is going to be even better.I started another company that will just do decks naxt year and I am going to hire employees.So if I can find a product that won't get screwed up all the time with drips and lap marks that would be great.
Hows this name "ABACUS DECK CARE" try to beat those first four letters for advertising in the phonebook or the newspaper.I already have it in 4 phonebooks for next year.

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[This message has been edited by JR Wood (edited November 25, 2000).]
 

Mike Hughes

New Member
JR,

Brace yourself, this is a long one.......Well, here's what I know.

I have been using Ready Seal since October 1998 when I saw it at a PWNA seminar. I have had good luck with it, and I have customers calling me back to do their decks again, so, it couldn't have been that bad....
laughing.gif


About your steps.........first off, the water will not bead up on Ready Seal like it does on Thompsons Water Seal, or the like........doesnt mean it's not working. Ready Seal penetrates into the wood, rather then forming a layer on top. It also dries very quickly. Now, by you saying that the steps faded quickly (and what Ray did in Florida).....if the wood is older, or hasn't been sealed in a while, the Ready Seal is going to soak in real quick, and probably should have a second coat applied (I call them "thirsty decks") I think that your steps just needed a second coat. When I spray a deck, I always give a couple of light coats on the floor....never just one application on the horizontals...... Be careful when spraying Ready Seal, because it is fairly thin, it is easy to overspray......be sure to protect your surroundings and move any cars parked nearby.

The fact that Ready Seal soaks into the wood and dries quickly provides for some very unique advamtages....

1) Can be rained on after application. It is imperative that the deck be dry before it is applied, but, once you are done the deck, you can literally hose it off if you so choose. It gives you piece of mind to walk away from a job and know that a rainstorm is not gonna screw up your hard work. I had a rainstorm open up on us 15 minutes after I sealed a deck last year......and I didn't have to worry about it.......I got soaked packing up the truck, but, nothing happened to the deck. This past spring, I even spilled a half gallon of cleaning chemical on a deck 20 minutes after I finished sealing it (I was mortified).....but, it did no harm to the finish! (don't try this at home...)

2) "Goof Proof". No lap marks and no backbrushing. If you put too much in one spot, when it all dries up, it will look like you were a perfectionist.

3) Reapplication. When you go back in two years (some people do yearly maintenance, however, I do not subscribe to that theory) you will not have to strip the deck before you apply another coat of Ready Seal. You simply give it a light, thorough cleaning, wait for it to dry completely, then reapply. The cool thing about doing one the second time is, it dries quicker and is easier to seal. I sealed one of my repeats by hand, and I noticed a big difference in how easy it was to seal, since it already had some Ready Seal left on there from last time. The only downside is, if you use the same color, it will probably turn out a little bit darker then the first time........which, most people don't have a problem with. I have heard that after the third reapplication, you would have to strip the deck.........I guess you can't keep piling it on there forever.....


I hope this has helped. I was really apprehensive to switch products at the time, but I am happy with my choice........and the guys at Ready Seal couldn't be any more helpful. Give Chris and Pete a call at Sunbrite ( www.sunbritedecks.com ), or Mr. Peirce Fitchett at 410-381-8400.


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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

[This message has been edited by Mike Hughes (edited November 26, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Mike Hughes (edited November 26, 2000).]
 

Greg Rentschler

New Member
I would have to agree with everything Mike stated. We started using Ready Seal in conjuction with Wolmans last Spring and as with any product it has its pros and cons. Initially I was hesitant to switch products as well. Chris Jaccarino (HydroScrub) hounded me about the product for months as to its ease of application , etc.... My issues were with availability (I had a local Wolman supplier who stocked all of my product for me) and switching over to an oil based product (cleanup!). Over the years I have come to expect no more than 2 years out of any finish applied and I would say Ready Seal will probably fall into this as well. We ran into problems with only 2 decks using the product. Both were due to the wood being extra "thirsty" as Mike puts it. The decks sealed up fine initially but after 2-3 weeks the wood had absorbed more sealer in than expected (our mistake). Measures to correct this were simply a light cleaning and another application of sealer to the decks surface (rails were fine). If it were any other finish we most likely would have had to strip and reseal the entire deck.

I also like the fact that we can seal wood and not have to worry about the threat of rain. With wolmans, if there was a chance of rain we couldn't finish the job.

Cleanup?? We run mineral spirits through our sprayers once a week and ziplock all brushes or pads (when used).

There is more of a concern for overspray as Mike stated due to its water like consistancy but as with all sealers you have to take measures to protect the surroundings. Your method of application will definately effect this.

If you want..give me a call (219)548-2670

Greg


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Greg Rentschler
GCR PowerClean
TimberSeal, Inc
 

JR Wood

New Member
Thank you ,
Thats what I was hoping to hear.This summer I
went down to Allentown to buy a dozen cases of stripex from Chris and he told me the same thing.Especially about the wood really soaking up ready seal.I know all about shedding sealers Olympic natural look is like that.It is also very easy to apply but they don't sell it in New Jersey so I will be switching.I was worried because even a shedding sealer shows that it is waterproofing...when the deck gets wet it doesn't bead but the wood stays light thats how you know its working.On the stairs it only lasted a week or so like that then the wood just appeared like ther was nothing on it.Also what color do you guys use the most?

P.S that stripex-L I bought from Chris works extremely well on gutter stains...Just spray on wait two seconds and power wash.I haven't had a single gutter that it did not work on...and I still have 40 gallons!HEHEHE
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[This message has been edited by JR Wood (edited November 26, 2000).]
 

Mike Hughes

New Member
JR,

Light brown and Natural Cedar have been my colors of choice. On some cedar decks, natural cedar can turn out a bit too red, but it looks fantastic on pressure treated wood.

I have yet to try any other colors, although I probably should. On a couple of occasions, I have used Gold......but, Gold does not have much color in it, and therefore does not provide as much protection from the sun........gold only lasts 12 - 18 months (roughly), and therefore, I discourage using it unless the customer is crazy about light colors, and doesnt care that they'll have to reseal more often.




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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA
 

rvagnoni

New Member
JR,

Mike's reply said it best. We have been using Ready Seal now since the get go...Love it!!! Once you get the hang of it it you will find out the same.

Good luck!

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Rick - Deck Care Plus
 

reedsterstl

New Member
Ok, where other than SunBrite can I get Ready Seal? Haven't had any luck finding it. I am in St Peters MO just outside St Louis.

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JR Wood

New Member
Mail order only!Thats why I haven't used it yet.
Peirce Fitchett at 410-381-8400.




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J.R WOOD POWER WASHING*1-800-782-9919
ABACUS DECK CARE*1-866-7-ABACUS
J&B SNOW PLOW*1-973-328-6650
SHOWCASE LAWNS OF NEW JERSEY*1-866-SHOCASE

DID SOMEONE SAY DIVERSIFY?
 

Mike Hughes

New Member
I have mine shipped to a local trucking depot.......and I can pick it up 24 hours a day......very convienent.

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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA
 

rvagnoni

New Member
JR,

I buy the Ready Seal in bulk. I know some can't purchase that way but I usually have it around when I need it for jobs. Didn't like purchasing it that way in the beginning but you learn to adapt to it.

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Rick - Deck Care Plus
If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn't seem wonderful at all. -- Michelangelo
 

JR Wood

New Member
Rick,
That's the plan this year,It seems like this is the third year in a row I planned on using it,And just didn't get around to it I thnk I will be able to start this year!

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<FONT size="1"><FONT COLOR="Black">J.R WOOD POWER WASHING*1-800-782-9919
ABACUS DECK CARE*1-866-7-ABACUS
J&B SNOW PLOW*1-973-328-6650
SHOWCASE LAWNS OF NEW JERSEY*1-866-SHOCASE</FONT s>
</FONT c>

<FONT size="2"><FONT COLOR="red">
DID SOMEONE SAY DIVERSIFY?</FONT s>
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