Sounds like a good idea.No telling if they will get into shiping far from the South. As long as they are treating sap wood That Stuff looks pretty good. J.

It all depends on the source of the lumber. I usually ask for no.1 select structural pressure treated, and buy through my ordinary supplier. For anything that will contact the earth, you should get PT with a minimum of 0.40 pcf of chemical treatment. Look at the tag on the end of the board, it will tell you the type of chemical and the quantity used in pounds per cubic foot. (pcf) Also, while you're looking at the end of the board, is a good time to select wood cut from trees with tighter growth rings. Large growth rings equal low quality lumber.

Hi there. I pressure wash in the Southeast and I use Ready Seal stain. It's really really easy to work with because it doesn't require me to keep a "wet-edge" so I don't get lap marks. I've used a brush, a roller, a pump-up sprayer and/or flat pads to apply it. It's a penetrating stain so it's not like a paint...this sucks into the wood. I use it on my decks and I've been impressed with the longevity of the product. I have family in Wisconsin and we put it on a deck that is next to a 5th wheel travel trailer that is on some hunting land. This area gets a good bit of snow and certainly lots of frigid temps. It was done 3 years ago and is still holding up really well. Ready Seal has UV protection with the darker colors have more protection than the light colors. It's petroleum-based so it resists mold and mildew that you can get from other type of products that are made from something like linseed oil. Consider the long-term upkeep of any product. I have a lot of customers who choose something like an acrylic coating which is tough to remove. Tough to remove equals more money spent by the customer. And although I like to make more money, some of these products are just a bear to remove. My personal opinions....stay away from Behr, Cabot and Sikkens. Armstrong Clark is good. Their color palette is more orangey. Ready Seal has more browns, gold and reds. Color is always a personal opinion. And TEST PATCH TEST PATCH TEST PATCH!!! Nothing worse than going full speed ahead and realizing that you don't like the color! Good luck!

Sierraeast, I've been frequenting this site long enough to know there are some skilled HO'ers out there that have built some fine decks. It takes a real man to admit they were wrong, I see you are one. The next paragraph is not for you, but for others who may read this & be in the same boat as Danielle. Here's why I made that statement. Danielle did not state the elevation of the deck or any details other that it was 900 sq. ft. Just the size alone means there's going to be some considerable money being spent. I'd hate to see her spend big bucks & not be happy with the results or have safety issues. It cost less to do it right the first time, if it's not they might not be friends anymore. The golden rule for contractors is, don't do work for friends or relatives. Works the same for HO'ers, don't have friends or relatives do work on your home. Al PS. Thanks Steve & John for having my back.