Deck restoration.

Tom,
We want to preserve our 7 year old deck which is over land and water. There is some splintering and cracks. What would you recommend, something like, RESTORE or a stain with preservative.

Thank you

Diane

Tom: There’s not a lot you can do. You can’t sand them, so the splinters are there. You’re trying to gouge them out, I guess and make sure they don’t get in your feet.
Charlie: Good times.
Tom: Yeah, I’ve had a few of those pulled out of my feet, and my kid’s feet. The pressure treated lumber today, when it weathers, it’s weathered. If it’s good enough and still not too bad, I would tell her “if you really want to, paint it”. That way, at least it will keep it protected from the UVs with a solid pigment. No clear sealer or anything is really going to work very well. This is over water, so I want to make everybody conscious about the fact that if you’re going to be painting, or spraying anything, don’t do it so liberally you get into the water and kill all the fish and stuff.
Charlie: Right.
Tom: Just keep it on the deck. Rolling it as opposed to spraying it would be a better choice if you’re going to do it.