Looking to see if anyone has used the polyurethane deck coating membrane type stuff designed to paint on surfaces like an outdoor wood deck to waterproof it. Looks like most take 6+ coats over several days. Without going to far down the rabbit hole, I have a part of a floating dock walkway that goes under water several times a week for several hours. The end that does this has started to rot and needs repaired. I figured out that the PT used was the least percentage treated material. My plan is to repair it with a better grade of PT but was also thinking of coating (at least the section that goes under water) with one of these products to seal it from the water. Any experience with it or thoughts?
Wood Encapsulator Paint / Coating
- Thread starter gregs
- Start date
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Polys will fail, and peal, and the only way they can be refinished is to strip it back to bare wood. Nothing will "waterproof" wood in immersion except perhaps vacuum infusion of epoxy. But epoxy doesn't do well with UV light. What water it does take in it will swell and crack the finish. That will cause the next cycle of immersion to get more water, so on and so on.
Why are you not looking at composite deck boards. Why isnt the "floating" dock designed to float at all time? Need more buoyancy?
Why are you not looking at composite deck boards. Why isnt the "floating" dock designed to float at all time? Need more buoyancy?
Trex is ok for the deck boards on top, but not for the framework underneath. Without going into a lot of detail, the end is hinged at the seawall. So most floats without getting wet, but about the first 2 feet gets submerged sometimes. Its a tidal thing.
Not looking into doing a bunch or rengineering, just repair and maintenance. But if I could improve the life span some what easily I would.
Not looking into doing a bunch or rengineering, just repair and maintenance. But if I could improve the life span some what easily I would.
Shiftless
Well-known member
This stuff should work well for your application.
Shiftless
Well-known member
I put this brand down on a deck over my garage. I knew that natural wood over a membrane with only an inch and a half spacing over poorly draining roofing would fail quickly so I went with this stuff. Moisture Shield has held up 100% for nearly 10 years so far.
A deck 8 feet off the ground over a roof is not the same as a boat dock, but I can recommend this product. Like all synthetic decking I have seen, it gets hot in direct sun. Way hotter than my other deck in back of the house that is redwood.
A deck 8 feet off the ground over a roof is not the same as a boat dock, but I can recommend this product. Like all synthetic decking I have seen, it gets hot in direct sun. Way hotter than my other deck in back of the house that is redwood.
The issue really isn't with the deck boards as much as it is with the framing underneath. I haven't found a "plastic" board that is rated as structural. I'm sure its out there, but for such a small application its probably not a choice. I was planning on replacing the deck boards in that area with some type of synthetic lumber once I have the frame repaired underneath. Thats the area that has failed the most, because I think its pressure treating was the very minimum. It lasted about 8 years, so I figure if I use better PT and coated it with something it would probably last a good bit longer.
jrsavoie
Well-known member
Not all of those boards are waterproof. Many will **** up water like a sponge and crumble like particle board
jrsavoie
Well-known member
What about aluminum or stainless to replace the frame?
I don't have a clue how long aluminum would last. Stainless would be a once and done.
jrsavoie
Well-known member
I'd still look into having aluminum coated.