Wood Deck Sealing Schedule Planner

Protect your deck with a realistic resealing schedule

A wood deck is constantly being worn down by weather and use. Sunlight (especially UV) breaks down surface fibers and fades stain; repeated wetting and drying cycles lift grain, encourage mildew, and can accelerate cracking and rot. Sealing (or staining with a water-repellent product) helps slow this damage by adding UV inhibitors and reducing how quickly water can soak in.

This Wood Deck Sealing Schedule Planner gives you a planning estimate for how often to reseal and a target next sealing date based on two major environmental drivers:

• Sun exposure (how many hours of direct sun your deck gets)
• Rain frequency (how often the surface is repeatedly wetted)

Inputs: how to choose values

Sun Exposure Level (1–5)

Use this simple legend as a quick estimate:

• 1 = mostly shade (brief morning/evening sun only)
• 2 = light sun (a few hours of direct sun)
• 3 = mixed sun/shade (about half the day in sun)
• 4 = mostly sun (sun for most of the day)
• 5 = full sun (little to no shade, strongest exposure)

Rainy Days per Year

Enter the approximate number of days your location receives measurable rainfall. If you’re unsure, use local climate normals (often published by national weather services, airport stations, or city climate summaries). If your deck is under trees or receives sprinkler overspray, you can treat that as “extra wet days” because it increases surface wet time.

Last Sealing Date

Choose the date you last sealed or stained the deck. If you don’t know the exact date, pick your best estimate. If you’re starting fresh with a newly built deck or after stripping, use the date you plan to seal as the “last” date to generate a future schedule.

How the schedule is calculated

The calculator starts from a baseline lifespan of 36 months under moderate conditions, then reduces that lifespan for higher sun exposure and more frequent rain. The interval is constrained to a minimum of 12 months to avoid suggesting overly frequent resealing as a default plan.

Formula

Let:

• S = Sun exposure level (1 to 5)
• R = Rainy days per year
• I = recommended reseal interval in months

Then the interval is:

Finally, the calculator applies:

• I = max(I, 12) (minimum interval of 12 months)
• Next sealing date = Last sealing date + I months

Interpreting your results

• Longer interval (closer to 36 months) typically means your deck is relatively protected from harsh sun and frequent wetting. You can still inspect annually, but full resealing may not be needed as often.
• Shorter interval (near 12–18 months) suggests conditions that can quickly erode water repellency and UV protection. In these environments, inspection-based maintenance is especially important.

Inspection “triggers” (signs you may need resealing sooner)

• Water no longer beads and instead darkens/soaks into the wood quickly
• Color fading or uneven bleaching in high-sun areas
• Raised grain, splintering, or increased surface checking
• Mildew/algae that returns quickly after cleaning

Use the calculated date as a planning target, but let real-world inspection decide whether to move earlier or later.

Worked example

Suppose:

• Sun exposure S = 4 (mostly sun)
• Rainy days R = 90
• Last sealing date = 2024-05-15

Compute the interval:

• Baseline = 36 months
• Sun adjustment = 2 × (4 − 1) = 6 months
• Rain adjustment = 90 / 50 = 1.8 months
• I = 36 − 6 − 1.8 = 28.2 months

Rounded in practical use, this is roughly 28 months (about 2 years and 4 months). Add that to 2024-05-15 to get a target reseal date around 2026-09. If water stops beading earlier—especially on stair treads or south-facing boards—plan to reseal sooner.

How conditions change the schedule (comparison table)

Choosing the right product (quick guidance)

• Penetrating oil/semi-transparent stains tend to wear more gracefully and are often easier to maintain (clean and recoat) than thick film-forming finishes.
• Film-forming coatings (some paints and solid stains) can last, but when they fail they may peel—prep and recoating can be more labor-intensive.
• Horizontal surfaces (deck boards, stairs) usually need maintenance sooner than rails or posts because they hold water and take foot traffic.

Always follow the manufacturer’s prep and recoat guidance; product chemistry can change recommended intervals substantially.

Limitations & assumptions (important)

This planner intentionally simplifies reality to keep the inputs quick. Your true maintenance interval can be meaningfully different because it does not explicitly model:

• Wood species and age (pressure-treated pine vs cedar vs hardwoods like ipe)
• Previous coating type (clear sealer vs semi-transparent stain vs solid stain/paint)
• Prep quality (cleaning, sanding, stripping, and whether mildew was fully removed)
• Foot traffic and abrasion (pets, furniture movement, party use)
• Snow/ice, freeze–thaw cycles, de-icing salts, or salt air in coastal areas
• Drainage and design (board spacing, slope, shaded areas that stay damp)
• Microclimates (sprinklers, nearby pools/hot tubs, overhanging trees)

Use the calculated date as a planning reminder, and verify by inspecting the deck at least once per year (or twice per year in harsh climates). If you see widespread absorption, graying, or persistent mildew, reseal earlier even if the planner suggests waiting longer.