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Proper Maintenance for Treated Redwood |
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Proper maintenance is the single most important investment you can make in your enclosure or gazebo. Although we use an extremely durable, EPA-registered preservative, guaranteed to last up to two years without re-application, you will need to take the following steps in order to preserve the beauty and longevity of your purchase. Regular Maintenance - If water puddles around the bottom of your gazebo or enclosure, remove it. Standing water can cause mildew to form on the surface of the coating.
- Do not allow your wood to come in direct contact with dirt.
- Do not use a metal shovel to remove snow from the roof or other horizontal services. It can pierce the underlying coating and cause it to erode. If you have a metal roof, it will scratch the metal.
- Only use sodium chloride (Halite) types of salt on wood surfaces that have been coated with stain.
- Calcium chloride salts will reduce the effectiveness of the water-repellent coating.
Extractive Bleeding - Redwood contains naturally occurring, water-soluble chemicals that tend to migrate to the surface with exposure to agents such as water. If the wood is coated, discoloration of the coating may occur when tannin extractives are dissolved into the coating solution by water, reaching the surface and remaining as dark, coffee-brown stains after the water evaporates. This reddish-brown bleeding does not damage the coating.
Cleaning - NEVER use a pressure washer alone to clean wood, since the pressure needed to lift the top surface layer and accompanying stains will also gouge the surface, making it difficult to recoat.
- A solution of mild detergent (dishwashing liquid) and warm water will remove most dirt and leaf stains without affecting the coating.
- To help your gazebo or enclosure look its best, use this cleaning technique between maintenance coatings.
- A deck and fence brightener liquid concentrate can help to restore the surfaces of redwood that has been stained by extractive bleeding.
- Because Redwood contains natural tannin extractive that can produce dark-colored surface stains, it is sometimes best to use a commercial cleaner that contains oxalic acid if you want to remove these stains. Oxalic acid contains the strength needed to strip away the tannin bleed.
Recommended Wood Stain - Gazebo Works Too uses a water-based Redwood stain by Duckback Products which is available to manufacturers only. Duckback makes a compatible oil-based Redwood stain (#1903) you can use for restaining your gazebo. Contact Duckback for a dealer near you at 800-825-5382 or www.superdeck.com
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Care of your Gazebo 
