This post was updated on March 13, 2024
Best Clear Deck Sealer for Wood Decks in 2024: Expert Reviewed
Here at DeckStainHelp.com, we are proud of the fact that we are the Internet’s number one reference for your deck stain opinions and reviews. We thank you for your continued support. Clear deck sealers continue to be a great option for protecting your wood deck from water damage, but unfortunately, do not provide any protection against UV rays and graying/wood darkening. If you have used clear deck sealers, we would like to hear what you think, so feel free to leave a comment below and pictures of your completed projects if you have them.
Clear Deck Sealers and Stains for Exterior Wood
It is no secret that protecting a wood deck with a water-repellent sealer is vital to its integrity and lifespan. Clear deck sealers leave the wood looking natural which may appeal to the deck owner. Without a doubt, a natural-looking wood deck is a thing of beauty.
Deck sealers do give adequate water protection by locking out moisture. This is important to the wood’s lifespan. When water is absorbed into the wood it swells and when it dries up it shrinks. This continuous swelling and shrinking eventually begins to crack, split, and warp the wood. A clear wood sealer will stop this water damage from happening.
Another enemy to a wood deck is the sun. Harsh UV rays turn the wood fibers gray and also cause warping and splitting of the wood. The problem with clear deck sealers is that they lack the pigment to protect against sun damage. So although a clear deck sealer will give a deck great water protection it will not protect against sun damage.
This is without a doubt a huge disadvantage when using clear deck sealers. The best way to keep a natural look and give the wood deck both water and sun protection is to use a semi-transparent deck stain in a natural color. The wood grain is still allowed to show through and with only a little bit of tone or color a wood deck can still look very natural, yet the deck stain has enough pigment to give adequate sun protection.
Clear deck sealers can be very appealing to deck owners looking for water protection and to keep that “natural look” they are wanting. This comes at a risk to the wood deck because of the lack of sun protection. If you are looking for a natural-looking deck with both water and sun protection consider using a semi-transparent deck stain as opposed to a clear deck sealer.
Have A Question on the Best Clear Deck Sealer? Ask Below in Comment Area!
We just built a potting bench from treated pine fence panels. My wife painted some flowers on it, and we want to apply a clear sealer over the entire bench, including over the painted areas, What would you recommend for this project? Photo attached.
A clear sealer will not prevent UV graying and they cannot be applied over another coating like a paint or a stain. Unfortunately what you want to do will not work here. The only coating that can go over paint would be a varnish or poly and that means it will peel on exterior wood and is never suggested.
Thanks a lot for the information, Scott! We really appreciate it. I didn’t even consider that we wouldn’t be able to apply sealer over the paint, but it certainly makes sense now.
No problem!
Best clear deck preserver. Deck is in direct sun. Sanding old satin off.
You want the wood to gray naturally in months? https://www.deckstainhelp.com/will-a-clear-sealer-prevent-graying-on-deck/
We are installing a brand new pressure treated cedar looking deck. I read where you said it needs to have a tint to prevent it from graying( which I did not know) thank you! Can I seal right away or do I have to wait, and recommendations for what to use. I want to keep the color as long as I can.
Thank you.
If you want UV protection it has to be tinted and no, you cannot stain or seal new wood right away:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
We paid to have our deck stained last year; it appeared he applied too much. We complained and he “washed” the deck using a mild detergent and it didn’t help. He basically blamed us for the previous old stain that had already been pressure washed off. Walking on the deck, the stain still rubs off onto our shoes, so we nor guests can walk in and out. Looking for an idea that will seal the current floor stain so we can walk on it without tracking it back into the house. We hope to build a new deck in a couple of years, but would love to be able to walk on it again until then….. Ideas?
You cannot seal over a stain. The only way to fix is to remove all and start over. For help with removing, post some pics.
I have pine decking that I stained with a “Hunter” grey colour. What should I use to maintain protection without adding more stain, which will darken the colour?
You cannot add anything on top of a deck stain for added protection. Only more stain as needed.
I have a Mahogany porch floor that I sealed with Messmer’s UV Plus natural finish last year. I never liked the fact that is was flat/no sheen. They no not offer or recommend a satin or gloss finish because they peal and are slippery. I am ok risking this to a point for the better look. Is there a product I can put over the finish that I have that will give it more of a wet look?
You cannot add a gloss of any level to a deck surface. It will peel/blister and will create a huge mess to sand off and fix. The stain needs to be fully penetrating with no shine.
We used Rust-Oleum 10x deck restorer . It is peeling in some places after one year and we keep reapplying. The finish is very chalky and and any dirt sticks to it. The walk through areas are muddy and don’t rinse off. Can we apply a sealer to the paint that would help resist the dirt?
No. The only way to fix it is to fully sand it all off.
We have a new covered, screened, porch with a T&G larch floor in northern NY. We see all kinds of weather -30 with snow to 90 and humid Looking for a clear to very light stain with UV protection and good on bare feet. We love the natural color and don
t want it to gray but don
t want to add a lot of color. Any help you could give would be appreciated. thank youSee here about new wood: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/
Try Restore A Deck Stain in Natural after wait and prep.
We have an Ipe deck and cypress barn doors. We want to protect them from water damage, however we do want them to weather and turn gray. Your site says that clear sealers will accomplish this. Can you recommend the best sealers for this job?
Thanks, Ken
Clear sealers offer no UV protection from graying. They must be tinted: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
Try TWP or Restore A Deck Stains.
Hello,
The more I read the comments the more confused I get…and have spent hours trying to figure this out.. BUT…grateful to have found your site! We have a 1000 sq ft deck (oh my) and a patio cover that get sun the whole day. I sealed it last year with Super Deck which seems to have barely done anything. After reading reviews it seems the $20/gal vs $60/gal gets the same comments…that I will have to re-do this in a year. I have learned here I to pick a stain so that is new but helpful. I got a LOT of staining to do. So first I need to pressure wash the deck? Then stain it and then seal it?????? Thank you!!! From a mom of three that can’t spend any more time reading about deck sealers lol.
A quality deck stain will last 2-3 years. Prep by removing the prior coating and then use a semi-transparent stain after:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
You do not apply a sealer over a deck stain.
I have a cedar tinted at factory pressure treated wood deck which is three years old and ready for its first sealer treatment.
I would like to use a clear stain, but I have read that clear stains lacks pigment to prevent sun (UV) rays from long term damage to wood. Since my wood deck already has a stain should I still use a tinted semi transparent stain or would a clear stain be OK?
You want a semi-transparent stain after prep.
I have left over Defy Extreme stain that is probably 5 years old. I stirred the product and it still appears good. I have sanded the deck and plan to use this if age is not an issue. Does the Defy Extreme product lose its effectiveness over time?
Thanks
it should be fine as long as it mixes evenly and is not clumpy.
What’s the best option sealer or stain ? If the wood is iroko and there is snow for a few months of the year, then rain then high temperature 20-30c dry months with sun most of the day?
Look at one of these hardwood stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/ipe-exotic-hardwood-stain-review/
want to seal exterior glu lams
Hat is the best wood sealer (no pigment) to let wood grey naturally while resisting water?
Defy Extreme Clear or TWP 1500 Series in Clear.
We are almost done sanding off the Behr deck over we put on a few years ago. I was planning to use clear sealer (Thompson’s water seal), but read your article about its lack of UV protection. If I use a semi transparent stain, I would prefer a lighter color, but does a darker color provide better UV protection?
Yes, darker colors typically give better UV protection. Look at one of these brands:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
What are your recommended deck sealer brands?
Best to use semi-transparent stains unless you want the wood to gray natrually:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/
What about for a dock? Sorry I miss wrote my initial question. Thx!
Restore a Deck in Natural or TWP in Honeytone colors.
What brand do you recommend for a new deck that will maintain the natural look of the wood while waterproofing and protecting from sun damage
You must have a tinted stain for UV protection. See here about new wood on how to prep and what to use: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/
Can a clear sealer be used over a semi transparent stain? Is it recommended?
I have a black butt deck that’s gone grey naturally I’m wanting a product that will seal and protect the grey?
You cannot seal in the gray as you would have to prep it first and this would remove the graying. You can then use a clear sealer that will allow the wood to naturally gray again over time.
I understand that a clear treatment has less UV protection. Although I am trying to get the full TRUE colors of the hand selected cedar boards used on the deck. I have tried 2 different ‘clear’ wood protectors. Both left the wood YELLOW😳. Cedar has beautiful reds and whites which is what I want. I am willing to treat the deck every season to help protect it from the sun. Would that be enough to protect it so we can go ahead with a true ‘clear’ seal?
A true clear sealer has no UV protection. The ones you tested were not true clear sealers but lightly tinted. What you want to do is not possible. It has to be tinted to protect from graying otherwise it will gray in months.
Want to stain/seal cedar porches. What is the best product for uv protection and preserving the beauty of the wood.
Penetrating semi-transparent stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews-2020/
I am putting new redwood 2 x2 on the top of of a deck overhang. The structure is painted white (just finished) but The redwood I have is so beautiful I want to just use natural clear on it. What is my best choice
A clear will not provide UV protection. It needs to be tinted: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews-2020/
Hi there, I’m doing a cedar T&G cabin restoration and I’m looking for a clear coat that will not darken the wood. My client had a mold problem due to no ventilation, humid climate & no circulation. My plan is to run A/C ducting along the peak of the ceiling and add fans to correct the problem and prevent it from happening again. My clients love the look of the natural cedar, they want to keep this look but every transparent product I’ve tested so far darkens it. She also wants a gloss on the ceilings and flat on the walls which is basically asking for the impossible to have a variation in the colors but keep the natural Cedar look. Does anyone have any experience using a clear or water based transparent product that has had success with this? Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated!
We do not work with or have experience with interior coatings that have any level of shine/gloss to them. Completely different products then outside coatings that have no shine at all.
my deck is painted – can I put a sealer ontop of this to make the paint last longer?
No.
why not?
It will not soak in, dry correctly, and will peel. You can never top coat a deck stain or paint with a sealer.
Thanks. Not the answer I was hoping for though! We have our deck “stained” with a Valspar product 2 months ago and it is molding/mildewing badly. I was hoping a sealer would help. Valspar says there is nothing they can do and that it is normal. Also not the answer I was looking for!
Valspar makes very poor deck stains: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/valspar-one-coat-stain-sealer-review/
Thanks. I guess it’s just something we are going to have to live with.