# Power washing, then sealing a deck.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-washing-then-sealing-a-deck/324793>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 4, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-washing-then-sealing-a-deck/324793 "2005-10-04T21:57:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-washing-then-sealing-a-deck/324793/1 "2005-10-04T21:57:22Z")

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My sister is having a contractor power-wash her deck, then seal it the next day. I was under the impression that power washed wood took a bit longer than that to dry. I’m basing this on a do-it-yourself book I read on painting wood siding on houses. The book says you should wait several _weeks_ before painting after pressure washing.

Is there a difference with the sealant typically used on a deck? Was the book being overly cautious? Should the contractor wait a bit before sealing?

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**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\
**Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-washing-then-sealing-a-deck/324793/2 "2005-10-04T23:53:45Z")

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FWIW, I have always heard that, and that is how I have always done it.

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**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/power-washing-then-sealing-a-deck/324793/3 "2005-10-05T00:05:39Z")

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Many of the new sealers may be applied the next day after a good power washing.