Ready Seal Deck Sealer - Deck Stain
Ready Seal Deck Sealer - Deck Stain
- Order Policies
- Item# 95011
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Ready Seal Deck Stain and Sealer - The Goof-Proof Finish Contractors Keep Reordering
Ready Seal is an oil-based, semi-transparent stain and sealer in one. It soaks into the wood instead of sitting on top of it, so it can't peel, crack, chip, or flake. That single difference is why it's the stain most deck restoration crews around Maryland run all season.
You don't need a primer. You don't need to back-brush. You don't need to keep a wet edge or watch the forecast. Stir it, spray it or roll it, and walk away. Most crews train a brand new hire on it in one morning.
In stock at our Gaithersburg showroom in 1 gallon cans and 5 gallon pails, 8 colors plus clear. Call (301) 519-9274 for pallet pricing.
Why Contractors Choose Ready Seal
- No temperature limits: Most premium oil sealers tell you not to apply below 54 degrees. Ready Seal has no temperature restriction, which can add weeks to the front and back of your season.
- Rain won't ruin it: You can stain right up until the drops start falling. A surprise shower minutes after application won't wreck the finish or the color.
- No lap marks, runs, or streaks: The formula self-blends. No wet-line application, no back-brushing, no painter's skill required.
- It never forms a film: The color lives inside the wood fiber. Scratch the surface and you won't see a mark.
- No stripping to recoat: Maintenance coats go right over the last coat of Ready Seal. Clean it, let it dry, and apply. That's what makes annual maintenance contracts profitable.
- Walk on it in about 15 minutes: No footprints. You can move furniture back the same day on most jobs.
- Paraffinic oil base: No linseed oil, no sugars or starches for mold and mildew to feed on. It also won't stain your hands.
- VOC compliant in all 50 states: Under 250 g/L. Ready Seal has never had to reformulate to meet VOC rules, which matters here, since Maryland restricts several competing oil stains.
- Eight colors plus clear: Soft, flat color with no sheen. It looks like wood, not like a coating.
How Much Ready Seal Do You Need?
Ready Seal publishes 125 to 175 square feet per gallon. Real-world coverage runs lower on thirsty wood, and dry, weathered pressure-treated pine can pull 100 square feet per gallon or less. The table below uses 125 sq ft/gal so you don't come up short mid-job.
| Deck floor size | Add rails, spindles, steps (+30%) | Buy this |
|---|---|---|
| 200 sq ft | 260 sq ft | 2 gallons |
| 300 sq ft | 390 sq ft | 3 gallons |
| 400 sq ft | 520 sq ft | 4 gallons |
| 500 sq ft | 650 sq ft | 1 pail (5 gal) |
| 600 sq ft | 780 sq ft | 1 pail + 2 gallons |
| 800 sq ft | 1,040 sq ft | 2 pails |
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,300 sq ft | 2 pails + 1 gallon |
Quick rule: deck floor square footage, plus 30% for railings and steps, divided by 125. Round up. New or heavily sanded wood drinks more on the first coat.
Want it worked out for your exact job, including fences and second coats? Run your numbers through the Ready Seal coverage calculator.
Colors
All eight pigmented colors are semi-transparent, so the grain and texture stay visible. Clear is available in the 5 gallon pail for customers who want protection with no color shift.
| Color | Best on |
|---|---|
| Natural Light Oak (105) | New cedar, light pine, customers who want subtle |
| Natural Cedar (112) | The safest all-around seller on treated pine |
| Pecan | Warm mid-brown, hides light graying |
| Dark Walnut (125) | Weathered decks that need the most color coverage |
| Mission Brown | Fences and privacy screens, low-contrast look |
| Burnt Hickory | Rustic red-brown, popular on cedar |
| Mahogany (130) | Rich red tone, strong curb appeal on front porches |
| Redwood | Classic warm red, matches redwood and cedar species |
| Clear (500 / 505) | Protection only, no added color |
Ready Seal always looks darkest the day you put it on. It settles to its true color over the following 14 days. Tell your customers that up front and you'll never get a callback about it.
Specs
| Type | Oil-based, semi-transparent penetrating stain and sealer in one |
| Oil base | Paraffinic, no linseed oil, no vegetable oil |
| Sizes | 1 gallon can, 5 gallon pail |
| Coverage | 125-175 sq ft per gallon (manufacturer); plan 100-125 on weathered wood |
| Sheen | Flat, no sheen |
| Application temp | No restriction, cooler temps extend dry time |
| Wood moisture required | 12% or less |
| Dry to touch | About 60 minutes; walk-on in about 15 minutes |
| Full absorption | 2-4 weeks depending on temperature and humidity |
| Primer / back-brushing | Not required |
| Tools | Airless or HVLP sprayer, pump-up sprayer, Deckster, roller, brush, pad |
| Cleanup | Mineral spirits |
| VOC | Under 250 g/L, compliant in all 50 states |
| Solids by weight | 81-85% |
| Solids by volume | 65-69% |
| Weight per gallon | Approximately 7.5 lbs |
| Suitable surfaces | Decks, fences, siding, pergolas, arbors, gazebos, log homes, outdoor furniture |
| Item # | 95012 |
How to Apply It
- Clean. Wash the wood with a deck cleaner. If there's an old film-forming stain or sealer on there, it has to come off. Strip it, then brighten.
- Dry. Wait 48 to 72 hours. Wood needs to be at 12% moisture or less. Sprinkle water on it: if it beads, wait longer. If it soaks in within 30 seconds, you're ready. On a big job, don't guess. A wood moisture meter settles it in a second.
- Protect. Cover plants and shrubs. Lay construction paper along the base of fences. Keep mineral spirits on the truck for overspray on brick or siding.
- Stir. Pull the lid and mix the pail thoroughly, then stir again during use. The pigment settles.
- Apply. Spray, roll, or brush. No primer, no thinning, no wet line, no back-brushing. Brush the first few feet next to the house before you start spraying.
- Second coat. Wait about an hour, then drop a few test spots on the wood. Wipe after 30 to 45 minutes. Clear oil means the pigment is in and the wood will take a second coat. Still see tint, wait longer.
- Recoat later. Clean, dry, apply. No stripping, no sanding.
Pro tip on tracking: Ready Seal stays oily on the surface for a few days on dense or over-applied wood. If a customer is worried about tracking oil indoors, wipe the deck down with a mineral-spirits-dampened mop to cut the excess. Don't over-apply in the first place and you'll rarely need to.
Ready Seal vs. Other Contractor-Grade Deck Stains
We sell what works, and we'll tell you where each product wins. Here's an honest comparison based on manufacturer data and published independent field testing.
| Product | Coverage (sq ft/gal) | Application window | Strip to recoat? | Color retention | MD VOC status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ready Seal | 125-175 stated; 100-125 typical | Any temperature, rain-tolerant within minutes | No | Manufacturer claims up to 5 yrs vertical; independent testing shows 9-18 months on full-sun horizontal decks | Compliant, under 250 g/L |
| TWP 1500 Series | 150-200 | Temp and rain restrictions apply | No | Strong UV package, generally 2-3 yrs | Compliant |
| TWP 100 Series | 100-150 | Temp and rain restrictions apply | Depends on formulation, some versions form a film | Long, but formulation varies by licensed manufacturer | Reported not compliant in Maryland, verify before you order |
| Armstrong Clark | 200-250 | Direct sun to 95F; 4-12 hr dry, 2 week cure | No | Strong, comparable to TWP 1500 | Compliant |
| Penofin | About 200 | Standard temp and rain restrictions | No | Strong mold and mildew resistance in humid climates | Varies by series |
| Olympic Maximum | About 150 | Standard temp and rain restrictions | Yes if a film has built up | Moderate | Compliant |
| Big-box DIY sealers | Varies | Tight temp and rain windows | Usually yes, most form a film | Short, and they peel | Compliant |
Where Ready Seal wins
Labor and schedule. No stripping on maintenance coats, no skilled applicator required, and no lost days waiting on a 54-degree morning or a 20% chance of rain. For a production crew, those saved days are worth more than a few extra square feet of coverage per gallon.
Where you might pick something else
If a horizontal deck sits in full southern sun all day and your customer wants three years between coats without a maintenance visit, TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark hold color longer. Independent field testing has shown Ready Seal losing most of its color on a full-sun pressure-treated pine deck by around the 14-month mark. Ready Seal is built around easy annual maintenance, not maximum time between coats. We stock alternatives, just ask.
The Contractor Math
Two things drive deck sealing profit: how many days you can work, and how long each job takes.
More working days. Most premium oil sealers warn against applying below 54 degrees or within 24 hours of rain. Ready Seal has neither restriction. In a typical Mid-Atlantic season, that's a meaningful number of days you can bill that your competitor can't.
Lower labor cost. No back-brushing, no wet line, no lap marks. A new hire can produce a professional finish on day one. You're paying labor rate, not painter rate.
Cheaper maintenance coats. Because it never films, you never strip. A maintenance visit is a wash, a dry, and a recoat. That's what makes annual contracts worth selling.
Cost per square foot at our pricing: a 5 gallon pail at $172.65 works out to $34.53 per gallon. At 125 sq ft/gal that's about $0.28 per square foot. Even at a conservative 100 sq ft/gal you're at $0.35. Compare that to $85-a-gallon premium stains and the gap is real.
What Customers Say About Sun Brite Supply
Verified Google reviews of our Gaithersburg store.
"I am a professional wood restoration contractor. In this field there are certain things that only certain people understand. At Sun Brite Supply they understand everything about anything that has to do with pressure washing and wood restoration."
Steven Mendez, wood restoration contractor
"I'm a BIG Fan of Sunbrite!! Great prices and the staff is always available to help with any questions. They also have the best deck cleaning product in the business!!"
Brandon Frye
"Friendly and knowledgeable Staff! They will assist in any way they can to help meet your needs and requests! This small business is a great example of how a business should be run."
Angel Salguero
Frequently Asked Questions
How much Ready Seal do I need for my deck?
Take your deck floor square footage, add 30% for railings, spindles, and steps, then divide by 125. Round up. A 400 square foot deck with railings needs about 4 gallons. The coverage calculator does it for you.
Do I have to strip the old finish first?
It depends what's on there. If the last coat was Ready Seal, no. Clean it, dry it, and recoat right over the top. If the wood has a film-forming stain, sealer, or paint on it, that has to be stripped and the wood brightened first. Ready Seal needs to reach bare wood fiber to work.
Can I apply it in cold weather or right before rain?
Yes to both. Ready Seal has no temperature restriction and tolerates rain within minutes of application. The one hard requirement is that the wood itself must be dry, 12% moisture content or less.
How long until we can walk on it?
About 15 minutes, with no footprints. Full absorption into the wood takes 2 to 4 weeks depending on weather.
Will Ready Seal peel or crack?
No. It penetrates instead of forming a surface film, so there's nothing to peel, chip, flake, or crack. It wears away gradually instead.
How long does the color last?
Vertical surfaces like fences and siding hold color far longer than a deck floor. The manufacturer claims up to five years on verticals. Horizontal decks in full sun are the hard case; independent field testing has shown significant fading between 9 and 18 months. Plan on an annual or every-other-year maintenance coat on sunny deck floors. Because there's no stripping, that recoat is cheap and fast.
Is Ready Seal legal to use in Maryland?
Yes. Ready Seal is under 250 g/L VOC and is compliant in all 50 states. Some competing oil stains are not sold in Maryland because of VOC limits, so check before you order those.
Can I use it on new pressure-treated lumber?
Yes, once the lumber has dried down. New pressure-treated wood from a lumberyard typically needs at least 30 days, and longer if it was still wet when installed. Test with the water-bead method before you stain.
What can I apply it with?
Airless sprayer, HVLP, pump-up sprayer, Deckster, roller, brush, or pad. No primer, no thinning, no back-brushing needed with any of them.
Ready Seal, TWP, or Armstrong Clark, which one?
Ready Seal if you want the fastest, most forgiving application, the widest weather window, and easy annual maintenance. TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark if the customer wants maximum time between coats on a full-sun deck and you're willing to work inside tighter application conditions. We carry options, call us and describe the job.
Does Ready Seal stain your hands?
No. It contains no linseed oil.
Buy Ready Seal in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Ready Seal is on the shelf at Sun Brite Supply of Maryland, 16620 Oakmont Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Pick up today or have it shipped. Pallet and volume pricing is available for contractors, call (301) 519-9274 and ask.
Pair it with a deck and wood cleaner and a sprayer for a complete wood restoration setup.
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