I used to seal my deck every couple years, but honestly, I’ve gone back to leaving it bare. Like you said, the sealer just seems to trap moisture sometimes and makes it harder to spot trouble. Last year, I found a rotten joist hiding under a spot that always looked perfect from above—guess the water was sneaking in at the seams. Now I poke around underneath with a screwdriver and give the whole thing a good bounce test. If it creaks or flexes more than usual, I know it’s time to look closer.
Now I poke around underneath with a screwdriver and give the whole thing a good bounce test. If it creaks or flexes more than usual, I know it’s time to look closer.
I get where you’re coming from—sometimes bare wood makes it easier to spot issues early. But I’ve seen decks left unsealed go soft way faster, especially in wet climates. Have you tried a breathable sealer? Some of the newer ones let moisture out but still block most water. Just curious if that might help with the rot problem without hiding trouble spots.