Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? Check the FAQs below for the answer! If you can't find the information you're looking for, please contact us.
PREPARATION QUESTIONS
- Surface must be clean of mildew, dust, dirt, oil and grease.
- Ready Seal recommends applying one part bleach and three parts water.
- All previous stains and sealers must be completely removed.
- Caustic strippers must be neutralized thoroughly.
- Rinse thoroughly with water. Before staining, wood must dry completely for 48 hours or more depending on weather conditions.
- Protect against overspray and cover all plants and vegetation with plastic drop cloth before applying Ready Seal.
- Take special precautions when working around porous stone and concrete surfaces, Ready Seal is a penetrating stain, and will do so on any porous surface.
- Pressure washing must be done with special care, so that no damage to the wood surface occurs.
- Pressure washing is best used in combination with a wood cleaning mixture or chemical.
- Use no more than 1500psi if possible
- Start the widest angled tip available and with at least 18 inches of space between your nozzle and the substrate you are power washing, to gauge the effect you will have on the wood. Adjust accordingly.
- Sanding can actually close the pores of the wood, making it more difficult for Ready Seal to penetrate in. We don't recommend it, but if you absolutely have to sand, use 60 or 80 grit, and then clean the surface prior to staining. A light bleach water solution used to clean the wood after sanding can help open open up those pores a bit. Make sure you rinse well and dry completely before staining. Note- you may only get one light coat of product to go into the wood after sanding.
- In some instances, sanding the wood to much may lead to water soluble extractive compounds in the wood itself to leach to the surface causing discolorations.
- The California Redwood Association recommends cleaning redwood lumber with 1 cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) 1 cup household bleach mixed with one gallon of water. Apply the mixture and scrub with a stiff bristle brush, and rinse thoroughly.
- Use an oxalic acid brightener after cleaning to remove discolorations caused by extractive bleeding.
- Sprinkler marks are best avoided by correcting the problem before marks or “halos” begin to show. Adjust all sprinkler heads away from fences or any exterior wood project.
- Daily or bi-daily contact from sprinklers causes wood to age prematurely. It’s as though only certain parts of your project are being rained on and weathered more frequently than the remainder of your project.
- Water from sprinklers and hoses also contain higher levels of minerals and chlorines than rain water, sometimes leaving white rings on fences.
- The only solution for fixing sprinkler marks is to scrub thoroughly with bleach, soap and water solution and possible a wood brightener agent. Allow the wood to dry for a minimum of 48 hours.
- When applying stain, spray or apply to the sprinkler marks first and then coat the rest of the project according to the 2 light coats instructions.
- This means 3 coats on the sprinkler marked areas, and 2 coats on the rest of the project.
- Ready Seal recommends a 12% moisture or less in all wood species and projects to be stained.
- Moisture content can be measured using an electronic moisture meter.
New Cedar: 2-4 week dry time depending on temperature, porosity of surface, humidity and geographic location, to adequately absorb coatings of Ready Seal.
New Pine, Spruce or Fir: 1-3 week dry time, depending on temperature, porosity of surface, humidity and geographic location, to adequately absorb coatings of Ready Seal.
New Pressure Treated lumber: Minimum of 1 month dry time and recommended 2-3 month aging time depending on temperature, porosity of surface, humidity and geographic location, to adequately absorb coatings of Ready Seal.
- Due to differences in wood grain, age and porosity, color variances will be noticed in new boards vs. old boards.
- Older wood appears darker in color because it absorbs more stain.
- New wood tends to be lighter in color.
- Different species of wood also accept stain differently; always test in an inconspicuous area to test for desired color.
MAINTENANCE QUESTIONS
- To properly maintain wood, a light cleaning and recoat are recommended every 2 years on horizontal surfaces and every 3 to 4 years on vertical surfaces.
- Some hardwoods, such as Ipe, Garapa or Tiger Wood may need reapplication yearly. These extremely dense hardwoods do not readily soak up sufficient amounts of stain.
- Surface must be clean of mildew, dust, dirt, oil and grease.
- Ready Seal recommends applying one part bleach and one part water to the wood to be cleaned. If needed agitate with a stiff bristle brush. Rinse thoroughly with water two times and allow 48-72 hours of drying time before reapplying
Ready Seal will bead water initially, but is designed to disperse water over a larger area for quicker drying. The water is not penetrating the wood.
No, Ready Seal may be applied over existing coatings of Ready Seal with no complications.
Ready Seal contains mold, mildew and algae inhibitors; however certain strands may be more resilient to these inhibitors.
- The surface may not have been cleaned thoroughly prior to application.
- Very high moisture content may exist
- Try to redirect any rain run-off or pools of water that may exist in the problem area.
- Inadequate air flow may also be a problem.
Clean the surface heavily with bleach and water and allow a thorough dry time, and recoat. If issue persists, contact Ready Seal Incorporated at 1-888-STAIN-4U
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Ready Seal has been manufacturing quality products since 1992. We are located in Weatherford, Texas.
There are no temperature restrictions for applying Ready Seal. The main requirement is to make sure the wood is clean and very dry with a moisture content of 12% or less (use a wood moisture meter to determine if you are unsure). As long as that is the case, Ready Seal can be applied in any temperature. Make sure to follow our other wood preparation recommendations, including removing the lid and stirring the product well before applying.
*Note- while application can be done in any temperature, please do not store the product in a garage, shed, or any location where the temperatures are very hot or very cold, as this prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures could cause a permanent separation of oils and pigments.
Ready Seal is VOC Compliant and contains less than 250 Grams/Liter of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC). - Dispose of According to Local, State and Federal Laws.
- Ready Seal’s life expectancy is 1-3 yrs on horizontal surfaces, and 3-5 years on vertical surfaces.
- Horizontal surfaces are subject to higher exposure levels of sunlight, weather and foot traffic, therefore longevity is shorter than vertical surfaces.
- To properly maintain wood, a light cleaning and recoat are recommended every 2 years on horizontal surfaces and every 3 to 4 years on vertical surfaces.
- Clear finishes contain no UV protection; they allow damaging UV rays to pass through to the wood unchecked, degrading the wood’s surface. The wood soon sloughs off that damaged top layer of cells, taking the finish with it.
- All Ready Seal colors contain trans-oxide pigments. Transoxide pigments have exceptional UV radiation absorption, providing exceptional protection to wood surfaces.
- Ready Seal is designed for exterior use only.
- If Ready Seal is to be used for interior use, it is recommended to provide proper ventilation during and after application.
- After application, we recommended wiping the entire surface that Ready Seal was applied to, with a clean rag dampened with Mineral Spirits to remove oil residue.
- It is recommended that any interior surface sealed with Ready Seal be top coated with a clear varnish or polyurethane film-forming coating.
- *This is NEVER recommended for exterior projects. Interior coatings are not subject to outside elements and therefore will not require the maintenance and reapplication of an exterior surface.
Smooth cut lumber generally stains lighter in color than rough cut boards. Rough cut lumber also generally requires more stain per square foot than smooth cut lumber.
- Ready Seal does not create custom colors or special mixes.
- If desired, Ready Seal colors may be mixed together to form a custom color. All colors and pigments are compatible.
- Because recreating a custom color mix for maintenance purposes may be difficult, it is recommended to record mixing ratios and colors for future reference.
- It is recommended to keep all pets and animals away from any sealed surfaces until they are adequately dried.
- Ready Seal is safe to use in barns and stables. If your animal chews on wood sealed with Ready Seal contact your veterinarian.
- An unopened can or bucket of Ready Seal has an average shelf life of 1 ½ to 2 years.
- Any opened but unused product should be placed into the smallest container possible to minimize excess air/oxygen contact.
- Store Ready Seal in a cool, dry place. Avoid drastic changes in temperature or direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time.
- Ready Seal is a unique mixture, incompatible with most other coatings.
- It is not recommended to mix Ready Seal with other stains or coatings.
- Painting or staining over Ready Seal with other coatings is not recommended and may cause reapplication to be difficult.
- Applying Ready Seal over existing stains or paints is not recommended. Ready Seal needs a clean, bare wood surface for optimal penetration and adhesion.
You need to take a large pair of pliers and pry off. Watch this video to see the process. Removal of Plastic Locking Ring
- Ready Seal ships several thousand buckets all over the United States. To protect against damage or loss in shipping, we use a very sturdy lid on our 5 gallon buckets. This lid is not easily removed.
- The best method is to use a bucket lid remover tool and pry up each tab.
Ready Seal does not contain any chemical designed to kill or repel any form of insects.
ACCIDENTS AND SPILLS
- While Ready Seal is still wet, soak or wipe with mineral spirits or paint thinner.
- These following products are readily available at your local home store and have proven effective in removing Ready Seal overspray from most smooth surfaces.
- Simple Green, Purple Power, Scrubbing Bubbles, Greased Lightning.
Metal Poles are best cleaned with a rag and mineral spirits before the stain has had time to dry. We suggest cleaning poles within 45 minutes of being sprayed with Ready Seal.
- Try to remove the stain as soon as the incident occurs by soaking with mineral spirits.
- If the stain was allowed to dry, apply one of the following products found readily available at your local home or automotive store.
- Simple Green, Purple Power, Scrubbing Bubbles, Greased Lightning,
- Apply the product to the surface; agitate heavily with a stiff bristle brush. Allow 5 minutes soaking time, and then pour a small amount of Oil Dry or other absorbent material over the stain. Allow the liquid to absorb for several minutes and sweep away the granules. Repeat as necessary.
- If caught while the stain is wet, soap and water will remove most of the overspray.
- If the overspray has had time to dry and, try applying and washing the vehicle surface with car wash soap.
- If the overspray still cannot be removed, choose an appropriate rubbing compound or wax and apply per manufacturer’s instructions.
- Always take extra precautions to guard the water from overspray, drips or spills.
- Because the oil in Ready seal is lighter than water, it will float on the surface. Use a pool/spa or pond cleaning device call “Scum Balls” or a product that is similar. These products float around on the water’s surface and absorb oils.
- Protect vegetation against overspray and cover all plants before applying Ready Seal.
- Light overspray may not kill grass or plants, but yellowing/browning may occur. Heavy overspray and spills can kill vegetation.