As a homeowner, keeping your outdoor wooden deck looking its best often means applying a protective sealant. When it’s time to choose a sealant for your deck, two popular options are Seal Smart and PermaSeal. But which one is the better choice?
Let’s take an in-depth look at how these two sealants compare.
Key Differences At-a-Glance
| Aspects | Seal Smart | PermaSeal |
| Durability | Up to 5 years | Up to 4 years with reapplication |
| UV Protection | Strong, fade resistant | Decent UV protection |
| Water Protection | Excellent water repellency | Very effective water repellency |
| Application | Single coat, fast drying | Two coat application process |
| Price Per Gallon | $$ Moderate | $ Lower cost |
| VOC Levels | Low VOCs | Higher VOCs |
| Texture | Enhances wood grain | Mild glossy finish |
Now that we’ve seen some of the key differences summarized, let’s dive into the details of each sealant’s features and performance.
Key Differences Between Seal Smart And PermaSeal
- Durability and Longevity
One of the most important considerations when purchasing any deck sealant product is its durability and longevity.
You don’t want to have to reapply a sealant every year or two – the process can be messy and time consuming.
Seal Smart offers exceptional durability, with a single application lasting for up to 5 years before needing to reapply.
Its polymers form a strong protective bond with the wood that stands up well to foot traffic, weathering effects, and UV damage over time.
With PermaSeal, you can expect around 4 years of performance per application according to the manufacturer. Although very durable initially, PermaSeal may show signs of wear sooner than Seal Smart in terms of fading, peeling, and loss of water protection.
But with minor upkeep and a new coat every few years, PermaSeal will reliably protect and spruce up your deck.
If maximizing years between reapplication is your priority, Seal Smart is the longest-lasting option. But PermaSeal still offers respectable longevity at a lower price point while getting the job done.
- UV and Fade Protection
Long term sun and UV exposure can really do a number on outdoor wood, causing discoloration, fading to gray, splits and cracks from drying out, and growth of mold or mildew. A deck sealant’s UV protection abilities play a big role in maintaining your deck’s vibrant look.
Here Seal Smart shines thanks to proprietary polymers that strongly block UV rays across the light spectrum.
Even 5 years later, your deck will look much closer to its original rich wood tones.
The product is meant to lock in color and enrich hues over time.
PermaSeal does incorporate UV stabilizers, but reviewers do report the sealant allowing some visible fading and color shift after a couple years of sun exposure.
But a fresh coat brings the vibrancy back. For more colorfast performance, Seal Smart has the edge.
- Weather and Water Protection
Beyond UV rays, outdoor decks also have to withstand precipitation, humidity, drying winds, temperature swings, and other weather. A quality sealant forms a protective barrier against water penetration and associated wood rot and decay, while limiting dimensional changes in the boards.
Both Seal Smart and PermaSeal excel when it comes to water protection for your decking materials. Consumer tests showed nearly impenetrable water resistance even under heavy simulated rainfall.
Any type of wood deck will benefit from excellent water beading and repellency abilities using either product.
Seal Smart offers enhanced durability and stability during weather shifts with patented polymer technology designed to reduce wood expansion and contraction. But both products will reliably protect your underlying deck boards.
- Application Process
When prepping and sealing your entire deck area, the amount of physical labor involved depends heavily on the application requirements of the product.
Some key factors are number of coats needed, drying times, preparation work, and cleanup.
Seal Smart manages to provide outstanding durability and protection with just a single coat application.
After proper deck cleaning and surface preparation, simply apply Seal Smart with a brush or sprayer according to label directions.
Fast drying times also allow for simple cleanup or immediate use of your deck after sealing.
With PermaSeal, expect to apply two coats spaced several hours apart for complete coverage and protection according to manufacturer guidelines. Optimal performance does require careful prep work and patience during the application process.
But PermaSeal may involve less upfront mixing compared to some 2-part sealant products.
For ease of application, Seal Smart wins out with a simple single coat process you can tackle in just an afternoon. But PermaSeal may be a good option if concerned about brush marks or desire a very smooth sealed finish.
- Cost and Affordability
You’ll also want to weigh the added protection and durability of deck sealants vs their price tag. In total cost, you have to account for the upfront expense per gallon, total gallons needed to complete your project, anticipated longevity before reapplying, and periodic maintenance costs.
PermaSeal tends to retail between $25 to $40 per gallon, making it very competitively priced vs other major brands. Seal Smart costs a bit more per gallon – roughly $45 to $60 depending on your local retailer.
But because Seal Smart often lasts nearly 25% longer between reapplication, it works out to be very cost effective in the longer term. Resealing your average 500 sq ft deck with SealSmart may only need to happen once every 5 years at about $250 per application.
Both products ultimately provide good value. But Seal Smart’s outstanding longevity gives it the overall price advantage in the long run.
- VOC Levels
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in sealants and paints can be problematic when they evaporate into the air. Exposure to high VOC levels may cause headaches, nausea, or other health issues for certain sensitive individuals.
Seal Smart boasts an ultra low VOC formula meeting the most stringent state regulations. Even with newly sealed decks, smell or off-gassing is minimal. This makes application safer and general use of your deck more pleasant after sealing is complete.
Comparatively, PermaSeal does contain higher VOCs. Consumers do report noticing stronger odors during application, though these dissipate substantially over the first couple weeks. Those sensitive to chemicals may prefer Seal Smart, but PermaSeal meets federal guidelines.
- Appearance and Finish
Beyond just protection, deck sealants also influence the appearance and aesthetic look of your deck.
Factors like gloss level, texture enhancement, and color impact should be considered when choosing a product.
Seal Smart provides a very natural, low gloss wood appearance after sealing.
Special polymers help bring out the depth of wood grain patterns for a rich effect. The minimal shine lets the natural beauty of the deck boards take center stage.
With PermaSeal you can expect a bit more surface sheen – some describe it as a satin or mild gloss. This offers a subtle visual cue of a protective barrier on top of your deck boards. The finish is smooth and consistent.
Both sealants effectively refresh and beautify weathered decks. Seal Smart offers very natural wood texture, while PermaSeal has some nice shine. Consider your deck’s location and sun exposure when envisioning the ideal post-seal appearance.
Sealant Comparison FAQs
Based on durability, water protection, and UV resistance – Seal Smart stands out as one of the best deck sealants available. While PermaSeal also performs very well, Seal Smart lasts longer between reapplication and provides exceptional preservation of wood texture and color over time.
Yes, PermaSeal has an excellent reputation amongst homeowners for manufacturing quality deck sealant products that protect and beautify at affordable prices. Their products are sold widely at popular retailers across North America. While PermaSeal may require reapplication more often than leading competitor Seal Smart, it remains a trusted brand.
You can expect around 4 years of protection from one application of Perma Seal. Harsh weather and sun exposure may shorten effective lifespan to 3 years before signs of wear appear. But properly prepping surfaces and reapplying every few years ensures continued waterproofing and UV protection.
Of the major deck sealant brands, Seal Smart protects wood decking the longest based on weather testing and consumer reports. Expect around 5 years before a refreshed application is needed. Seal Smart’s proprietary polymers form tenacious bonds with wood to actively resist breakdown from sun, rain, snow and foot traffic over time.
Final Thoughts
When weighing Seal Smart vs. PermaSeal, both deliver excellent restoration for worn, gray wood decks and provide complete waterproofing. Seal Smart lasts longer between recoatings and excels at color preservation.
But PermaSeal costs less per application, produces a higher shine finish, and remains a great value choice backed by years of positive customer feedback.
Ultimately, assess the long-term cost factoring your unique climate conditions and maintenance habits. Both Seal Smart and PermaSeal will beautifully revive your outdoor living space. With protective barrier renewal every 4-5 years, you can expect decades of enjoyment on your sealed wood deck.