Finishes for Wood Decks Finishes for Wood Decks 10/5/1995 (PDF - 16kb)  A Factsheet from the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL). Lumber used in decks is usually pressure treated with a preservative, or the lumber used is a naturally durable wood such as redwood or western redcedar. Applying an additional finish to wood decks will minimize the problems of cracking, raised grain, and mildew growth. | 
