I've had mixed luck with UV sealants myself. Prep definitely matters—last year I rushed the sanding and cleaning step (lesson learned, lol), and the sealant started peeling by spring. This year, took my time, and it's holding up way better...so far anyway.
Good points about prep work—I've been researching this myself since I'm tackling porch sealing for the first time next weekend. From what I've gathered:
- Thorough sanding and cleaning seem crucial. Most guides stress that skipping or rushing these steps leads to peeling or uneven finishes.
- Weather conditions during application matter too—humidity and temperature can affect adhesion significantly.
- I've also read mixed reviews on UV sealants; some swear by them, others have had similar peeling issues.
Your experience confirms a lot of what I've seen. Glad to hear taking your time paid off this year...gives me hope that patience actually makes a difference, haha. Thanks for sharing your trial-and-error—it helps newbies like me feel a bit more prepared and less intimidated by the whole process.
Totally agree about the prep work—it's tedious but worth it. One thing I'd add from personal experience: don't underestimate drying times between coats. I rushed it once because the weather forecast looked sketchy, and ended up with a sticky porch for days...not fun. Also, about UV sealants—I've had decent luck, but honestly, shade and foot traffic seem to matter more than the sealant itself. Good luck with your porch project; patience really is key, unfortunately, haha.
Couldn't agree more about drying times—I've seen so many porch projects turn into sticky nightmares because folks rushed between coats. One client insisted we hurry due to an upcoming barbecue, and let's just say their guests left with some unexpected souvenirs stuck to their shoes...lesson learned. You're spot-on about shade too; UV sealants help, but nothing beats a bit of natural shade or even rearranging furniture occasionally to spread out foot traffic. Sounds like you're on the right track, patience definitely pays off in the end.
Good points about rearranging furniture—it's surprising how much difference that makes. I had a property once where the porch got uneven sun exposure, and the finish wore down noticeably faster in high-traffic, sunny spots. Rotating chairs and tables every few weeks really helped even out the wear. Also, if you're dealing with sticky finishes, I've found that adding a bit more drying time than the product recommends can save headaches later...manufacturers tend to be a bit optimistic with their estimates.
