We get lots of similar questions from our customers, so we’ve taken a minute to address a few of the most common ones. Please contact us anytime with additional questions about Encore.

In several cost comparisons, we have determined that Encore will save you between 64% and 86% over the cost of replacement. For example, if you have a $10,000 bid to replace your deck, you can resurface it for about $2,200. Add in the fact that your deck is only out of service for a morning compared to several days and realize additional savings and benefits.
Where deck stains and sealers are designed to penetrate wood, Encore for Wood is designed to “resurface” it. The Encore formula is designed to migrate deeply into checks and splits in the wood, completely sealing them and protecting the wood from inclement weather. Encore will also lock down splinters – something stains and sealers can’t do. Finally, Encore leaves behind a safe, skid-resistant surface. All in all, Encore is in a different class than sealers and stains because Encore is a high-build resurfacing agent.
Over fifty years of experience backs the Encore formulas. You may find knock-offs of Encore because of its remarkable industry potential, but you won’t find the depth of technical expertise and support that you’ll find backing the Encore brand. We encourage you to survey potential suppliers in regard to their specific experience in the area of coating development. It’s how we emerge as the clear choice.
Simply pick up a gallon of semi-gloss acrylic/latex paint (Note: do not use paint that contains primer) in your color choice and mix it into the Encore kit. It’s that easy! Your deck will dry to that color.
Immediately applying Encore to newly installed treated lumber is not recommended because of the unusually high moisture content in newly treated lumber.  New pressure treated lumber must be given time to allow moisture (caused in the wood treating process) to escape, allowing the lumber to shrink to it’s final dimension.  Only then should you apply a stain, sealer, or product like Encore.   We recommend that you wait a minimum of 60 days before attempting to apply Encore on new pressure treated lumber. Other types of lumber, such as cedar and redwood are not pressure treated and have better dimensional stability, allowing application of a coating to occur within the first 30 days.

Replace structurally unfit fasteners and reseat loose ones. If you have rusted nails or fasteners on the deck, do not coat over them until you have properly dealt with them using a primer, neutralizer, or converter.  For this purpose, we recommend RustOx or our RustOx Prep Primer.  We have seen many homeowner fret when rust still bleeds through after they’ve used products found at big home centers.  Unfortunately, they work on a random basis.  RustOx was developed by Encore after years of exploratory R&D to develop a dependable solution to treating rusted surfaces.  Learn more about RustOx.

Also, keep in mind that if you have sanded or abraded the deck surface, you may have removed valuable galvanization or coating that was protecting the fasteners.  If this is the case, treat those fasteners as well in order to prevent them from rusting.

Decks that have been previously stained or sealed must be tested to insure they can absorb a new deck treatment.  If existing stains or sealers have water repellency, then Encore will be repelled and will simply “film build”.  Coating wood in this condition is not recommended.

Test your deck to see if it’s ready for Encore by pouring small amounts of water in various areas of the deck.  If the water beads or sits on the surface, then you should use a deck cleaner and a product like oxalic acid to break the sealer down. If water is absorbed by the wood, then the efficacy of the sealer is nil and you’re ready to go to the next step.

The deck surface must be clean and free from any loose material like old paint or stain. For best results, clean your wood deck with Encore’s A to Z Concentrated Cleaner and pressure wash.  Allow to dry. (Allow 48 hours of dry weather prior to application and never apply within 8 hours of expected rainfall.) If the surface is currently painted, make sure glossy surfaces are dull, abraded, and clean. We also recommend that you use Encore Pretreat, a specially designed micronized polymer primer that’s easy to apply. Pretreat penetrates into the wood and increases its dimensional stability. Pretreat greatly enhances the adhesion properties of the Encore coating, ensuring that you get maximum life from your investment.

Once you’ve decided on the color and you have your paint, you’re ready to start. You’ll need a drill and mixing attachment to properly mix. When you open the pail, you will find instructions, a jug of resin, and a bag of organic dry mix. Remove them and set them aside. Empty the wet resin (contained in the black 1-gallon pail) into the 5-gallon pail. Add your paint (which you purchase at a local paint store) and mix. Then add the dry organics that are contained in the poly bag. Mix aggressively for several minutes, ensuring that the dry organics are completely separated and thoroughly mixed in the container. You’re ready to start applying!  If you have any questions, a QR code on the printed instructions will take you to more information on our website.

Encore is applied with ordinary paint tools. For best results, we recommend the use of a 3/8″ to 1/2″ nap paint roller.

Note:  The proper application of two sufficient coats is extremely important to the success of your coating!  Follow these instructions carefully.

We highly recommend the use of Encore Pretreat prior to the application of the Encore coating.  We have found that the expense of Pretreat is offset by additional coverage of Encore attained by using Pretreat. Follow the instructions and apply Pretreat.  While Pretreat is still damp on the surface, it’s time to apply the first coat of Encore.

The cut-in process:  Apply Pretreat to the cut-in area (along home siding, vertical railing, etc.) and apply a heavy one coat of Encore while Pretreat is still damp.  Feather the leading edge of the cut in to avoid lap marks.

“Applying between the boards”:  In order to produce a favorably aesthetic result, you may consider using a brush to cut-in between the deck boards.  Depending on the spacing between the boards, you may be able to use the leading edge of a paint roller to obtain the same result as a brush. Allow to dry and you’re ready to proceed to the application of the first coat.

First coat (the repair coat):  This should be a particularly heavy coat.  Work the coating into cracks, completely filling them.  Applying the coating, rolling it perpendicular to the wood grain, has been found to be the most effective way to apply the repair coat.  Allow the coating to dry.

Second coat (the finish coat): The finish coat should be applied in the direction of the wood grain. When applying the second coat, avoid overlapping, which would create lines in the finish coat.  Since Encore begins curing the moment it’s applied, don’t roll back over the coating too often once it’s down. Doing so could cause the “skin coat” to tear and effect the final texture. The finish coat should be applied as soon as the repair coat is dry.  The finish coat should be about 80-90% as heavy as the repair coat.

Encore can be applied in temperatures between 38-90 degrees F. Do not apply Encore on damp wood.  Decks that have been pressure washed or rained on should be given at least 48 hours to dry before applying Encore. Do not apply Encore with rainfall in the 8-hour local forecast.
Drying time will depend on weather conditions. Encore has the “Best In Class” Dry & Recoat Time with 30 minutes.  Encore dries faster in warm, dry weather. Here are two examples of drying time: (1) Sunny day, 85-90 degrees F with 30% humidity will yield a dry time of approximately 8 minutes. (2) Overcast day, 65 degrees F, with 70% humidity will yield a dry time of approximately 18 minutes.
If you have material left over, we suggest that you apply a third coat to high traffic areas, especially steps. Otherwise, seal and store the remainder of material in the smallest container possible in a dry cool area.  Encore’s advertised shelf life of an activated kit is 14 days.  However, depending on your area’s climate and how you’ve stored it, the contents could remain stable much longer.  In some cases, we’ve seen material remain stable for one year – and counting.
Use your best judgment. You can begin walking (light use) on the deck within 8 hours of it being completely dry. You can move furniture back onto the deck and put it back in service 24 hours of it being completely dry.

You can clean an Encore deck with green-friendly cleaners.  Most of these cleaners only require that you spray it on and allow it to work.  Dirt and grime will typically rinse off fairly easily.  Encore manufactures two different cleaners that will do a great job.  If you have tannin stains or mold on your deck, we recommend the MiracleMist System.

Encore affords benefits that are not normally found with other deck maintenance products. Here are a few important ones:

– Encore is a permanent solution to deck maintenance.  Apply Encore and start enjoying your deck again!

– Encore is fire resistant. We have had accounts of coals and embers landing on an Encore deck and smoldering until they went out, never affecting the coating, much less burning down the deck.

– Encore encapsulates harmful preservatives that are used to treat lumber. This is important to those who have pets that lay on the deck or those who enjoy lounging on their deck with bare feet.

– Encore is a VOC-friendly, water-based formula which makes it one of the most environmentally-friendly products ever made for wood and concrete.

pool-deck-e1392950001934Perhaps the biggest difference is the fact that Cool™ doesn’t rely on a textured profile to stay cool.  Instead, Cool™ relies on its unique formulation.  Most pool deck coatings fall into a category called “profile” coatings. Profile coatings rely on their profile of crevices and cavities to reduce the surface area that your feet come into contact with.  Not only do profile coatings get hot, they chip, they require lots of maintenance, and they’re very hard to keep clean.

Cool™ is a polar opposite of these coatings – and that’s why pool owners love Cool™.

No. Cool™ is unique because it’s everything we want in a pool coating. It’s easy to apply. It’s applied with ordinary paint equipment – anyone can apply it.  It’s environmentally-friendly.  It can repair damaged concrete.  It’s available in any color. It’s safe (ADA compliant). It’s comfortable.  It’s sanitary.  It’s easy to clean.  It stays cool.  It’s the most affordable pool deck coating on the market and, at the end of the day, it’s backed by the best warranty in the business.  So, no.  No other coating on the market compares to Cool™.
Yes.  Cool’s state-of-the-art technology makes an excellent overlayment for knock-down finishes. Knock-down finishes often lose their ability to cool after they’ve been resurfaced, making them a “one-generation” solution in terms of heat abatement.  Cool™ is the only known overlayment for knock-down finishes that continues to keep the surface cool, changing knock-down finishes from a one-generation to a multi-generational solution.

Remove any loose material from the knock-down and clean it thoroughly using a pressure washer. Allow it to dry.  If any rust is coming through the knock-down, use an aerosol-based rust inhibitor to treat the rust.

Cool™ can repair cracks up to 1/8th inch wide in concrete. However, if you have broken, severely cracked, or spalling concrete, we recommend that you hire a professional concrete mason to make whatever repairs are necessary prior to applying Cool™. Never apply a coating to an ill-properly prepared surface. Never apply a coating over sealed concrete. Test for water repellency by pouring small amount of water in various areas of the deck. If the water beads, then there is a water-repellency feature in the concrete and it has to be removed using an acid etch. If the water is absorbed by the concrete, then you are good to go.

When your concrete is ready for Cool™, we recommend that you use TripleCrown, our organic and eco-friendly concrete etcher and cleaner.  Alternatively, you may want to use a light acid wash.  If you choose to go the acid route, be sure to neutralize, TSP, and pressure wash thoroughly to clean.  As a final step, make sure that any rust that may be on the surface is neutralized with an aerosol-based rust inhibitor.   It’s best to allow at least 48 hours for your concrete to dry before applying Cool™.

Cool™ is unique because there is an infinite number of choices available. You simply pick the color you want and purchase one gallon of exterior semi-gloss 100% acrylic paint for each kit of Cool™ that you buy (Note: do not use paint that contains primer). The right color is obviously the color that you like, but keep in mind that darker colors WILL absorb more heat than lighter colors. If heat abatement is your top goal, we suggest that you pick a light-to-mid pastel. Otherwise, let your imagination rule!

Each Cool™ kit comes with one gallon of wet resin and a bag of dry organics. Mix using these three steps:

After emptying the kit contents, add the wet resin back to the 5-gallon pail; Add the gallon of exterior semi-gloss 100% acrylic paint to the pail and mix; and, Gradually add the dry organics and mix completely.

On average, one kit of Cool™ will complete (2 coats) between 190-210 square feet.

You will need:

  • masking tape
  • paint roller
  • paint extension handle
  • 4″ brush
  • 3/8″ nap roller cover(s)

You will need:

After masking off everything that you don’t want to accidentally coat, use the 4″ brush to apply a heavy cut-in coat. We suggest that this be a heavy coat in order to avoid having to do a second cut-in coat. Feather the leading edge of the cut-in coat in order to avoid lap marks. Allow the cut-in coat to dry.

Next, in a “ribbon” or “S”-type pattern, pour a narrow strip of Cool™ approximately 5′ long and set bucket down. Using the 3/8″ nap roller, spread the coating evenly across the working area. Using this technique, continue applying Cool™. Allow the first coat of Cool™ to dry.

Once the first coat is dry, a second coat should be applied. The second coat is approximately 80% as heavy as the first coat.

Using a variety of methods not discussed here, some Cool™ customers at this point will add decorative accents to the coating. As an important final step, we recommend that you roll two coats of SealBack, Encore’s clear acrylic sealer over the entire job and allow it to dry.  SealBack will bring out the depth and color of the coating and help keep the surface easy to maintain.  SealBack is a nano-based sealer and provides an additional layer of protection against the weather for years to come.

Final Notes.