Most of you that read this already have a general understanding of the degradation caused to decks by UV Rays. There are some very in-depth articles online that go over the topic. They do a great job detailing the Two main types of UV Rays that effect all Outdoor surfaces. Which is UV-A and UV-B. I’ll link a few of those articles at the end of this post.

What I’d like to do, is tell you what I have seen in my experience. Over the past decade, I have been one of the busiest Deck Restoration and Resurfacing Contractors. I might even be the busiest in the Nation. (By Volume of Projects completed via one Contractor). I have been on the front lines of the battle to both rectify and prevent UV Damage to decks maybe more than anyone.

Penetration Ability

I feel the most important thing I can tell you is UV Rays can penetrate through surfaces. This is likely UV-A from my understanding. They have the power to go directly through thin residential deck paints and stains and embedded into the surface(substrate) of decks. This obliterates deck paint or deck stain adhesion. Which in-turn causes peeling. You can test this yourself. When you see a deck with Peeling paint or flaking stain, focus on the shaded areas. These areas of shade will most often have less Peeling paint and maybe even none. Contrast that with areas of the deck out in the wide open sun where you will find tons of Peeling.

Internal Damage to Cells

It’s also evident to me that this penetrating ability causes some sort of damage to interior cells of wood. This can overtime cause deck boards to fall apart and Splinter. Don’t confuse this with cracking and splintering caused by Expansion and Contraction. This is something different. Hard to Explain in writing. It’s almost as if the rays cause the very bonds that hold the wood into solid form to fail. I believe they also damage composite deck planks in a similar fashion. Obviously, this is damage that occurs over time. Years or decades. But, I know they are capable of doing it.  

Surface Degradation

Then we have surface damage in the form fading, cracking, fraying, and discoloration likely caused by UV-B Rays that most individuals are familiar with. UV Rays also cause a plethora of degradation to decks and backyard structures that is not even understood. I’m sure.

Bottom line! If let unchecked, UV Rays will destroy any deck or backyard structures surface including any protective coatings on them. They will damage the integrity of their Core Material over time.

The Jab of Mother Nature

But, Maybe? What is more important! They cause minor damage daily that is responsible for allowing other forces of degradation to enter the fray and become effective. To start causing larger degradation to decks and backyard structures. For example, UV rays can cause a small crack to open in a deck board. Water can then enter that deck board and cause damage. This sets off a chain reaction of degradation and deck destruction that can lead to decks being destroyed over time.

So in many ways UV RAYS are mother natures jab. Stiff and constant. May not seem like they are accomplishing much, but by round 5 or round 6, the damage is dealt. Then the larger weapons start landing big and working to close the show. If you understand my lingo. They deal damage and they also set up other forms of damage to be effective.

You Must implement a Plan to Protect your Deck

If you do not successfully implement a plan to keep them from destroying your deck’s surfaces. They will. It is that simple. UV Ray damage is a leading contributor of most all Deck Replacements and Structure Replacements. Annually in America, its a financial cost that likely matches or exceeds the damage caused by three separate direct hits from a category five hurricane on the continental United States. Massive Degradation and Deck Death. We are talking damage in the Hundreds of Billions every single year. And that is just what is rectified. That does not include a complete picture of the problem.

As a Deck Owner you need to act to prevent this powerful degradation force from destroying your structure and costing you thousands of dollars of your hard earned money. And you need to do it Now!

Kong Armor ™ Provides Exceptional Deck Degradation Defense against UV- Rays!

Thick-Build – Tough Film Technology

Kong Armor ™ the coating is 30x to 60x the film thickness of thin residential deck paints and stains that typically perform poorly against UV Rays. The Thick Build Kong Armor ™ is loaded with and unprecedented amount of tough mineral additives. These additives make it Extremely Challenging for UV Rays to Penetrate all the way through the film and reach the substrate level where adhesion is formed. This prevents adhesion degradation and preserves the the bond between coating and surface. In-turn Kong Armor ™ protected decks do not start peeling.

UV-Block

Also, Kong Armor ™ is loaded with UV-Block Additives. Found in abundance throughout the surface of the thick and tough film are tiny little mirror like particles. These particles deflects UV Rays back into the atmosphere where the belong. Preventing them from every even causing deck degradation. With up to 95% UV Ray deflection capability, Kong Armor ™ ranks first-in-class at this feature (deck coating). In fact it’s not even close! Kong Armor runs in rarefied air way out in front of any other deck coating system on the planet when it comes to deflecting UV Rays. Again, Stopping the adhesion degradation. But, also, this feature works to keep decks cooler to the touch as well. Leading to a degree of relief against the overall effects of the sun period.

At Kong Armor ™, we are positive about the capabilities of our Deck Armor Coating. We know they outperform those offered by thin residential deck paints and stains. Our coating effectively addresses UV rays and their degradation to decks. The two features, “Thick-Build” and “UV-Block,” combine to create a protective barrier for decks. This barrier provides long-term protection and maintains a quality appearance even with the harshest UV Ray Spectrum presence.

Regeneration

But Kong Armor ™ the coating system has a “Ace up its sleeve” that no other deck coating system has for UV Ray Degradation. Kong has REGENERATION ability. In other words, or put more simply; Degradation caused to the film by any source can be Regenerated quickly and Swiftly.

We stay with our Lifetime Deck Armor System owners for life via locally backed service, warranty and support. So if one of our coating systems begins to show UV Damage we can make adjustments for the system Owner. The Deck Armor Painters here at Kong Armor ™ can swiftly and quickly regenerate problem areas, build them thicker to add more UV block if needed. Again, that is for life.

Now your talking about the Ultimate Deck Coating System when it comes to UV Ray Deck Degradation Defense. And the Keyword there is “System”. Systems are more than one component/features that work together to achieve a goal or perform a function. At Kong Armor ™ our coating and its Benefits and Features work together to achieve Deck Armor Protection for Life! At the end of the day UV Rays can never defeat our Lifetime Deck Armor system.

It is too powerful.

Resources:

Annual Damage estimate figured by calculating 1% of Us households in all metro areas combined embracing deck refinishing or deck replacement annually.

Articles on UV Rays and their effects of Surfaces and Coatings: Coatings and Radiation — American Coatings Association , Effects of UV radiation on natural and synthetic materials – PMC , UV Degradation Effects in Materials – An Elementary Overview – UV Solution

Subscribe to Kong Armor’s Updates, Exclusive Content and Promotions