How well exterior paints and stains adhere to wood is a direct result of wood properties and the various manufacturing processes. Dense wood shrinks and swells more than light wood, which stresses paint and solid-color stains and causes them to chip or peel prematurely.

Anyone that has a sap-producing tree lingering over a deck can tell you that stuff isn’t easy to get off. If you find yourself in that situation, here are some ways to get that sap off your deck according to wisegeek.