IMO,Putting sealer on redwood is akin to putting scotchgard on tailor made wool suits.

Hi klem1. Is there a product you recommend or are you suggesting we do nothing? We really want to be able to keep the wood in good condition and it's been our (limited) experience that untreated redwood will turn black in our humid environment. Any information is appreciated. Thank you.

There are wood preseritive products available at Loewes and home dopot but they don't stand up to being walked on. I also incourage testing an area before coating decks. Depending on how smooth the wood is,the finished deck can become oil slick from dew and rain. Desire to keep decks looking new is common,the ability to pull it off isn't common. The most weather resistant surface in our daily life is a car. Walking on it will quickly destroy a car finish. If you have another use for the Redwood,use it there and buy man made material for your deck. The man made looks good for 20 years and requires no maintainance other than sweep and mop.

Maybe my question wasn't clear. We are not trying to keep the deck looking new so much as we are trying to keep the wood in good condition. But I understand your point and if we thought we could let the wood age naturally without it developing mold growth, we would do that. Thanks for your input.