Beyond cleaning, another important aspect of caring for your deck is staining it. While it might seem like a time-consuming procedure, staining your deck is fairly simple once you’re armed with a couple of ideas and the best products.
Products Needed
Before tackling this project, travel to your local home enhancement store and stock up on the following tools.
Pressure washer or garden tube
Sand paper
Deck cleaner
Deck brush
Eye goggles
Cleaning up gloves
Paint roller with extension manage
Deck stripper
Stain
Painter’s tape
Drop cloth
How to Prepare Your Deck
Appropriate preparation is crucial when it concerns staining your deck– and it’s a step that shouldn’t be ignored.
Look for Damage
The first and crucial step is to check your deck for any damage prior to staining it. “Look for any damaged or warped deck boards,” says Karielle Day, merchant of paint and interior and exterior discolorations and waterproofers in your home Depot. “Replace any nails, deck screws, and wood boards as needed prior to cleansing.” Additionally, you should examine the foundation of your deck for water damage and loose or rusted screws.
Rinse Your Deck
Cleaning your deck before you stain it is also key; any pollutants and dirt that are left can impact how well the stain adheres to the wood. “Using a pressure washer helps get rid of any stain, dirt, debris, and mildew that’s built up through the years,” says Gary McCoy, the store manager at Lowe’s.
While the deck is damp, examine it for mill glaze, which is water beading that indicates the surface is not permeable. “If mill glaze exists, either sand gently or scrub the location till water is easily absorbed into the wood,” states Day. This is also a great time to check for black spots, which is a sign of mold or mildew.
Apply Deck Cleaner
After rinsing the deck with water, apply a deck cleaner. “It’s crucial to utilize a deck cleaner, since it will penetrate the boards and raise dirt that’s deeper than surface area level, which better makes sure that your stain will adhere to your deck,” states McCoy. “If this step is avoided, it can trigger peeling or a shorter-term finish.”
Think about the weather condition when you reach this action: You shouldn’t use wood cleaner if it’s hotter than 90 degrees outside. “If it is too hot, the cleaner may dry too rapidly, triggering uneven penetration,” states Day.
Place on protective gloves and safety glasses.
Remove furniture or plants from the deck.
Mix wood cleaner according to the producer’s directions.
Use a paint roller with an extension handle to use cleaner to the entire deck, ensuring it doesn’t puddle in any location.
Scrub any hard areas with a stiff deck brush or broom.
Permit the cleaner to soak into the wood (about 10 minutes).
Wash the deck thoroughly with a pressure washer or garden hose pipe.
Let your deck dry for a minimum of 24 hours.
Apply Deck Stripper
If your deck has a water-based stain on it already, it requires to be stripped off before you can apply a fresh coat. Oil-based stains can be re-coated after you use the deck cleaner.
To evaluate which type of stain your deck has, use deck stripper to a little area of your deck. “Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then clean it off with a cleaning rag,” states Day. If the stain wipes off, it’s water-based and will require to be removed.
Check that the deck is completely dry.
Utilize a paint roller with an extension manage to apply deck stripper to the entire deck.
Let the product rest on the surface area for five to 45 minutes, depending upon product description and the condition of the wood.
Scrub with a rough bristle brush.
Wash the old stain off.
Let the deck dry for around 24 hours, and after that gently sand the whole surface.
How to Choose a Stain
There are numerous deck stain colors on the marketplace, and the one you opt for ultimately boils down to personal preference. As soon as you choose a stain for your deck, choose the color’s opacity; there are 4 levels to select from.
Clear
Clear or transparent stains are perfect for brand-new or exceptional wood surface areas. “Transparent stains reveal a great deal of wood grain while concealing a few flaws,” states Day. “These nearly clear spots contain a tip of wood-inspired color.” If you have a brand-new deck or one that’s still in excellent condition, it’s clever to begin with a clear stain; then, you can work your method up in opacity as your deck ages.
Semi-Transparent
A level up from clear, semi-transparent stains are a popular option. “They supply more color to hide imperfections while allowing some wood grain and texture to reveal through,” says Day. “Also called clear discolorations, semi-transparent stains frequently [come in] natural wood-tones of red, brown, or tan.”
Semi-Solid
Semi-solid stains supply a much heavier application of color than semi-transparent, suggesting they conceal damage better. Regardless of being less transparent, this kind of opacity still allows you to see the wood’s natural graining.
Solid
Strong stains are best for older decks that have built up visible damage over the years. “Solid discolorations supply the most color, protective sturdiness, and ability to conceal imperfections,” states Day. “They’re readily available in a wide variety of colors, including natural browns and reds as well as blues, grays, and blacks.”
It’s essential to note that in bright climates, less natural strong stain colors may not be as long lasting.
How to Stain a Deck
Now that you have prepared your deck and chosen a stain, begin the application process.
Sweep any particles that landed on your deck while it was drying.
Apply painter’s tape to your home’s surrounding siding.
Utilize a ground cloth to cover surrounding plants.
Stir the stain thoroughly.
Put the stain onto a paint tray.
Use a roller with an extension deal with to apply an even, thin coat of stain to a two-to-three board section.
Repeat the whole procedure up until the deck is covered.
Use a paint brush to use the stain in corners and other little locations, like actions, railings, end grain, and cracks.
Allow the deck to dry entirely.
