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11 Keys to Stain Your Deck Like A Pro

Copyright (c) 2009 SaverSystems

Having spent my entire adult life working with paints and stains, it didn't take long for me to figure out that homeowners who stain their own decks, for the most part end up dissatisfied with their project. After all of their hard work, the stain doesn't hold up, and almost overnight their beautiful project again begins to weather from nature's elements. No matter what they have tried, the result is always the same...a lousy looking deck that seems to always look like it needs a little attention. The solution however, is not all that difficult. If you want your deck to look like a pro did it, then follow these 11 keys to success that will guarantee you'll end up with a great looking deck.

1. Take Your Time

When the project is completed, nothing will have had a greater impact on the quality of the job than this. Allow new pressure treated lumber to weather for a few months to dry out before staining. Allow any stain strippers that you're using to be left on the surface long enough to break down that old finish before you rinse it off. Take your time to not slop stain over anything that gets in your way and wait to start your project until the weather forecast is favorable. Bottom line: take your time to do it right!

2. Preparation, Preparation, Preparation

Preparation is key to the final result. All wood needs to be cleaned well before staining, whether it's a brand new deck or an older, weathered deck. Brand new lumber needs to be cleaned to remove "mill scale". Mill scale is a crushing of the grain in the wood that takes place during the milling process. If new wood is not cleaned, it can prevent stains from properly penetrating into the wood's surface.

If you have an older deck, dirt, graying from the sun, mildew and previous stains all need to be removed prior to re-staining. Sodium percarbonate cleaners, also known as oxygenated bleaches, are a great choice for this step. They are highly effective at cleaning the wood, yet won't harm plant life and vegetation. They won't hurt you either. Their soapy consistency won't burn your skin.

If there is a build-up of old stains on the deck, instead of a sodium percarbonate cleaner you'll need to use a stain stripper. Strippers are a little more caustic so follow the directions carefully. They work great and will remove most weathered stains in a single application.

If there are small spots of stain that won't come off during the cleaning process, they should sand off fairly easily using a palm-type sander after the wood has dried. If those spots of stain are left on the deck, they will show through the new finish and detract from the deck's final appearance.

3. Brighteners Are Beautiful

In the deck staining process, no step is skipped more often than this one, yet it is by far the easiest to do and will have a dramatic effect on the final results. Brighteners help open up the surface of the wood to improve penetration. They neutralize any stain strippers that were used and they restore the appearance of old, weathered wood to a brand new look. That's a lot of things for one product to accomplish so don't skip the brighteners. Brighteners are easy to use. Simply spray them on, wait a few minutes, and rinse them off. No scrubbing or "elbow grease" needed.

4. Rinse Like Mad

Use lots of water after using any cleaning chemicals. These chemicals can be safe and harmless, but they need to be rinsed off extremely well after they are used. Left in the wood, they can resurface over time and break down the new stain. So once you are done cleaning, rinse the deck thoroughly to get all of the chemicals out of the wood.

5. Stay Away From the Cheap Stuff

The deck is clean, dry and ready to be stained. Now is not the time to skimp. When you are deciding which stain to use, stay away from the cheap stuff! You always get what you pay for. Better ingredients cost more money. If you expect premium results then you'll need to buy a premium product. There is a difference in quality when it comes to resins, pigments, mildewcides and many of the other materials that make up a gallon of wood stain. So stay away from the cheap stuff if you expect it to last.

6. Take a Look at Waterborne Stains

Water based stain stain technology has made vast improvements over the years as air quality regulations have forced manufacturers to really focus on and improve these products. In the recent years they have become better, more durable and longer lasting than conventional oil-based alternatives. So if you have been reluctant to look at them in the past, don't be reluctant any longer.

Water based stains offer some real advantages. They clean up with soap and water, there are no nasty solvents to breathe and they have significantly better resistance to weather. Also, the wood doesn't need to be completely dry to use them, they dry more quickly than solvents and they are much easier on good old mother earth. In addition, some of the waterborne stains are synthetic as well, such as the Defy brand. Synthetic stains are far less susceptible to the growth of mold, mildew and algae. If you're in an area with a fair amount of moisture and humidity, a waterborne synthetic stain offers a big advantage.

7. Read the Can...Follow the Directions

Every product can be a little different so always read the label for directions. It only takes a few minutes but it will ensure that you have all of the right information before you get started. Pay attention to information such as how many coats of stain to apply, how long to wait between coats, how long to wait after cleaning and how long to allow the wood to weather. Read the label first and you'll likely get it right the first time.

8. More IS NOT Always Better

Decks are best stained with a semi-transparent stain. These stains allow the natural grain of the wood to show through and allow the wood to naturally breathe vapor through it. As semi-transparent stains weather, they can easily be reapplied. Pay attention to the manufacturer's directions and don't over-apply these products. You'll end up with a shiny finish that will probably peel off over time. When too much stained is applied, a film can form, much like paint, that will no longer allow vapor to pass through it. When this happens, peeling can result and that's a real mess. Only apply as much stain as the wood can easily absorb.

9. The Paint Brush Is Still King

There are a lot of different ways to apply deck stains. Using a sprayer and roller are two popular methods. Regardless of how you apply it, always keep a paint brush at hand. The agitation and friction caused by a paint brush will work the stain deep into the pores of the wood. Always back-brush it while the stain is still wet and you'll achieve much better penetration into the wood.

10. Give It Time To Dry

I told you at the start of this article to take your time. When your project is finally done, take a little extra time before you start using it. Let your deck dry out good before putting it back in use. The stain needs to cure out before subjecting it to the rigors of patio furniture and foot traffic.

11. How About A Little Maintenance

A small amount of effort can keep your deck looking great longer. Just as you would wash the dirt off of your car, wash down the surface of your deck every now and then to keep leaves and dirt from damaging the finish. If the deck stain starts to show signs of graying or loosing its color, it can be easily cleaned up with a little wood brightener and a light maintenance coat of stain.

Helpful Tips

When staining the deck, you can speed the process by using a soft-bristle scrub brush on the horizontal boards. These brushes can be found in the cleaning section of most home improvement stores. Get the type that can be attached to a 4 foot extension pole and staining your deck will go much faster.

When staining the deck rails take care not to splatter stain on the deck surface below as it will most likely leave unsightly darker spots. The easiest way to avoid this problem is to cover the deck below the rails as you work. I use the cardboard from the box the stain came in and cut out notches in the cardboard so it will fit snugly around the rail posts.

About the Author

Dave Barnes is a 30-year veteran and nationally recognized product expert of the paint and coatings industry. He has worked in multiple capacities within the business, including having key responsibilities with both product formulations and field application design. He currently serves as Executive Vice-President for SaverSystems Inc., a manufacturer of water repellents for concrete, masonry and wood deck sealers.

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