Staining a Deck

Overview: Staining a deck is a DIY task that has to be done every two or three years. If you are not familiar with how to stain a deck there are several considerations when selecting a wood deck stain and preparing the deck for staining. Exterior deck stain products are available in two styles; penetrating and film deck stains. Choosing the deck stain colors are also a choice you have to make. Be sure you clean your deck prior to applying any decking stains.  

Before staining a deck decide whether you want a colored or clear finish deck. There are two types of deck stains to choose from, either a deck stain or a deck stain sealer. Both are penetrating stains that are designed to soak into dry wood but one is formulated to perform much like varnishes or urethane. Varnish and urethane stain sealers soak into the wood, but they form a film on the surface much like a plastic wrap. The problem with sealer deck stains is that they almost always peel when they eventually fail. The peeling is unsightly and must be completely removed before resealing in the future.  

My preference is the penetrating deck stains and sealers that don’t peel when they get tired and fail. It is much easier to prepare a previously stained deck for re-coating if you have a penetrating finish on the deck. I have always used a deck stain color that is medium in color. However if you use the clear stain it will shows the natural color of the wood grain.  The pigments used in coloring deck stains are important as they help to absorb the ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun that bleaches out the natural color of wood causing it to turn gray. There are many deck stains colors to choose from. I do not recommend a dark color as they tend to absorb more heat than the lighter colors.

Always clean the complete deck wood surfaces before you apply any deck stains or sealers. Cleaning will get rid of all dirt, stains, and any damaged wood fibers that may be barely hanging on at the surface. If you use a pressure washer do not use too much pressure. Too much pressure can damage the wood so be sure you use the right nozzle tip. The high pressure will erode the soft wood that is in between the darker bands of the wood. If you damage the wood you will have to sand the deck to get it smooth again. This can be avoided if you do not use excessive pressure.

Clean the deck with oxygen bleach. Don’t confuse oxygen bleach with household chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach will take the natural color out of wood and it’s highly toxic to all vegetables, flowers, and trees around your deck. It also will induce corrosion of any metal fasteners and structural connectors. Oxygen bleach has none of these adverse characteristics. It comes as a powder that you just add to warm water. Apply the oxygen bleach to the deck with a mop and let it soak in before washing the surface clean.

 Let the deck thoroughly dry before applying the stain. This may take a couple of days. Never try to stain a deck when the wood is damp because the stain will not penetrate the wood surface if the wood is wet. Although deck staining isn’t probably one of your favorite home owner tasks, it can be less daunting if you select the right stain and start with a clean deck.

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