How Do You Stain A Deck?

Easy 4-step guide to deck staining

How Do You Stain A Deck?

How Do You Stain A Deck?

Q: How Do You Stain A Deck?

A: Staining a deck is a lot easier than you may think. It involves a simple four-step process. Follow our wood staining advice guide on how to stain your deck and you will be enjoying deck time with friends and family before you know it.

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Step 1 - Clean the Deck
Step 1 - Clean the Deck
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Clean the Deck

Step 1

Clean the Deck

First you must sweep away all of the loose debris that is on your deck and then apply a deck cleaner, such as Olympic® Premium Deck Cleaner. This product can deeply penetrate the wooden boards of the deck and lift up dirt and particulates so that the surface of your deck can be washed properly.

Deck cleaner also helps remove stains that may be caused by mildew, dirt, algae, mold, or even leaf marks left behind after the fall. Once you have fully washed your deck allow it to dry fully before moving on to the next step.

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Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.

Step 2 - Examine the Wood Surface
Step 2 - Examine the Wood Surface
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Examine the Wood Surface

Step 2

Examine the Wood Surface

Take a hammer and tap down any nails that may be lifting up a bit off the surface. Loose nails can damage your roller or brush and give your staining application a rough texture. If necessary, replace any rotting boards.

Using standard painter’s tape to block off any surface that you do not want the wood stain to adhere to. In proper conditions stain penetrates quickly, so it is essentially to tape off anything that shouldn’t be stained.

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Olympic Staining Tip


Always test a small, hidden area, using the same number of coats you will be using on the deck and let it dry so that you can be sure to get the wood stain color you want. 


Step 3 - Staining Your Deck
Step 3 - Staining Your Deck
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Step 3

Staining Your Deck

If you are staining your deck with a clear wood sealant, a wood toner, or a semi-transparent stain, apply one thin coat with a high-quality brush or sprayer.

For solid color wood stains, apply two thin coats with a paint brush or a paint roller. To ensure that you do not get lap marks with solid color wood stain, apply it to just a few of your deck's boards at a time and keep a wet edge so that the stain blends well.

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Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.

Step 4 - Backbrushing
Step 4 - Backbrushing
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Backbrushing

Step 4

Backbrushing

Now that you have stained all of the major surface it is time to backbrush. Backbrushing is the act of forcing the brush or roller a bit rougher into the surface so that all parts of the wood, including the joints, edges, seams, and ends get the same coverage of wood stain as the flat areas of your deck.

By pushing the stain-coated brush in between each board you are making sure there are no areas visibly uncolored by the stain product.

Once you have completed backbrushing, allow your deck to fully dry before moving any furniture onto the surface.

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