How To Stain A Deck
Staining your deck with deck stains is an easy way to add beauty and protection to one of your homes biggest spaces. A well protected deck will last for many years as long as it is properly maintained, and a very nicely stained deck makes a big difference in terms of curb appeal when you're trying to sell your home. Use this How To Stain A Deck guide to help turn your deck staining project into a success!
How To Stain A Deck
Step 1: Choose Your Deck Stain
Choosing the right Deck Stains can make or break your wood staining project. Before you apply your wood stain you need to think about the overall theme of your existing exterior decor, as well as the look you are going for.
With so many Deck Stains to choose from, here are some general suggestions on how to highlight your wood when getting ready to apply stain:
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Wood stain colors should complement the surrounding landscape
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Wood stains should match other exterior wood surfaces, like a shed or your patio furniture
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Use a neutral wood stain color that looks good with any background or décor
How To Stain A Deck
Step 2: Clean Your Wood Before Applying Deck Stain
Next, you'll need to clean the deck before you get ready to stain it. The cleaner your wooden surface, the better and more consistent your wood stain will look. For first timer's who have not applied stain before, use a deck cleaner like Olympic Premium Deck Cleaner to remove dirt and stains from your wood that may have been caused by mildew, algae or mold.
After you apply the deck cleaner, scrub your deck with a mop that has stiff, hard bristles. Once you've scrubbed the deck, wash away the residue with a pressure washer, using low to moderate pressure. Allow your deck to dry before moving on to the next step of this How To Stain A Deck guide.
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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.
How To Stain A Deck
Step 3: Applying The Stain To Your Wood
If you are staining your deck or wood surface with a clear wood sealant, a wood toner, or a semi-transparent deck stain, apply one thin coat with a high-quality brush or sprayer.
For solid color deck 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.
How To Stain A Deck
Step 4: Backbrushing The Deck
Now that you have applied stain to all of your deck 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.
How To Stain A Deck Tip: 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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