How To Stain Wood
Q: How do you stain wood?
A: Great question! To stain wood properly you need to make sure you have followed the right preparation steps like cleaning off the wood first, hammering in any nails or screws that may affect the roller you will use to apply the deck stain, and you must stain and prepare to wait 8-12 hours once the wood finish has been applied. Follow all of the steps below to ensure your project comes out a wood staining success.
How To Stain Wood Guide
Step 1: Choose Your Wood Stain
How To Stain Wood Guide
When it comes to learning how to stain wood, the right Wood Stain 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:
-
Deck stain colors should complement the surrounding landscape
-
Deck stains should match other exterior wood surfaces, like a shed or your patio furniture
-
Use a neutral deck stain color that looks good with any background or décor
How To Stain Wood Guide
How To Stain Wood Guide
Step 2: Clean Your Wood Before Applying Stain
How To Stain Wood
Next, you'll need to clean the wood surface you are planning to apply stain to. 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 clean your wood with the wood cleaner, scrub your wood surface with a mop that has stiff, hard bristles. Once you've scrubbed the entire surface of the wood you will be staining, wash away the residue with a pressure washer, using low to moderate pressure. Allow your freshly cleaned wood surface to dry before moving on to the next step of this How To Stain Wood Guide.
Get Olympic Premium Deck Cleaner
Buy Deck Stain Online
Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.
How To Stain Wood
How To Stain Wood
Step 3: Applying The Stain To Your Wood
How To Stain Wood
If you are sealing or staining your wood surface with a clear wood stain, a clear wood sealer, a wood toner, or a semi-transparent deck stain, apply one thin coat with a high-quality brush or sprayer.
For solid color wood stain, apply two thin coats of the wood stain with a paint brush or a paint roller. To ensure that you do not get lap marks with solid color wood stain or deck resuracer colors, 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.
Explore All Exterior Stain Colors
Buy Deck Stain Online
Please refer to the Product Label, Technical Data Sheet (TDS) or Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for safety and detailed application instructions.
How To Stain Wood
Step 4: Backbrushing
How To Stain Wood
Now that you have applied wood stain to all of the major surfaces of your wood it is time to backbrush to fill in any spaces where stain did not adhere. 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 or deck stain as the flat areas of your deck.
How To Stain Wood Guide 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. Now that you have finished your deck, you can enjoy. Check out our other wood stain tips for more info for your next wood staining project.
View All Deck Stain Products
Buy Deck Stain Online