Normally every two years the stain on a deck should be cleaned and renewed. There are a few tips on staining a deck that will help to keep it looking good. A good application of deck stain will look uniform and professional. Buying the best deck stain on the market will last longer and will give you good results for a nicely done project.
Plan your staining project to allow for about four days without rain. Two days for the cleaner to dry and two days following the stain application. Prepare the surrounding area including any bushes by covering with tarps. Wear old shoes, old clothing and rubber gloves when applying the stain. If you use a sprayer to apply the stain wear a mask and avoid inhaling any vapors.
The deck should be cleaned thoroughly before staining and allowed to dry at least 48 hours before applying the stain. The old stain doesn’t have to be stripped necessarily before applying a new stain. If the old layers come off unevenly, or the deck has been painted, you’ll have to use a product that strips the old finish off prior to washing the deck. First spray down the deck with water making sure the deck is completely wet. Next apply a specially formulated deck cleaner to the entire surface and wait for at least 15 minutes. The cleaner can be applied with a garden hose using a sprayer. Once the cleaner has had time to work on the grime you can use a pressure washer or scrub the deck with a good brush. The deck needs to be clean and allowed to dry for 48 hours before applying a decking stain to the area. Avoid traffic on the deck area between cleaning the deck and applying the deck stain.
Apply the stain evenly with a sprayer, large paint brush or pad. Work in the direction of the grain and apply to vertical surfaces first and then work on horizontal surfaces afterwards. Check for drips as you stain, especially under railings. Wipe excess stain off with an old rag if needed. Plan ahead so you don’t end up painted into a corner. Plan on doing the steps last to avoid having to walk on the freshly stained areas. It needs to dry for at least 48 hours.
Do not quit in the middle of the project or you will experience overlapped areas that will come out darker than the rest. Use long even strokes and maintain a consistent application. The project goes a lot easier with a pressure washer and a sprayer that adapts to a garden hose. Check with your local hardware stores for renting the pressure washer for a day. By following these tips you should end up with a beautifully stained deck that will look good for years to come.