1.Clean the deck.
Before you put a new coat of wood stain on your deck, wash off the past year’s accumulation of grime.
Remove all your furniture and plants so you can clean every square inch of the deck.
Pre-rinse. Hose down the deck. This will loosen the dirt and soften the wood fibers, so they absorb the cleaning solution you’re about to apply.
Mix the cleaning solution. You can use a deck cleaner mixed according to the package directions or make your own cleaner by mixing liquid dish soap and oxygen bleach together in a bucket.
Scrub the deck with a stiff-bristled scrub brush on a long handle. Go with the grain of the wood and remove the dirt, stains, mildew, and mold. Get every crevice. If you miss a spot, even the best deck stain won’t adhere to the dirty place.
Rinse thoroughly. Hose the soap and goo off the deck.
Let the deck dry completely before moving on to the next step. Depending on the conditions, this may take up to 24 hours. Staining a deck is a good weekend project because you can clean your deck Saturday, let it dry, then stain it Sunday.
Here’s how to tell if your deck needs a new coat of stain. Sprinkle some drops of water on it. If the water beads, your deck stain is still good. If the wood absorbs the water drops, your deck needs to be re-stained.
2. Sand the deck.
Use a power sander or sanding block to smooth the surface of the floor planks and the rails. Your goal is smoothing out any rough spots and removing any old paint or stain from the wood. This makes the surface of the wood better able to hang on to this season’s coat of paint or stain. Decks will absorb the new stain or paint much better if you remove the old finish.
If you replace any damaged boards in your deck as part of your refresh, do not stain the new boards. New wood needs to dry for several months so it becomes porous enough to absorb the wood stain. The exact time the wood needs to dry depends on the amount of sun your deck receives and the weather.
3. Choose stain type and color.
There are four basic types of deck stains available: transparent, semi-transparent, semi-solid, and solid. The difference between them is in the amount of coverage and protection each provides. The best deck stain for you depends on the condition of your deck and the effect you want.
Transparent stains can be clear or tinted. They let the wood grain and natural wood color show through. Transparent stain is the best choice for a new deck where you’re not concerned with hiding wear and stains. Transparent stains are thinner and provide less surface protection from traffic and UV rays. Transparent stains should last one year.
Semi-transparent stains are lightly pigmented, letting wood grain show through subtle color while providing a little more protection from UV rays and water than transparent stain. These stains put a little color on the wood and are a good option for decks that have already been stained because they’ll revive the color. This stain should last three years.
Semi-solid stains have more pigment and cover most of the wood grain. They’re a good pick for a deck that’s seen some wear from cookouts and summer living and has some scars that need to be hidden. They’re a good pick, too, if you want some color on the deck. Semi-solid stain adheres to the surface of your wood deck and protects it from spills, foot traffic, moisture and UV rays. It should last for two years.
Solid stains have a lot more pigment and hide the wood grain. They are nearly opaque, making them a good choice for older decks with a lot of imperfections. Solid deck stain provides more protection to vulnerable wood. They should last two to three years because the pigment in them provides maximum protection from dirt, UV rays, moisture, and foot traffic.
Now choose your color. Deck stain colors range from browns and deep reds intended to mimic or enhance the natural hues of wood. You can also get solid or semi-solid wood stain in colors as varied as paint. Grays, tans, blues, and greens are trending colors for deck stain this year. Newburyport Blue, a shade from Cabot stain inspired by East Coast cottages, is one of 2023’s hottest deck stain colors.
Light stains can make a deck look bigger, brighter and more open. Dark stains make a dramatic contrast to colorful shrubs or flowers planted around the base of a deck or in planters on the deck.
4. Apply the Stain
Use a stain brush and stain pad to apply deck stain. To keep from literally painting yourself into a corner, start staining a deck at the farthest point on the deck from the exit and work your way back. Use the stain pad to put stain on the deck floor. Use the stain brush to apply paint between the boards, in tight corners where the roller can’t reach, and on the uprights and railings.
Put two coats of stain on the deck. Let the first coat dry completely before applying the second.
Let the stain dry completely before walking on the deck or putting your furniture back. This can take up to 48 hours, depending on the type of deck stain and the weather. Check the label of the product you use to see the drying time recommended by the manufacturer.
Use an extension pole with your paint roller or stain pad. Your back will thank you.
