How to Prep and Stain your Deck
Deck Staining
How to Prep and Stain your Deck this Summer
Staining your deck not only provides a fresh new aesthetic appeal, but also adds protection, therefore extending the life of your favorite outdoor space! But how do you prepare this surface to get the most value and longevity from your efforts?
Read on to learn all you need to know in order to protect your deck, and make it shine this summer.
Step 1 – Clear the Space
It’s best to remove all furniture from the deck. Shifting it around is an option but means you need to move it multiple times, and can scrape the wood, and means you have to wait for surfaces to dry prior to shifting locations, so it’s best to just remove it.
Step 2 – Tighten Screws, Nails, Loose Boards
Make sure that any screws or nails that may have popped up, broken, or rusted are repaired or replaced. Also, if there are any cracked, loose, or rotten boards or sections, now is an obvious time to repair or replace those.
Step 3 – Clean, Pressure Wash
In order to expect any life out of your newly stained deck, you’ll need to ensure that any mildew, mold, grease, grime, dirt and debris is removed. Here is the ultimate process for best results:
For Raw wood or previously stained wood - Make a Sodium Percarbonate (SP) solution of 1/2 cup of SP mixed with 4 litres of water. Here is a link for the SP powder: https://a.co/d/fbHLlOi.
Scrub Deck Boards – Use a stiff synthetic bristle scrubber connected to a broom handle or simply a hand-held brush, and scrub the SP solution into the surface. Let it sit for 15-20 mins, Make sure to do in sections small enough so that the SP solution doesn’t dry. Do sections at a time until the whole surface is complete.
Pressure Wash – If you have access to a pressure washer, now is the time to pressure wash off the SP solution and any remaining dirt, or debris.
TIP - to protect any nearby natural wood siding or plants, pre rinse those with water to keep cleaning solution from affecting those.
TIP - If the deck boards are hot - over 90 degrees - lightly spray it down to cool it. this prevents the SP solution from drying quickly upon application. Use can use a digital infrared thermometer like in the link: https://a.co/d/hO6Kjg8
Step 4 - Let dry
Let your deck dry until best moisture content is reached
*New deck boards will likely have more moisture content in them than years-old sun-dried deck boards. Staining new deck boards may not be the best idea until they have dried down to 15-12 percent humidity in the wood, or less. This is also the case for old deck boards – check the moisture content prior to staining. This can be checked with a moisture meter like in this link: https://a.co/d/cbAe0kV.
If you don’t have a moisture meter you can do a rough test by pouring a few drops of water on the deck. If it beads up, it’s too wet. If the water absorbs easily, its ready to be stained.
Step 5 - Sanding
o New wood - If the deck boards are new you need to remove the “Mill Glaze” which is found on relatively newly milled wood. Mill Glaze causes challenges for adhesion/absorption. Sanding with 80 grit sandpaper deals with this issue and promotes adhesion/absorption of your stain, or paint if you are painting the surface.
o Old wood - If your deck has had time to dry after construction or has previously been stained and has a few years life on it, etc., you can sand of the “dead skin” of the surface with 80 grit sandpaper to promote adhesion/absorption, as well as to smooth out any areas that have become tattered or splintered.
· Remove Sanding Dust – Rinse off the deck after sanding to ensure all sanding dust has been removed.
· Let Dry – Let your deck dry until the wood has reached an ideal moisture content between 15-12 %.
Step 6 - Select Brush/Roller
The basic rule is to use synthetic bristles/material for water-based paints/stains, and natural bristle/material for oil-based products. Its best to brush stain on entire deck with a 4” to 6” brush, however for a faster application use a 3/8” to 1/2” nap roller. To get between the gaps in the deck boards you can use a “Crack and Groove” brush, or scouring pads https://a.co/d/eOsHyrE. You can use the scouring pad as a single layer or fold them over for wider gaps. Dip pad in stain, and pull through deck board gaps.
Step 7 – Let’s Stain!
It’s time to stain! It’s best to avoid staining midday in full sun, so plan around that. Test your stain on a small hidden section of your deck and let dry, if possible, to ensure you like the colour. If all is good in that department, cut in tight spots with a brush, and brush (best application method), or roll the main open area (for faster application). After 4 hours apply a second coat and let dry. Wait 24-48 hours before putting your furniture back, and enjoying the deck.
Step 8 - Enjoy!
Crack a bottle of wine (or sparkling water), kick back and enjoy. You’ve earned it!
Now, if all that sounds like too much work for you, just give us a call! We will help.