A most important source of problems and complaints for every one wood finishes is over application of the coating. Many do it yourselfers and some painting contractors consider that when it comes to staining, more is better. This is simply not the case and is mainly a problem for decks. The majority of deck finishes are designed to penetrate the facade of the wood. Putting too much of these coatings on the wood leads to a buildup of material, forming a film which can in the end peel or crack. For water repellant products, over application can effect in a shell which is overly waxy, sticky, or slick. Over applied stains will over and over again result in sticky surfaces, since the coating buildup interferes with their capability to dry properly.

Surface Preparation for staining a wood deck

Proper surface preparation is a significant factor in the eventual performance of coatings for pressure-treated wood or any wood surface. Surfaces are supposed to be clean, dry, and free of mildew previous to coatings are applied.

Stain Application Guidelines:

Earlier to use, mix all cans mutually to insure uniform color. Even though you are using a standard factory mixed color you should not get rid of this step. You need to be assured that you are starting out with the same color and even factory mixed colors can be different from batch to batch. Get an empty 5 gallon pail and put in up to 4 gallons of stain. Mix systematically using a long 3' or so 1" x 2" or mixing paddle. Regularly stir during application. As soon as you get down to the one to two gallon level add another gallon if you are using a large amount for the entire job. By adding new material at intervals like this little color differences will not be noticed if there is a small dissimilarity in color between batches. Prior to applying stain, test on a sample piece of wood from your deck or in an out of the way place, to confirm the color and look you want.