Wood deck stain

Applying wood Deck Stain
A major source of problems and complaints for all wood finishes is over-application of coating. Many do it yourselfers and some painting contractors believe that when it comes to coating then more is better. This is simply not the case and is particularly a problem for decks. Most deck finishes are designed to penetrate the surface of wood. Putting too much of these coatings on the wood leads to a buildup of material forming a film which can ultimately peel or crack. For water repellant products over-application can result in a surface which is overly waxy, sticky, or slick. Over applied stains will often result in sticky surfaces since the coating buildup interferes with their ability to dry properly.

Application Methods

Clear Coatings can be applied by a variety of methods including brush, spray, roller and pad. Brushing is considered to be the best technique for detail work such as spindles and railings. But, for large horizontal deck surfaces, spray application is quickest and easiest. This evens out the finish and eliminates drips and lap marks. Pads are also well suited to coat decks. Individual boards should be coated along their entire length to prevent lap marking. Paint rollers are more suitable for applying siding finishes than for deck coatings they can be used successfully to apply clear finishes and water repellants to decks. As for most exterior coatings it is vital that deck finishes be applied under proper weather conditions.

Wood deck Stain Application Guidelines

Before use, mix all cans together to insure uniform color. Even If you are using a standard factory mixed color you should not eliminate this step. You need to be assured that you are starting out with the same color and even factory mixed colors can vary from batch to batch. By adding new material at intervals like this small color differences will not be noticed if there is a small difference in color between batches. Before applying stain, test on a sample piece of wood from your deck or in an out of the way place, to verify the color and look you want. The wood coating should saturate all checks or splits.All exposed ends should be coated several times until all wood pores are saturated.

Care and Maintenance

Stained wood surfaces may need to be retreated every 2-3 years or earlier depending on weather exposure. A close inspection of treated surfaces should be done annually.