Deck Stain
Staining your deck is more than just something to make your deck look pretty;
it’s also the best insurance on your investment. Although most modern decks
are made out of the water resistant pressure treated wood, this doesn’t even
come close to giving your deck total protection from the elements of nature
and the sloppier elements of humanity.
Staining your deck will prevent cracking, splintering and yellow that often
come after exposure to rain wind and snow. It also ensures that when a youngster
(or an oldster) drops a particularly sticky ice cream cone on the deck, the
mess will be easy to clean, and won’t leave a nasty stain.
These are the materials you will need:
- Deck cleaning solution and a good sprayer
- Deck sealant or stain
- Rags
- Garden hose
- Natural-bristle brush
- Plastic drop cloths
Be sure to follow these steps when setting out to stain your deck. If you do,
your deck should be protected for at least a couple of years. After that,
you can just sand off the top coat.
Now just follow these steps:
- Remove or securely cover any delicate plants and shrubs in the area. Wash the deck with a hose.
- To clean the deck, put the appropriate deck cleaning solution into a sprayer and apply it evenly to the top of the deck.
- Allow the deck cleaner to stand. After 5 or 10 minutes, use your garden hose to wash the deck cleaner off.
- Allow the clean deck to dry. When completely dry, apply the sealant or stain to the wood. There are numerous types of deck sealants and stains, ranging from solid colours to transparent colours, so take care to choose one that you like.
- Choose a quality brush to apply the stain. The brush should be made of naturally-sourced bristles, not synthetics.
- Avoiding direct sunlight, apply the finish in small areas at a time. Always brush with the grain of the wood.
- To ensure penetration into the wood, apply the stain in thin coats. A rag can be used to remove any excess stain.
- Once the process is completed, apply more stain to the end grains of the decking. For areas that get high levels of use, apply a second coat.
