A Guide to Deck Staining

Josh Richards • Oct 04, 2022

Deck Staining

Congratulations! You have a deck to Stain. That’s great news, because a deck is a beautiful addition to your or your client’s home that adds value and can be the central hub of outdoor living activities.
Staining your deck the first time might sound daunting. But, with the proper preparation and the right guidelines for wood staining your deck will be secured and beautiful restored. You can learn to stain your deck easily following these simple steps mentioned below. .

Check the Forecast

Make sure it's not going to rain within the next 48 hours. Rain can wash away stain and cause a mess. If you're staining in cold weather, allow yourself plenty of time for drying and curing. Best time to do staining is the summertime when temperature is high and humidity level is low, so that your wood won't be exposed to moisture. If there's any chance of unpredictable rainwhile staining it, cover it with plastic sheeting or tarps so that no water gets on the surface of your boards.

Wear Protective Gear

Wear eye protection, long pants and gloves when staining your deck. Stains splatter, so avoid getting any on your skin or clothes.

Materials Needed

A Tarp - to put all supplies on and so you don't make a mess all over
Stain - High quality stain and sealer
Brushes - You’ll need assorted paint brushes
Rollers, Pump up Sprayer or a Handheld Sprayer - Fastest way to stain a deck
Rags - We recommend using old rags instead of paper towels because they will hold up better and be much more absorbent. The rags also help with wiping excess stain that wont absorb into the wood.
Orbital Sander - Sanding is a great way to take you deck to the next level. It can make or break your project.
A Broom or A Leaf blower - To clean deck after sanding.
A Hammer or Drill - Depends on if they used nails or screws to build your deck.
Nails or Screws - To replace old rotten ones
Drop cloths - You don’t want to ruin any furniture or floors, so make sure to cover them up before staining your deck (if you are spraying). If you don’t have any drop cloths on hand a tarp or old sheet will work just fine as well.

How Much Deck Stain Do You Need?

The amount of deck stain you need depends on the size of your deck and how old the deck is. Older decks take more stain because the pores are more open as the wood ages.
To get an accurate estimate, measure the length and width of your deck and use this formula:
Length x Width = Square footage
If your deck measures 10 feet by 20 feet, the square footage is 200 square feet. If you want to be sure to have enough stain for two coats, multiply the square footage by 2 to get 400 square feet total. You'll need a gallon for every 400 square feet of decking.For example, if you have a 450 square foot deck that needs two coats, buy three gallons of stain.

Start by cleaning the deck

Remove all items on the deck. This includes: furniture, rugs, plants, anything on the deck that you can remove. once that is finished you'll want to pressure wash the deck.

For a smooth Finish

Start by cleaning the deck with a pressure washer. If you don't have one, rent one from your local home center or hardware store. You'll also need sandpaper (if you don't want to hurt your back buy a painter's pole sander).

Pressure wash your deck to remove loose paint and dirt, which can cause problems later on during staining and sealing. Use a wood cleaner and let it dwell. Remember to keep the cleaner wet to it can keep working if it dries it will stop working. After it dwells for 10-15 you want to check the deck to see if them chemical is working. Use the bottom of your boot to rub against the deck if it starts to come off check other places on the deck until it comes off all around the deck. That's when you know its time to pressure wash the chemical off. You can use a brush attachment to scrub away stubborn stains or mildew growth to help agitate the wood.

If you're staining over an existing deck finish (such as an oil-based stain and sealer) you can stain over it again as long as you use the same stain and lightly clean your deck before staining. If you are changing colors, use a wood stripper to help remove it all at once before applying the new finish.

Note: Before applying stain, ensure that the wood surface is clean means no dust or dirt, wood fibers or grease is present. Wood should be dry, and free of mildew and molds. If the surface is not clean, stain and other finishes may not adhere and can end up peeling. If you want to learn more on “how to clean and prepare you deck for Staining”. 

Wait until it's dry.

The first thing to do is to wait until it's dry. If you don't, the stain will sink into the wood, which will make it look blotchy and uneven.

Once the deck is dry, apply a clean rag dipped in mineral spirits and wipe off any dirt or debris on the surface of the wood. Then apply a pre-stain conditioner with a brush or roller. This helps prevent the wood from absorbing too much stain, which can cause streaking and color differences between boards.

You'll want to allow this conditioner to sit for at least an hour before applying your stain. The longer it sits, the better it works — but don't let it sit too long or it will leave streaks in your finish coat.

Note: If you have an oil-based stain, be sure to use latex gloves so as not to get stains on your hands.

Apply the stain smoothly

Brushing on stain is the slowest method of applying stain. Use a 3- or 5-inch brush for large areas and a 1- or 2-inch brush for tight corners and small spaces. To apply the stain dip the brush in the bucket of stain and wipe the brush on the edge to remove excess stain before removing the brush from bucket. Take your brush and start a one side of the board and go to the end of that board. that's called going with the grain. That'll give you a better finished look at the end.
Rolling on stain is faster than brushing and gives you more control over where you're applying it. When rolling on stain, use a good quality roller cover that will not leave lint behind. Some rollers can fling up stain so be careful on how fast you go.
Spraying or using a pump up sprayer is the fastest method but can be messy. Make sure to mask everything (house, windows, furniture, plants, statutes whatever you don't want stain on) with plastic. Always back brush after you apply stain no matter what method you use. Brushing can push the stain into the wood and give it a better smoother finish.

Stain the railings and deck spindles too

Staining railings and decks is for a detailed and fine finish. While staining deck spindles are considered to be more challenging than staining the floor there are some guidelines that can help make this task run smoothly and ensure a perfectly even application of stain.

There are many ways to stain the railings/spindles. You can brush, spray or use a heavy duty glove with a car wash mitt to stain them. all methods work

Stain between deck boards

To stain in between the boards you'll have to use a brush to get into the space between boards. Use a brush to go in-between the boards make sure you get both sides of each board.

Apply coats as needed over 48 hours.

The main reason for applying a coat of paint over 48 hours is to allow the previous coat to dry completely. In theory, you can apply as many coats as needed over this time period, but I would recommend two coats at the most.
If you want to do more than two coats, then you will need to wait longer between coats (i.e., 48 hours between each coat). The longer you wait, though, the harder it will be for you to get a smooth finish on your walls because the paint will begin to dry out and wrinkle. The best way to paint over 48 hours is to use a roller with a long nap and roll on your first coat in the morning. Then let it dry for 24 hours and apply another coat of paint in the evening or early morning before work.
Note: Staining a deck is not difficult, but you need to plan for lots of drying time between coats. The process can take up to two days if you allow the stain ample time to dry before applying the next coat.

Choosing Stain Consider..

Cost: The cost of staining a deck is more affordable than replacing it with a new one.
Durability: Stained decks are more durable than painted decks because they don't crack, peel or blister like painted decks do.
Color: There are many beautiful colors available for staining wood decking. You can choose from natural wood tones or bright colors to suit your style preferences.
Note: It's difficult to match color from one batch to another: Stains vary from brand to brand, and even within brands, depending on how long they've been sitting in storage before being used for your project. Also, because each piece of wood has its own grain pattern and coloration, it's hard to match the same stain from one batch to another batch of wood no matter what brand or manufacturer you use. You could end up with an entire deck that looks different than another section of your deck even though both sections were stained with the same color! If this seems tricky you must seek expert advice. 

Conclusion

Now that you’ve learned how to stain a deck, we hope you can take some time to implement the staining process, enjoy your hard work and relax! If you have any questions about deck stain in particular or other DIY projects around the house, leave us a comment or check out our other articles.