What You Need to Know About Deck Stains

Refinishing your cedar deck can seem like a daunting task in the beginning. But it's essential for preventing your wood decking material from fading and decaying under the relentless assault summer sun and harsh winter weather. With the right knowledge and a few helpful tips, you can easily master the biennial chore of re-staining your cedar deck. Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions about deck stain?

How soon should I stain a new cedar deck?

Let your new deck dry out for a few days in warm, sunny weather before applying stain; otherwise, the wood will contain too much moisture to allow the stain to penetrate properly. If your deck was built in winter, you may need to wait until spring to stain it.

When is the best time to stain my deck?

To get the most life out of your cedar deck, you should plan on cleaning and refinishing it every 2-3 years. You need a good stretch of mild, dry weather for staining your deck. Wait until at least three days after the last rain to allow the wood time to dry properly, and make sure you'll have a few days of dry weather following the application. Do not stain in excessive heat, which can also prevent the stain from penetrating. For best results, apply stain in the morning, when it's cooler out.

What should I do first when staining my deck?

First make sure the deck is in the proper condition to be stained. That is, how is the wood quality? If the wood is in need of some reconditioning, you may have to sand it down to give it the smooth surface it once had.

Second, before applying the stain, give your deck a proper cleaning to remove as much dirt and previous coatings as possible, as well as to smooth damaged wood. If you decide to use a pressure washer, make sure to use the appropriate amount of water pressure, or you run the risk of damaging the wood. Once you have cleaned your deck, allow it a few days to completely dry.

What cleaning products should I use?

In order to penetrate deep into the wood and clean it back to its original state, you should use oxygen bleach. Oxygen bleach is different from your typical household bleach, which will destroy the natural state of the wood and is extremely toxic to the brush around your deck and home. Oxygen bleach is a powder that releases oxygen ions into warm water, creating a deep cleansing solution perfect for dry wood.

What kind of stain should I use?

Deck stains come in three main categories: transparent, semi-transparent, and solid or opaque.

Transparent deck stains keep the natural color of the wood intact while protecting some protection against the elements. However, due to the lack of pigmentation, transparent coats need to be reapplied about once a year in order to keep the wood's natural color from fading.

Semi-transparent deck stains provide a greater level of protection than transparent while still letting some of the natural wood color come through. Semi-transparent coats provide a UV-blocking protective tint that allows for less frequent applications. On average, expect to reapply a semi-transparent deck stain about once every two years.

Solid deck stains are completely pigmented to cover up the natural color of your wood. While this will provide the most protection from the sun, solid coats are similar to paint in that they will form a film on top of the wood that will eventually start peeling off. This can cause early wear that will need to be treated at the beginning signs of fading.

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Read more deck stain and cleaning tips for your Northwest cedar deck on the Fence and Deck Stains website.

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