Everything You Need to Know About Deck Staining
A deck is a great way to increase your outdoor living space and get more enjoyment from your home. For those who love entertaining, decks offer a more spacious environment where guests can enjoy the party and you can fret less about the clean up. Then when it’s all said and done, you can sit back and take in the fresh air and beautiful outdoor atmosphere around your home.
Aside from the practicality of decking, a deck can also elevate the look of your home. Staining your deck is a great way to keep it looking fresh while also protecting the wood from harsh UV rays, wild weather, pesky critters, and just about anything else that comes into contact with the surface. Deck staining is easy to do, making it ideal to save money by doing it yourself. Grab yourself some deck oil, familiarise yourself with the steps on how to properly stain your deck, and get staining!
How To Stain A Deck
1. Gather everything you need
Be sure to gather all your deck staining supplies before you start the job as there’s nothing worse than getting started and realising halfway through you’re missing something. You will need the following:
- Sander and/or sandpaper depending on the size of your deck
- Deck cleaner
- Broom
- Garden hose or power washer
- Painter’s tape
- Stiff brush
- Paint brush
- Roller
- Deck stain
- Paint try
If you feel like you’re missing anything, you can always ask your local hardware professionals.
2. Prepare your deck
In order for your stain to last and look its best, your deck will need proper preparation. Cleaning your deck is key. Use a stiff cleaning brush or a mop to scrub away dirt that has stuck to the timber over time, then give it a pressure wash to remove any excess residue. Make sure your deck is completely dry before you start applying any stain. If there are areas of your deck or any tricky edges near walls that you would not like the stain applied, you can use painter’s tape to mask off those areas.
Give your stain a good stir before application to help mix the pigment through the tin for a more consistent finish. Even the best deck oil will need a stir, so don’t be scared to give it a mix.
3. Start with the edges
Using a paint brush to take long brush strokes is a great way to ensure you’re evenly applying the stain to the entire surface. You’ll want to apply medium pressure to ensure you’re getting in every crevice. You can also use this step to stain between your boards by using a scouring pad or narrow brush.
4. Stain the large areas of your deck
This is often the most simple step in the deck staining process. Dip your paint roller into your stain or paint train and get rolling. Make sure to allow for a moderate amount of stain on your roller with every dip as you will want to use long, even strokes to stain the timber. Blend as you go to avoid streaks, and always paint in a direction that will allow you to finish with an open edge so you can finish the job without stepping on areas that are still wet.
5. Drying
Read the instructions on your stain tin to find out how much time you need to allow for the stain to dry, and to know whether or not your deck needs a second coat.
6. Enjoy your new decking area
Once your stain is dry, it’s time to put your feet up and treat yourself by spending some time on your deck or throwing a BBQ party to show off your great staining job.
At Park Road Timber, we only stock the best deck stain and decking paint to elevate your home. Our team will happily guide you to everything you need, from deck stain colours to deck stain supplies. Simply give us a call on 03 9909 5397 or send us a message via our online contact form to get ready for your DIY deck staining.
