How To Stain A Deck Thinking about the process of how to stain (or restain) wood can be daunting. How many coats of stain do I need? What if the wood is weathered or peeling? Does application change if you’re staining pine? What about cedar stain? At Benjamin Moore, we have you—and your deck—covered.
Prep
Preparation is key to success. Here area a few scenarios to guide you.
New/Untreated: Some new/untreated wood may have a glossy sheen to it. This is “mill glaze,” and it occurs during lumber production. In order to achieve maximum adhesion of stain to the wood, the glaze must be “broken.” TESTIMONIALS
To break the mill glaze, apply BENJAMIN MOORE BRIHHTEN (317) onto the wood and scrub thoroughly. Once completely scrubbed-down, use a hose or power washer to remove the product. After letting the wood dry for a minimum of 48 hours, sand everything down with 80-grit sandpaper.
Prep
Weathered Wood: BENJAMIN MOORE RESTORE (316} is our go-to product if your deck is looking grayed out. Use Restore with a stiff brush to clean the wood and remove any loose, dead fibers. Afterwards, rinse the deck and treat the wood with Brighten, then sand down the deck to ensure a smooth staining surface. www.manuelzpaintinghomeimprovementinc
Flaking/ BENJAMIN MOORE REMOVE (315)Peeling Wood: For previously stained decks that are peeling or flaking, can help to remove old stain and uncover the healthy beams beneath. Afterwards, rinse the deck and treat the wood with Brighten, then sand down the deck to ensure a smooth staining surface.
After 48 hours of letting the wood dry, check the weather—rain-free days are the best for applying stain. If the forecast is dry for at least 36 hours, you’re ready to apply!
Test Your Color Choice
Our ARBORCOAT samples are the ideal way to discover what opacity and wood stain colors are right for your deck. Our experts can help you with options, and even let you know how much stain to buy. Visit your local Benjamin Moore store today to purchase a sample to try before you buy.
