DIY Deck and Fence Staining for Home Improvement

A home’s exterior looks great with a wooden fence and/or deck to make it look more inviting. In addition, wood is much more durable than other materials however, it will deteriorate over time if you don’t protect it with a stain. Below you will find tips on how to prepare a deck or fence for staining and information on proper application.

Moisture and changing temperatures can age the wood over time, particularly if you live in a climate where you get snow each winter. The freezing and thawing and moisture from rain and humidity expands and contracts the wood and overtime, it can cause the woods to form cracks, splinter and even rot. Therefore, you should stain the wood to protect it. Not only will you ensure the longevity of the wood structure, it will improve the appearance of the wood as well and the overall look of your home.

Stains come in different types, qualities and colours. Also, you need to take care with the timing of when you apply it as well as the method of application. First, make sure that the wood is dry and that the temperature is above 5 degrees Celsius. Also, make sure that you clean everything off the surface. If your deck or fence has never been stained before, then you shouldn’t need to do anything special before starting to apply the stain. If however, you’re re-staining the wood a different colour then you’ll need to prepare to do a lot of sanding first before applying the stain. Also, you probably have some areas of your deck that are more worn than others so that even if you’re planning on staining your deck the same colour, you should sand the entire surface first to ensure a nice finish.

Depending on how big your deck or fence is, you may have to plan on several days of work just to complete the sanding part. The good news is that you can rent floor sanders and hand sanders to help you complete the job faster. The difficult part is if you’ve got spindles all around your deck. If this is the case then you will need to sand these parts by hand.

Once you’ve completed the prep of the deck, you can begin applying the stain so long as the weather forecast indicates that there will be no rain for at least 24 hours. If you don’t pay attention to the weather forecast then all your hard work may get washed away by rain. Before you go and cover your whole deck with stain however, apply a small amount first on a hidden part of the wood to make sure that you are happy with the colour. The reason is that stains can appear very different when applied to wood and then viewed in direct sunlight compared to a small sample. Once you’re satisfied with the colour, you should apply the stain with a nylon or polyester brush and not with a regular paint roller. Make sure you back brush so that the stain is applied evenly and soaks into the wood properly.

Finally, make sure that you are wearing gloves while applying the stain because it’s very hard to get off bare hands. Once you’ve finished you’ll need to wait a full day before walking on your deck or deciding on whether you need to apply a second coat.