Over time your timber deck naturally loses its tannins and oils, making it look old and tired. This guide will show you how easy it is to bring your deck back to its former glory.
First start by giving your deck a good sweep. From here you can assess what preparation is needed prior to staining your deck.
Now, hammer in any nails that aren’t flush with the decking.
If mould is present, remove as much mould growth as possible by scraping with a stiff brush and apply an anti-mould product. Just read the instructions on the product you decide to use.
In some situations, you may need to sand down your decking if there are splinters coming from your timber. Ensure you punch the nails pre-sanding.
Now clean your deck with a timber prep product to remove any dirt, grease, oil, wax and other surface contaminants. Again, read the instructions on the product you decide to use.
Allow deck to dry completely before you move onto staining.
Staining your deck
Choose the type of stain you will use. Both oil and water are available.
Next choose the stain colour. Depending on your timber type the colour may vary slightly so it’s best to take an offcut of your decking timber into store with you.
If you’re using more than one can, ensure you mix the cans together to ensure colour consistency.
To ensure you don’t get stain on your house, use a paint brush to cut in along the edge of the deck where it meets the house. If you do get any on your house, wipe it off straight away with turps if you’re using an oil based stain or water when using water based stain.
Apply stain to deck with an applicator pad and pole. If need be, apply the stain between the decking boards or joins with a paint brush. Paint a few boards wide in a row to avoid a contrast in colours. Resist the temptation to apply excess oil. To be effective oils must penetrate the timber, not remain on the surface.
Leave deck to completely dry before walking on it. The time can vary depending on the weather but generally it’s best to stay off it for at least 12 hours. Check the label on your stain to see if you need to re-coat. This varies between products.
