DIY Wood Deck Staining Tips
Beyond a doubt, a neatly painted wooden deck can give your home an attractive
look and feel. To give your home an attractive look, you need to take the time
to "groom" your home, including your deck. But why is a deck so important? Quite
simply, because your deck is part of the open space that feels as if it were a
part of your house.
If you choose the wrong stain, you could find that in only a few months, the
chain will begin to peel off. With this in mind, to keep your deck attractive,
you need to apply a deck stain that's long-lasting. The most popular deck stains
these days have a good, quality finish, last a long time, are easy to apply, are
economic and are available in a variety of colors.
1. Prepare the wood before applying the stain. Apply a wood preparation liquid
that will seep into the pores of the wood, which greatly helps the stain to work
more easily with the wood.
2. Use a stain that has some sort of pigment as the pigment will help prolong
the life of the stain. Keep in mind that semi-transparent deck stains last
longer than solid deck stains.
3. Pick out stains that will work well on both the horizontal and vertical
surfaces of your deck. Keep in mind that there are many stains that simply
cannot handle foot wear and tear or sliding items so find a stain that can.
Food’s deck stains (which are semitransparent) are guaranteed by the company to
last for at least three years.
4. Choose colors that will work well with the color of your house and not clash.
5. Be sure to lay out your deck so there is ample support for it. There are
times when, due to inadequate planning, the deck bends on one side which,
causing the paint at that end to look shabby.
6. It’s essential to remove any previous paint from your deck before applying a
new one, so scrub the wood surface ‘till the natural grain shows through.
7. To check to see if your deck wood is ready for staining, sprinkle some water
on its surface. If this water is absorbed quickly, you’re ready to begin
staining your deck! |
