Has anyone stained their deck before?
 

I have a deck that has never been stained before. We got it pressure washed a few weeks ago, and now we want to stain it. I'm wondering how hard this is? It's a BIG deck, and it's hard finding a few days in a row without rain usually.

Any thoughts?

COurse you can stain it. Just put tarpauling over it or a plastic sheet (sloping) and do it

Guess I should just go to Home Depot and find a cute guy there to ask.. :Graucho

I agree, thats the way to do it.

It would probably dry out in a day or two anyway.

Rent a spray gun for a couple days and do it. If its a big deck dont bother doing it by hand.

no, but i've stained my boxers earlier.

That is the best idea I've heard yet! You rock

Of course use a sprayer, no need by hand. Cut it in by hand if its attatched to the house then spray 95 % of it. When was the last time it was wet?

It rained hard a couple nights ago. This is Vancouver, you know :winkwink:

Ya your gonna need to let it dry naturally for atleast a week. Tarp it and wait for sure. Stain is nothing more than a dye pigment and doesn't coincide with water well. Give it a week of dry time before thinking about doing anything

Elli,
I use Thompsons Water Seal in the tinted formula on my outside decks near the pool and also on a side porch, and I really like it. You can still see the wood grain and it's not too dark like some of the stains. I use Honey Gold, but my dad uses Rustic Red on all his decks and both colors are pretty.

It's really easy to put on. My dad helped me get started but he left after about 20 mins and I finished the rest. Get one of the spray pump things and it will go fast. I got my stain at Lowe's and they sold the pumps right beside it. Just try and do it as evenly as you can. Maybe start in an area that is the least seen until you get the feel of it.

At first, we were going to cut in next to the house with a brush, but then we figured out it was easier to just cut a long piece of cardboard, and with one hand, stick it in the crack between the deck and the house to shield the house, then spray the stain with the other hand . That way, we could just walk along the wall spraying right up to the edge, and then just move the cardboard up as we walked. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not. :)

http://www.thompsonsonline.com/produ...s.wtrPrf.total

This is the stuff I used.

Pic below took me 4 hours to stain (10m long). Any good quality stain is usually touch dry in an hour or so in decent weather.
http://www.uk-adultcash.com/deck4.jpg

Thanks everybody! Hollly, I understand what you mean totally :) I'm a bit worried about the spray, though. My neighbour's driveway is right on the other side of the fence, and I don't want to get any stain "dust" on his stuff at all. Did it carry in the air or wind very much that you noticed?

Matty, that's beautiful. That's a bit bigger than mine, I think. Lovely yard, wow. Did you do that with the spray?

Thanks Elli - it was done by brush. UK aint great either for weather and that was done in April. Garden has changed a lot now for the better :) Just be sure to give 2 or 3 coats for longer life.

http://www.uk-adultcash.com/deck3.jpg

what kind of wood is that matty?

i should get my entire deck redone like that

joshuawk, not sure what the wood is! Here in the UK you can buy "decking" lengths which are 38mm thick, pressure treated and are guaranteed to last for 15 years. Was fun building it :thumbsup

Use an HVLP sprayer (high volume low pressure)

No, it was actually very clean and easy. The pump I used is just like the garden pumps that you use to spray chemicals. You pump the handle a few times and then press on the nozzle for the stain to come out. It doesn't come out with much force or very thick. I can't imagine it carrying very far in the wind, if at all. Unless you're talking about staining the backside of the fence, I definitely don't think it would go over the fence to the neighbors drive way. I rubbed Vaseline on the bottom part of my windows so they would be easy to wipe off, just in case the overspray got on them. They were fairly close and it didn't touch them.

I've stained a big porch before using a brush to put it on, and I would never do it like that again. It was a *major* PITA. :1orglaugh

It only takes one coat, unless you want it darker. Another good idea is to take all the cans, open them, and mix all the stain before you put it on, since sometimes there's a slight difference in color between cans.

Gorgeous deck Matty!!

I was going to pipe in, but it seems that everyone else has given great suggestions. If the wood has gone that greyish colour at all, pick up a wood cleaner/brightener. Good luck with it Elli! I'm working on a backyard revamp this year too.

Yes, excellent feedback, thank you tons everyone! My wood had gone grey, but the pressure washing brightened it back up to an almost-blond yellow cedar. *rubbing hands together gleefully*

NOOOOO..Go to LOWES

the pump up bug sprayer method is definately the way to go! get a cheapo one cause they are usually fucked afterwards :2 cents: