To help preserve your deck and maintain its appearance, you should stain your deck at least once every two years. When you use the proper equipment and take the right approach, staining your deck can be hard work but also gratifying when you see the results. Advances in staining products such as stains combined with weatherproofing sealant help to make the job easier. But there are still a few deck staining strategies you should follow to get the job done right.

Preparation

Preparing to stain your deck is critical to getting the job done right. Ideally you will want to choose two concurrent days of sunny and dry weather to make sure the stain dries properly. Your first day is spent preparing your deck to be stained. Clean the deck thoroughly and remove any debris and stains. Use a deck cleaner solution to clean the deck, and then strip the old stain off with a deck stripper product. Instructions on how to properly strip the stain off your deck can be found on the stripper packaging. For you to get the color you want from your new stain, you will need to remove the old stain first. This is especially true if your new stain is a lighter color than the old one.

Application

Be sure to protect your house and anything else attached to the deck that you do not want to get stain on with a protective plastic drop cloth. Put the drop cloth at least three or four feet up the house to protect against splashing. Use a roller with a telescoping arm or a power painter to apply your stain. Take your time and be sure to get an even coat that covers the entire deck. Use a paintbrush to get the smaller areas the roller could not get. Allow the stain to dry and then apply a second coat to ensure proper protection and to make the color of your stain stand out.

Afterward

Cover your entire deck with a tarp for the first 12 hours while the deck is drying to help prevent leaves and other debris from getting on to your stain. After the first 12 hours, you can remove the tarp and allow the deck to dry in the open air. Do not allow anyone to walk on your newly stained deck for at least 48 hours to allow the stain to completely dry. When putting your deck furniture back in place, be sure to lift and carry it as opposed to dragging it across your deck stain.

Source:

ServiceMagic: Ca I Stain Undrneath My Deck?

Decks.com: Staining a Deck

SaverSystems: 11 Keys to Staining Your Deck Just as Good as a Pro

More Information:

Ask the Builder: How to Clean a Deck