Exterior painting

7 Tips For Preparing To Stain Your Outdoor Deck in Haddonfield, NJ

Outdoor decks are exposed to inevitable harsh weather conditions such as the intense heat coming from the sun or persistent heavy rain.

Staining your deck once in a while is the best way to maintain its fresh look for many years.

Here are 7 tips for preparing to stain your outdoor deck in Haddonfield, NJ.

1. Check The Weather Forecast

The wood stain won’t stick well to damp wood and can eventually lead to cracking, peeling, and your effort getting wasted.

Make sure to apply stain on dry wood after several days without rain and when the weather forecast tells you that it won’t rain for at least two days.

Staining your outdoor decks in low to average humidity between 50° F and 90° F is the most efficient way of doing this job.

2. Prep Your Deck’s Surface

Your outdoor deck doesn’t only need to be dry enough when staining, it also needs to be dirt-free so that the wood stain would stick properly.

The first thing you should do is to sand the splintered spots, make sure to wear a face mask to prevent you from inhaling the dust.

Sweep your outdoor deck and clean it by using a deck cleaner.

You can also use a pressure washer, but you’ll have to wait two to three days for it to dry completely.

3. Use Synthetic Brushes

The ideal brush to use when applying a water-based stain to your outdoor deck is synthetic brushes.

Unlike natural bristles, synthetic brushes have no cuticle and don’t easily absorb oils.

This makes them a great choice for use with water-based stain.

If you prefer using a roller, use the one with a nap that’s a quarter-inch or shorter.

It allows you to apply a thin layer of stain that sticks to wood without pooling.

4. Apply Thin Coats

If you’re planning to use several gallons of wood stain, you should mix them first to make sure that the color is consistent.

Apply solid stains in thin coats and semitransparent stains in thinner coats to prevent puddles.

Puddles are not absorbed by the wood and cause the stain to peel off.

No matter what type of stain you’re using, always apply two coats to make sure you aren’t missing any spots and to achieve a more uniform finish.

5. Match The Stain Type To Your Wood

Every type of wood stain has its own advantage and the existing stain on your deck will affect your choice.

For example, you can’t apply a semitransparent stain or clear sealers into a wood that is coated with a solid stain.

Solid stain prevents a semitransparent stain or clear sealers to soak into the wood by plugging up the wood pores and it can be applied over any other type of wood stain.

6. Apply Wood Brightener

Applying wood brighteners is one thing you shouldn’t skip in your deck staining project.

It is easy to apply and will definitely have an amazing effect on the final results.

Wood brighteners can restore the freshness of your outside deck and make it look as if it’s new.

No scrubbing or elbow grease is needed, simply spray them on your deck and wait a few minutes before rinsing them.

7. Be Patient

After finishing your deck staining project, give it extra time to make sure it is dry enough before you start using it.

Allow at least one day for your deck to dry out well; after that, you can put it back to use.

Be patient — you don’t want to waste the effort you’ve done up to this point.

If you’re looking for a trusted and reliable residential painter in Moorestown, Mt Laurel, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Voorhees, Evesham, Medford, Tabernacle, Shamong, and the surrounding areas, we can help.

Call us on 609.953.0944 for a FREE, no-obligation estimate.

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