How To Prepare A Wooden Deck For Restaining
When learning how to restain a wood deck make sure the deck has had at least two days to dry before applying stain or sealant.
How to prepare a wooden deck for restaining. Start by making any necessary repairs to the deck and sweeping the entire surface to remove loose debris like dirt and leaves. You can also apply stain with a paint sprayer. Prepare your deck for refinishing for that matter remove all the deck furniture and sweep it with a broom to get rid of the leaves dust and other outside debris. Use the water test to check your deck every few months to ensure the sealer is still repelling water.
Most stains require dry wood and a 24 hour window of dry weather in order to cure. This allows the wood to dry so the stain is absorbed. Begin by applying stain or sealant to handrails using a paintbrush starting at the top and working down to the deck surface. Regularly sweep off debris.
To avoid stripping or sanding the old stain off your deck thoroughly clean and rinse it and then let the wood dry for 24 to 48 hours. Then apply a generous amount of deck cleaner and use a push broom or stiff bristled brush to work it deep into the wood. Before scrubbing with a stiff bristle broom. Use a garden hose to wet down the entire deck.
Make sure the deck remains completely dry for about two days before staining especially with oil based stains. If you have a brand new deck made of treated lumber as opposed to cedar or redwood wait at least a few weeks before sealing it for the first time. Lightly sand the deck with a drywall sanding pad and 150 grit sanding screen. Wet the wood with your garden hose and apply a liberal coating of the cleaner using a pump sprayer.
Staining the deck is where you see all your hard work come together. Make sure you have all your tools and materials ready to go just in case you have a short fair weather window. Start with the handrails and work your way down to the deck boards. Spray the wood cleaner solution onto the deck and railings then wait 10 minutes.
Check the weather in your area. Let the cleaner sit for 10 to 15 min. If you re wondering how to restain a deck without stripping or sanding the old stain off we can help. Then rinse the entire deck and let it dry.
Prepping a deck for stain right before it rains will make the job last longer than it needs to.