How to Stain a Deck the Easy Way (Best Tools to Refinish)

How to stain a deck the easy way. Clean, and restain your old deck and refinish it to look like new! Using the right tools makes refinishing a deck a lot easier!
🎥 What to Watch Next:
Restoring an Old Wooden Playset - • Why don't more peole d...
Turning Neighbors Trash Into a Deck Upgrade - • Easy Under Deck Storage
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Oxalic Acid Deck Wash - bit.ly/3eMoZ4z
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Our old wood deck was in dire need of some restoration and repair. We used a pressure washer / power washer to clean it off along with a degreaser and oxalic acid. After that we stained the deck railings with a HVLP sprayer and then used a lambswool pad to put the finish on the deck boards. Two coats of deck stain was just what this deck needed and now it looks better than ever!
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[@Fixthisbuildthat]

🎥 What to Watch Next: Refinishing Outdoor Furniture - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHuxdWSci9eWnKs Restoring an Old Wooden Playset - kzbin.info/www/bejne/emnFY4Vtp8qoqdk DIY Outdoor Furniture Projects Playlist - kzbin.info/aero/PLLkAgl7_UY3WiHSUfqLEGSWY_Y_lkITpV

[@cardiologyacutecarenursepr9772]

Love it

[@kelloggfan]

what is the best stain to use? I don't get more than a year or 2 with what I have been using...

[@MrJashuaDavies]

There's two risky things in this video. You see him powerwashing and then staining without mention of how long the wood takes to dry. I work at a paint/stain department and this is the main issue with customers upset about product failing, peeling etc. They powerwash and if they haven't obliterated the wood by having the tip two inches away, they've hovered over dirty spots and forced a liter of water into each board. They wait a couple few days, feels dry to the touch, they stain, the water vapor evaporation forces the stain back off. If you're going to powerwash, don't. But if you do, follow this guys directions about pressure but keep the tip a foot away from the wood. Don't hover. Wait two weeks if you live in a humid climate. Rain and garden hose will dry in a day, powerwash goes deep. The second thing, why two coats? A lot of semi-transparent products implicitly say on product, 'one thin coat' and do not overapply. If you want it darker apply it all at once. The first coat of a stain+sealer in one, penetrates and seals. Once it is dried, it will not let the second application penetrate and it will remain sticky on top. It may not dry properly. It will show every overlap mark. And this gummy top-heavy two layers will adhere to each other and peel away together. Solid stains can, and certain satin / semi-gloss finish transparent sealers might get a second coat. But a penetrating semi-transparent stain and sealer should just get one. Don't wait until it's dry to catch missed spots.

[@biondatiziana]

Makes sense. Thanks for the tips.

[@EllePole]

Thank you very much for those tips!

[@DeadEyeRabbit]

Learning the hard way. Never used a stain with a sealer and I couldn’t figure out what the deal was. After reading the can I saw sealer. I figured that’s the issue. Now you have confirmed it. Not a fan of this type of product. ESP on new raw wood. Any tips on getting rid of the lap marks on second coat on deck boards?

[@joebob9488]

Ok. First i’ll say Mr. Joshya is correct about 1 coat for ANY penetrating oil. You can do a second coat but should wait a yr to apply that coat because first coat will be pretty dried out. Now, this is where i beat you up a bit. Hogwash on the pressure washing. You should 100% use a pressure washer, just go slow and learn what works for you and what doesnt. NEVER use red or yellow tips, only green. As far as water penetration, again, hogwash. Ive been a professional painter for 15 yrs and have washed thousands of buildings, houses, decks, fences, docks, furniture, ect...most wood will be dry within hrs. Most decks are dry enough for stain in less than 24 hrs, and i use a moisture meter so i definately know, not a guess. If its super humid then maybe 2 days, but very rarely. A very educated guess on Mr. Joshua’s customers with stain failing prematurely is because they are staining treated wood way to soon. Most treated wood should sit for months to a yr before staining. Most wood leaves the mill at 12-13% moisture. Most treated leaves the mill at 20-35% moisture. Safe painting/staining is 16% or below. Some ppl will go to 18% but thats pushing it. Lastly i hate to do this but im gonna. Use Behr at your own risk. As a pro painter for 15 yrs i walk away from jobs where customer insists on Behr, and theres a reason for that. Stick with Cabots, thompson, or sherwin williams. Heck i’de personally use Dutch Boy over Behr. Theres an old saying “you get what you pay for” and that couldnt be more true than with paints and stains. Buy a $25 gallon of stain and thats what you get, junk.

[@MrJashuaDavies]

@@joebob9488 I can't argue with your experience! I was a mural painter for years before ending up at the paint desk at a Menards. BUT my firsthand deck-staining experience is limited. Your advice is solid. I sell Cabot products, they are great. I sell a lot of PPG / Pittsburgh but the Cabot is superior. Better than the Wolman's, Rocksolid, Flood, and Thompson's, for sure. I do live in Michigan, it's wet and soggy up here. Trees absolutely everywhere, wet leaves, six months of 'winter', it's really tough on outdoor wood. When I lived in Texas, a deck lasts longer and needs less maintenance. Up here, it's almost absurd what it takes to keep a nice deck. I'll take your advice into consideration!

[@SBKid58]

I'm a General Contractor and have built and finished many decks in my career. I just finished my 1000 sq.ft. deck and tried several different application methods on the deck boards. IMO, the best method was using a car wash brush with a pole screwed in to the end of it. That worked better than a roller, paint brush, spray, wool pad etc. Hope this helps.

[@Green-eyedHandful1379]

I have questions.,........... I'm an interior painter but am always looking for ideas. I'm trying to picture what exactly you are referring to when you say a car washing brush. Please elaborate when you have a moment. Thanks

[@CHURCHISAWESUM]

Can you make a video of this? Not sure what you mean by a car wash brush

[@gonecountry246]

I assume he's talking about a car wash brush like I wash my car with. It came from Wal-Mart...looks similar to what people comb a horse with except it's soft bristled and on a pole handle

[@cussininthekitchen8224]

@@Green-eyedHandful1379soft bristle synthetic brush, not as wide as a typical push broom either.

[@ServetheWORD]

Yes gonecountry & cussin in the kitchen are right. Its a soft bristled brush on a pole. Can be bought in the auto care dept

[@1LindaJMacKay]

Thank you! You taught me to install my LVP flooring, and now getting ready to do the deck! Thanks again! 🙏🌞

[@ruelnicholas8317]

I have watched this over and over so I can get it right...thanks Brad..so straight forward..we pressure wash and sanded..got some sand burns...but it gives the wood some variation and interesting look so a semi solid as opposed to a solid stain/sealer is our way to go..we are almost there..going with Cabot semi-solid stain and sealer new cedar

[@crush42mash6]

Great job, I like how you made the adjustments throughout the video. Sometimes people don’t show the adjustments like that. 🇨🇦

[@simikidstv]

Done with cleaning, I'll do sanding and staining next! 👍Thanks for the info!

[@Indubidably0]

Just bought a house last month. Has a big beautiful deck on the backside that will need this done this year. Thanks for the How-To.

[@plasmac9]

I am seriously impressed with how well you snuck in and integrated that ad. Normally see in-video ads coming from a mile away and fast forward through them but I sat through this one. Very well done, not even mad you got me to watch the ad. And while I didn't buy the product, I did go check it out.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

It's a thing of beauty when the products fit so well with the project 👍

[@user-vu2uu2sh9j]

Thank you! You taught me to install my LVP flooring, and now getting ready to do the deck! Thanks again!

[@luckyguys7]

I watched your video 3 times before staining my deck, and it turned out great. Thanks for posting this most helpful how-to video

[@CocoChanelle-1]

You always do great work. I clean my deck with Murphy’s oil soap and a broom. Then rinse with a hose. Mildew stains are scrubbed off first separately. Deck is 25 years old in semi-shade and still in good shape with staining every 10 years. I use a roller/flat spreader/brush with a long handle stick to roll on the stain.

[@scottworley1479]

I used to use a couple of old spray bottles to do the spindles using a brush to clean up any drips. I've even used cheap gallon bug sprayers. For $10 bucks they work good. Works really well with transparent or semi transparent stains. Then rolling the flat surfaces is easy, cutting in with a brush of course.

[@85rbrooks]

I wanted to say thank you for this video. I didn't do every step because I plan on doing the railings at a serperate time but man this really made it go quick by following your steps. I got my deck looking so much nicer and put the new patio furniture on it and it looks very good. Thank you once again

[@duramax78]

I’m doing my railing, I actually am taking it apart and planning the boards, I’d highly recommend that, it will look a lot better.

[@chetski2007]

Best video I've seen on this challenging topic. But yes, don't over-wet your boards. And choose best weather conditions - not too hot, not too wet, but just right.

[@MrDmartinezjr]

I really love these videos. You always get rite to the point without missing anything. Really appreciate all the tips from this channel

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

thanks! I love giving out a ton of tips

[@bonniebell7333]

Loved this video. Not a lot of fluff. I'm doing my deck (can't afford estimates I was given). So far I've cleaned the deck and need to make some minor repairs. One more good cleaning and off to the races i go. Thanks

[@stevealaska73]

Just a tip: Don't use your pressure washer to water down the wood in the beginning of the process, it's an unnecessary waste of fuel and time. Use the shower setting on your hose sprayer nozzle. Thank you for producing and sharing this video!

[@ArcoProvisions]

No. Definitely use a pressure washer.

[@brian1204]

@@ArcoProvisions why?

[@rigormortisrm]

I agree soaking down the wood at the start doesn’t require pressure washer but subsequent iterations need one

[@deandecoursey7721]

I refinish hardwood floors and have used these tools on the deck portion. The key is carefully checking to make sure all nails or screws are below the decks surface. You can easily tear up a drum sander otherwise

[@JJG323]

I’m thinking about starting a deck restoration business but I’m a bit confused on what to do after the deck is powewashed. Most people say wait 3 days before staining if you power washed. If I hit it with a sander instead of a power washer, I’m assuming I can apply the stain right after sanding?

[@jules2713]

Happy I found this! Saving & actually excited to do my deck.

[@elpotro771]

I think this video totally makes sense, easy to understand great job... home owners must know if they're decke is old or relatively new

[@cliffright1142]

Nicely done! I just finished my daughter’s home in Va. and utilized the exact techniques. The results,were beautiful and now neighbors want to know if I would do theirs. Sorry folks, I’m retired ha ha.

[@stumptownwoodworks]

Turned out great, probably one of the best deck refinishing videos I've seen. Really looks nice. All that said though, this process is exactly why when I build our new 24x12 deck, and another smaller one off the kitchen I went with Trex, I knew right away I'd never want to go through this process!! Good on ya for getting it done!👍

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Yeah, no doubt. If I was building new I'd probably go synthetic

[@halucinator1]

Only thing that sucks about trex decks that no one talks about is how hot it gets. Few times I had to wear shoes because of how much it absorbs the heat.

[@billrea4841]

Your note on avoiding applying the stain when it’s too warm is important. In the Pacific Northwest decks soak up the frequent rains and mold can grow under the stain if you let it dry too fast.

[@mirandawarner8530]

Very thorough tutorial..thank u for ur energy..deck looks gorgeous

[@pamzulauf8218]

Good job!!!! My deck project is taking FOREVER!!!!! I'll use some of your tips to get moving faster!

[@rogercook4224]

Back when I was younger my dad always made us sand down the deck to re-stain it. I still think that’s the best way with a belt sander and no pressure washer.

[@RockPileTanks]

Guess you've never used a pressure washer.

[@rogercook4224]

@@RockPileTanks Why would you want to inject water into something you’re trying to protect from water?

[@travis8674]

My front porch and back deck look great. I am going to tackle the fence in a few days. Thank you.

[@workshop_edits]

Looks so awesome - love seeing all the old projects on the deck - they’ve all held up great over the years!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Wait til the next video! I gave them all a fresh upgrade and they look AMAZING now!

[@12dollacigarette]

Excellent video. 2 things to add: 1) A brightener neutralizes the ph of the cleaner, bringing it back to its original, lighter shade. 2)Hvlp is high Volume low pressure

[@williamellis8993]

The deck looks great, Brad. Thanks for the tips. Stay safe. Bill

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Thx, Bill!

[@sylviawinstead8799]

That’s the biggest job I’ve seen so far. I would have had to hire someone for that big of a deck. That is so beautiful! So worth it

[@Kkuts37]

TIP ALERT: I find the spray trigger on the Power Washers to be hard to hold for long periods of time. ( I have a large deck). My solution is a strip of Velcro around the trigger to hold it in the open position. Worked like a charm and added way ore time to the job, without cramping, tingly and shaky hands . Great job Brad. Deck looks awesome!! Enjoy!!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

that's a great tip! My hand was definitely cramping up after a while

[@WSFrench]

You can use a tennis ball too. Easy to pop in and out.

[@johnorabone6112]

That's because you never hold the trigger on all the time. You should release the trigger at the end of each pass you make. Don't tape the trigger on, you'll get way too much material at the end of each stroke.

[@tricia4952]

Yes I wish I read this before. 😂

[@tricia4952]

​@johnorabone6112 thank you!

[@kparks1212]

Excellent, to the point, no random/nervous idle talk makes the video very useful, and also enjoyable to watch. And I don’t consider the Willie Wonka clip “idle talk”😃 Great job!

[@drleo2641]

Circular flooring attachment has been a lifesaver. Great for decks and concrete. Typically two spinning nozzles underneath a dome. Helps eliminate chop marks

[@Frindleeguy]

If you do this, put big fat nozzles on it. Like two 4's for a 4 gpm machine. Pressure ruins wood (called furring). It also traps moisture in deep, so that when you stain it, you create bubbles and sometimes even mold and mildew under the stain, unless you wait a couple sunshiney days between steps. A surface cleaner is really the wrong tool for this. If you pay for this service and someone uses a surface cleaner, ask what classes they've taken. No one teaches this in the pro world.

[@Tonisuperfly]

@@Frindleeguy so what would pros use instead of surface cleaner?

[@michaelbluejay]

There are lots of good tips in this video that I didn't see in other videos on the same topic.

[@oraclebjj]

Well done! Very thorough.

[@TheWisebug]

Precision at its best 💎

[@kelseyg4]

Nice! That’s the 1st “Fix This” video I’ve seen you do!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Yeah, we've been trying to do more!

[@kputter]

O man I started watching and all I could see in the beginning was that is super awesome Johnny Brooke squat and it is just so natural. Ha. Love the video always great advice keep them coming.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Oh yeah, I got strike a good Johnny Squat too :)

[@henryt9254]

Cool... as in any paint job, preparation is the key. Prep it right, the painting part is easy.

[@SawdustmakerLori]

Turned out great, what a transformation!!!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Thanks!

[@theanalogcirclepodcast.9416]

This was excellent. You had a lot of great tips in this vid that I didn't know about.

[@DIY-design]

Świetna robota!!!😉👍

[@briantotten6038]

I always use a tape style lint roller on pads and rollers to get the loose stuff off before using them; it really works great.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

great tip!

[@LEM19284]

I’ve shown your video section about the stain applicator to my local Sherwin Williams’s rep and Ace Hardware painting rep (in store), neither had heard about it. However, Ace Hardware located one for me at Home Depot! Yay

[@cdbbroadfield6154]

Very nice transformation great job

[@collectivesartori]

Nice job. Very satisfying

[@sweetsbaked4u]

Looks amazing!

[@motorv8N]

Great video - thanks! I like how you share the “oops” moments too vs everything working out spot on all the time. Reminds us weekend warriors that KZbinrs are human too! 😉

[@pareshpanchal91]

I like the idea of putting the tape on the pad to get rid of loose fibres!

[@Norm475]

I saw a video on U Tube about using a turbo nozzle for decks and concrete drives. They only cost about $20.00 and are well worth it.

[@FredMcIntyre]

Awesome work Brad, thanks for the info! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Thanks, Fred!

[@nicsea83]

Your page is so informative. What would you recommend for an already stained deck to refinish? Same thing?

[@MCsCreations]

Really interesting process, dude! The deck is really looking fantastic! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

Thanks! Stay safe 👍

[@amandamarini131]

Thanks for making this! I'm working at home depot now in the paint department. It's been difficult for me to find time to learn from my coworkers so I know what I'm talking about. If you have other suggestions for videos in helping me learn about anything that would have to do with products of the paint department, I would appreciate it 😊

[@kirk2269]

You will never make it to heaven selling stain from your store!😀

[@ruidadgmailcanada8508]

There’s a channel (Paint Life) and he’s a really good teacher.

[@jowga]

Awesome video straight to the point

[@marton349]

Looks fantadtic. Nice job.

[@jeffforbes3772]

Pretty cool video and tutorial sir. Thanks for posting. I'm sure that all of your subs would like to know how many of those stains you were responsible for and the exact nature of said stain. We're all looking forward to the answers.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

I've got 3 kids....enough said 😜

[@propaintdrywall7177]

Good trick w/the tape taking off the excess lambswool.... we do the same for our rollers wen we paint

[@Mr96romeo]

This is definitely going to help me when I eventually get around to our 2 decks

[@rodneyharris490]

I have to do this next week. Wish me luck.

[@bfranklin1052]

Really helpful tips. I used a pump sprayer instead of a pressure washer and it worked pretty well along with scrubbing with the push broom, but will also need to sand. I have an orbital sander but and am wondering what grade sandpaper to use?

[@davesurette]

Great video, very helpful.

[@elliep6236]

Lots of good tips! Looks great!

[@lw7967]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

you're welcome!

[@clap7777]

Nice. I just did mine of the last 2 weekends. I tried the wool mitt on the spindles/rails like i did 2 yrs. ago, but this cedar finish did not take as well. I did 3 sections, let dry and checked the next day and it didn't look good. I ended going back over with a brush and laying it thicker and then smoothed it out......better. I wanted to do the lamb's wool pad on the base as well, but went really c-h-e-a-p with trying some stupid kitchen mop application....couldn't get thru 2 boards w/o it pulling off the base....ugh! I have a Wagner Paint Crew i wanted to use, but the weekend was windy, so i paint rolled the deck (20' x 17') 3 times to get a good finish. Finally looks good, but i still need to hit the spindles/rails one more time. Your video was good! Thanks.

[@giorgi6762]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@seanhannam8872]

I like how the guys in these videos have every tool under the sun. You can do this job for about 1/4 of the cost of this guy with some more work/time. Garden hose, sand it all and stain it without sprayer.

[@elmichoacanomx7641]

Great job.

[@barnettsfinestconstruction7906]

Awesome job bro.🔥🔥!!

[@sommerallen3325]

Such a great video! I’m wanting to do a black stain on my deck. I don’t have any of these tools but I might just have to invest.

[@wandawilliams6409]

How did the black stain work out?

[@deepanjanbanerjee3491]

Very helpful, thank you

[@Tealeafsong]

Just what I needed. thank you

[@Ken-sz3wv]

Great video. Thank you!

[@stephanievega4458]

Looks amazing ! I will be doing the same

[@kingkongsdingdong]

Good job...and excellent video! Don't forget to tell your wife she's lucky😃

[@DayanaDeHabana]

Just to buy all of those things make it not worth the investment if you only need it for that, but great video and I learned something new. I appreciate painters and people who do this!

[@cwise7]

Great job.... thanks

[@macsmith2092]

Looks great. I am redoing a deck this summer, but my deck boards are pretty worn. I am going to try one of those thicker coating products.

[@Fixthisbuildthat]

I've heard those aren't great. Seen some horror stories with the Deck Over product. Just peeled up after a year or two

[@macsmith2092]

@@Fixthisbuildthat thanks for the feedback. I have heard similar stories. I will do some more research. But like your deck, I think the prep work is key.

[@every_thing_wood1251]

For anyone new to this, technically the brightener can be just rinsed off. The point of it is that the chem does the work

[@noeliafeliciano3762]

Thank you for this video. I found it at my local walmart.

[@sgrtactical8469]

Really dig your content

[@brettlawson9488]

Nice job! I don't have all those expensive tools lol just used a hose and a brush

[@greecemonkey1313]

Wow man, You did a great job !!!!

[@marylopez0812]

Amazing job

[@TATEXPRESSINC]

Awesome Video!🎥

[@therealdogma421]

Hey man that looks beautiful

[@devin5381]

Thank you for making this video, it was great! How long should I wait between power washing and applying the finish?

[@KARIS1961]

I enjoyed this video very much. ❤

[@WaleedHafeez]

Loved this video!

[@mattg4306]

Awesome job bro!

[@johnhubbard6262]

Interesting, I always worry about overspray on nonproject materials, like those bricks or the lawn. Seems like the products you used, had no noticeable effect on them. The teak whitener product I use would have been an issue in both cases. Thanks for the vid.

[@qianwill6016]

Perfect job!!!

[@RyanMTube]

Nice equipment!

[@KathyMcDowell1]

Thanks

[@howiekennedy9520]

Can you please clarify how long you waited between the using degreaser and then using the ZEP? Immediately? 10-15 minutes after? next day? 48 hours? I know you said to wait 48 hours before applying the stain but I'm not clear on how long to wait in-between for the others. Thanks!

[@eastonpotokar6725]

Thanks for the video! Huge help as we're about to refinish our own extremely worn deck. Wanted to know how the Behr stain has held up for you? I've read some nasty stuff about it online, but it's just so readily available!

[@clintandabbymitchell4633]

So incredibly helpful! Thank you!

[@express375]

the clearest pronunciation of english, even better than 99.9 of anyone in the uk