How To: Stain a Deck

[@Linville34]

I’m about to start this project tomorrow, thank you for the video!

[@davegass1650]

I use a car wash mit to stain the post and railings with a rubber gloves on my hands . Works great .

[@luckylucy12lucky]

That's one heck of a transformation using mostly elbow grease!

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Thanks Memphis!

[@mtndewgood]

a staining pad is a lot easier to use than a roller and doesn't leave bubbles behind

[@knuckles1006]

Never seen anybody dip their roller into a paint can like you did. Roller trays are cheap and would of helped you control the amount of stain on the roller. But on the plus side, your narration during the video was excellent, so I rate the video overall as very good.

[@elbrujo1000]

Good video! How is the deck doing after more than 1 year? I have a deck that should be 20 years old aprox. I think it is pressure treated pine. I pressure washed it with 25°, 40° and turbo nozzle. I used behr deck cleaner, and the wood still has discolorated areas. In the past I tried cleaning a small area and used Olympic cedar semisolid. the wood still looked grayish. I am overwhelmed after looking at cabot behr olympic thompsons bad reviews. That´s why I would like to know how is the deck today. On the other hand, some of the wood are worn on the edges. Maybe filling it with epoxy or bondo works, but I´ll be forced to use solid color which should peel quickly with any scratch or humidity. Which brand would you recommend for solid color? Thanks!

[@ThePtballa087]

Great job, and thanks for the encouragement.💪🏾

[@scottleppard3290]

Guys, guys. Roller, brush or sprayer. Lets do it right. The stain needs to contact the wood and pushed in. We can see by this video a roller is used. We see overruns and running of product. Follow up with a rag to introduce the stain to the deck or exposed wood. Pressure treated wood is full of liquid chemicals. A simple roller, brush or sprayer compounds a liquid on a liquid filled base. Apply your way but rub it in with a rag.

[@dagoram]

Yup

[@Bobby772010]

Agreed

[@jeffhallman676]

What about dripping under the deck? Ours is over a patio? Just cover with plastic?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Yes, I would cover everything with plastic if you want it to keep clean. You’ll have to roll out the bottom too to avoid the drips looking ugly.

[@angelastewart9497]

Good video. Simple

[@naynay02169]

Good job

[@thewhippingwhisk553]

Did the deck smell strong from the oil based stain for the rest of the summer? I used Ready Seal stain and the smell was strong for the whole summer.

[@amytambs2960]

I just bought the water based product that you used. What is the difference between that and the oil based that you used?

[@alhambra119]

I am about to start to stain the fence with Sherwin Williams Superdeck. How do you like the product? Are you satisfied? thanks!

[@stephenwhite5444]

Great video! Now that it's been 3yrs how is that Superdeck stain holding up?

[@icedteamama176]

Our pressure treated pine deck is 8 yrs old and been oil based stained 3 times (semi-transparent)…lots of afternoon sun and needs re-stained badly. Last stained about 5 years ago. Thinking of using solid or close to solid this time. Do we have to get oil based product? Please advise! Thank you.

[@carolabbott2713]

Can I use this product system on a reclaimed exterior door?

[@brendanbender7809]

Question - Do you need to stain between the surface boards?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Usually the roller causes enough to spread down the sides but if not you can use a brush to hit between the boards.

[@kimberleerivera7062]

Looks fabulous! Thank you - I now know where to begin and what I'll need - and it's not hard - and I even have the time it will take! [Oh and thanks for the tips about not staining myself into a corner.] :)

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Ha ha! Happy to help!

[@llz5160]

could you explain more why you chose oil based and why you chose transparent? Thanks

[@Hairstephshair]

How often would you re stain usually? I just had my deck rebuilt last year so I’m going to stain it ASAP here. It’s quite dry where I live so it’s just dusty. Think a good sweep would be enough? Or should I wash it too?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Usually a wash is beat before staining because it opens up the wood grain to accept the stain. Doesn’t have to be a pressure wash though. I re stain every couple years to keep it looking good.

[@LizVonVillas]

Looks great!

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Thanks!

[@justlooking4771]

Question. I used a sprayer to stain my fence. Do you recommend that for a deck or no?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

If you used it with success on the fence the deck would work just as well.

[@kostas_wellknown4519]

Can you tell me how much does it cost the can stain ? How much cans do you use ?

[@thomasbroadhurst8938]

I rebuilt my deck last year. Want to stain this year. I used Sherwin Williams stain on my back porch last year and plan to use it again on the deck. The deck is about 500 sq. ft., plus the railing and frame. Any idea how much stain I will need, and will it need 2 coats? I also have the same power washer you used...1700psi.

[@lanajacknichols8397]

my deck is covered and don't have any discoloring or algae or mildew i did it with a wagner sprayer and 2gal of clear sealer 2 coats just because i put my sprayer on finer setting.it dried fast and looked great. oh and i lightly pressure washed just to agitate the wood a bit

[@Joseph-qb1es]

Great video.

[@neogx148]

Wow amazing

[@R0lDS]

Is sanding necessary? I see some other videos people sanding

[@jipillow1]

Did you have any problems with it running with the rollers? Especially on the vertical surfaces.

[@KitchenerLeslie2]

Does it look like he cares? He did a horrible job.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Gosh, I tried so hard though. I’ll have to check out your video to refine my technique.

[@rachaelbriggs1224]

Our deck was power washed a week ago. Do you think an actual deck wash is also necessary? It was previously stained and in good condition.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Probably not necessary.

[@normal_176]

Pressure washer was all that was needed before the stain? Usually I see people use a cleaner before the stain. I like your method this best with 1 less step.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Just depends how dirty and what you’re cleaning, right?

[@makeupmomo4392]

I have a dark stain on my deck after pressure washing and should I use a stripper or just a cleaner? Thanks!

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

You can use a deck cleaner and that should get the discoloration off.

[@dennispuleo9575]

@@TheCraftsmanBlog hi great video.. just a question, what can I use to get under the railings where the sanding machine could not touch..what would you suggest thanks

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

If you’re sanding I would try an under cabinet sander. They are designed for wood floors to get...well...under cabinets so they are very low profile.

[@dennispuleo9575]

@@TheCraftsmanBlog hey man thanks for the advice,, I will definitely try this out... Thanks for the reply

[@TT-ob9cd]

This was on pine pressured treated wood correct ?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Yep!

[@SouthernTexan2]

Thanks do you have a photo of them closed?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

A photo of what closed?

[@SouthernTexan2]

@@TheCraftsmanBlog sorry must have skip to this video. Referring to the video of the shutters borad and batten.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

You know I don’t think I do have a pic of them closed in the video. Closed all you see are just vertical boards with the strap hinges.

[@thehound1359]

Weekend project ? Restoring my deck took me 2 weeks

[@zanearnold6252]

What happens if you do it on a Sunday and Chick-fil-A is closed?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

You suffer greatly! Ha!

[@roadtrippinghavingfun8641]

How many cans did you use?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

I used 2 cans for my deck.

[@roadtrippinghavingfun8641]

The Craftsman Blog it took me 4 cans

[@thomasbrittinghamjr.8508]

Can you make a tutorial on levitation?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Probably not but I’ll try!

[@ikust007]

Question: it doesn’t create a plastic surface isn’t ?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Nope, no plastic. It retains the feel of the wood.

[@ikust007]

Cheers sir!

[@ikust007]

Thank you!

[@billcoley8520]

Your pressure washer is bunk. Use a ball valve on a high pressure washer. It functions like a sand blaster but it’s water

[@maryrosecatral4267]

How much water we use

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

No water to mix in the stain.

[@jeffbezos6748]

A damn solid tutorial. Thanks. I subscribed

[@ivonnerickyify]

Can I use the Waterbase or I need oil base?

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

You can use either but I prefer oil-based.

[@themechanic4222]

I’m not putting wooden railing in my deck that for sure

[@MattCampbelification]

Lmfao

[@ZacharyRoth-d5d]

No offense, but you did that terrible

[@rodgraff1782]

Wow, looks like you applied way to much, then didn’t wipe off the excess. It says specifically in the instructions to only apply as much as the wood will absorb, and wipe off any excess that remains pooled on the surface. If you don’t do this it will not dry properly and leave a gummy mess in places. Most people don’t follow the instructions for this product, then complain in the reviews that it ruined their deck.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Everything I applied was absorbed and it was never gummy. Granted I waited a day to see if there was anything pooling but there wasn’t anything left over to wipe off after going over it with the unloaded roller.

[@rodgraff1782]

Good job then. A lot of people have given this product a poor review, because they don’t follow the instructions.

[@TheCraftsmanBlog]

Instructions matter! 😉