Tips for Re-staining a Deck

We recently re-stained our deck, and I am so thrilled with the results. If you are getting ready to embark on a re-staining project, read on for these tips. This post is sponsored by Behr.

Our back deck is one of my favorite aspects of our house. It has plenty of room for relaxation, grilling out, and having fun. The one drawback to our back deck is how direct the sun hits it all day long, giving the deck very little shade. The UV rays from the sun are tough on any stain that we apply. For this reason, we have to re-stain our deck every few years. By using premium BEHR PREMIUM Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain and Sealer, we maximize our DIY time and minimize how often we have to re-stain our deck.

Re-staining a deck is not complicated, but it does require some prep work to make sure that the new stain adheres correctly.  Read on for what we have learned during our staining experiences.

Tips for Re-staining a Deck

Tips:

Be aware that re-staining a deck does take time and is dependent on the weather. When planning to re-stain a deck, take a look at the weather forecast before beginning.

Prepping the Deck

When prepping for re-staining a deck, it is of upmost importance to thoroughly clean the deck first. We remove any furniture that can be removed from the deck. Secondly, we clean it with a pressure washer.

In addition to BEHR PREMIUM Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain and Sealer, BEHR also has a All-in-One Wood Cleaner that comes in handy when cleaning a wood deck. We used it the last time around but not this time. Depending on the condition of the deck, a good pressure washing may be all the the deck needs. If done well, the “old” wood surface will be gone and the wood will look like new again. See our before and after photos below.

Allow the deck to dry thoroughly.

We also chose to remove the post toppers. Many of ours were broken. We decided to remove all of them.

Re-staining the Deck

It doesn’t take many supplies when staining a deck. We gathered brushes, Behr Stain, and Handy Paint Pails with liners.

We chose not to use a spray painter. In our past experience, the best penetration into the wood happens with rollers or a brush. For our deck, we have so many small spaces that using a brush is best. However, I know people who have used spray painters successfully. It depends on each individual deck.

Staining is a tedious process but not difficult. Grab the brush or roller or spray painter and go to work.

Tips: 

Measure the deck to ensure that you purchase all the stain that you need the first time around. 

Read the application instructions for the stain. Most stains recommend multiple application layers. Factor this into how much stain that you purchase.

After staining

Let the stain cure as directed on the instructions before placing the furniture back on the deck.

We added new toppers, too.

BEHR PREMIUM Semi-Transparent Waterproofing Stain and Sealer is our preferred product for our deck, whether re-staining for the fifth time or staining a deck for the first time. It is rated to last for 6 years, and I appreciate the variety of tints and finishes from which I can choose. We chose a semi-transparent finish in the color Bright Tamra for deck project this time.

What are your deck staining tips? Do you prefer to use a paint sprayer, a roller, or a brush? I always like hearing other DIY’ers staining techniques.