How To Stain Decks
When performing deck staining, allow the wood to dry for at
least 24-48 hours before you stain it with any oil based stain.
Once you believe the wood is dry, you should test it with a
moisture meter. Be sure to test the areas that do not get much
sun, such as close to the house. You are looking for 12%
moisture or less. In a pinch, you can stain wood at 15%, but you
are really pushing the edge with that.
Take a little time to protect the yard plants and lawn around
the deck. Sun Brite Supply has lightweight inexpensive
paper-poly drop-cloths that will prevent stain from landing on
vegetation. stain blocks the pores of vegetation, so the leaf
cannot breathe. Cover up and be safe. NOTE: Never use sheet
plastic over vegetation. On a sunny day, plants can fry within
minutes.
If there are any fuzzies on the wood, use a sanding sponge with
medium grit (or a brass wire brush, an Osborne brush, or a
de-felting pad) to go over the entire area. This step will help
assure professional looking results.
Remember that Ready Seal is made with inert oil that contains no
sugars or starches. We caution you to avoid any stain that
contains linseed oil (even in small amounts, linseed oil
supports the growth of mildew with its natural sugars and
starches). We also caution you about using any stain without
superior UV protection. That includes all clear stains.
Generally speaking, darker stainant colors contain more UV
protection. Ready Seal contains some of the finest pigments
available today, combined with exclusive resins that help the
stain be absorbed completely into the wood very quickly. Ready
Seal is permeable, which means it allows the wood to breathe
naturally but will not allow moisture drops to enter the wood.
Using a good brush with white china bristles, apply the stain
along the edge of the deck nearest the house. Cover about 12" to
18" out from the house, being very careful to feather the edges
so that you avoid a straight, visible line where the brushing
stops and the spraying will begin. Cutting-in the edge like this
allows you to begin spraying away from the house, minimizing
your clean-up at the end of the job. Many contractors spray the
entire deck, avoiding the extra labor needed for cutting-in by
using sheet plastic or a flexible painter's shield to protect
the house from spray.
A DECKSTER sprayer is the quickest method to apply Ready Seal
when used by a professional. On a windy day, the Hurricane Brush
will be the fastest way to apply Ready Seal without creating a
clean-up headache. Ready Seal can also be applied with a pump-up
sprayer, but that is more labor-intensive and a less-even
application than you get when using a DECKSTER. You may also use
a brush or roll it, but those methods are more labor-intensive
and usually don't get the stain on to the sides of the boards
like the sprayer does.
Take time to protect any patio under the deck. Stain that drips
onto concrete is extremely difficult to remove later on. If you
spray the stain, also protect plants and house surfaces. If you
must clean up spilled stain or overspray, use mineral spirits or
denatured alcohol. Mineral spirits is the best all-around
cleaner, while denatured alcohol works very well for cleaning it
off glass.
Two light coats (applied wet-on-wet) are much better than one
heavy one. Once the first coat of stain has been on the wood for
at least 15 - 30 minutes, it will accept a moderate second coat.
Once the second coat of stain has been on the wood for about 20
minutes, the wood has absorbed all it will take. If there are
any wet or shiny spots visible, they can be wiped with a clean
rag or back-brushed with a flat stain pad to remove them.
Ready Seal is really goof-proof. That means that you won't get
lap marks or runs, and it means that rainy weather can't mess it
up. The stained wood is ready to stand up to rain within about
15 minutes after applying Ready Seal. The deck is ready to use
immediately, while the stain continues to dry beneath the
surface of the wood for about 2-3 weeks.
Expect the color of the newly stained wood to be somewhat darker
that the color sample indicated. The wood may also have a
slightly splotchy appearance. The color will lighten
considerably and even out over the next two weeks or so. The
color will continue to lighten gradually, depending on use and
exposure to sun. Typically, this process should be repeated
every two years or so to maintain optimal appearance and
protection.