Let's Talk About Stains! (For The Deck)

[galaxy]

OK, getting ready to get my deck on the back of the house some TLC. It's a few years old, but it's never had anything on it, anything. Heard that was actually good, because that'll make clean up and treating it with something easier.

I've done the reading on stains, but wanted to get some real world feedback. Maybe a few more questions.

I see the terms semi-solid and semi-transparent. Sometimes the articles read like these are two different products, but I'm starting to think the terms are interchangeable, no?

Was thinking about a semi-solid for ease of maintenance and wear. But I really like the looks of some of the more solid stains and coatings. Any experience on what's required for maintenance and long term durability?

Behr DeckOver has also caught my attention, if anyone is familiar. No, being able to see the grain of the wood and all those natural type items are not important to me.

Thanks guys.

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[Interceptor]

Big issue, is deck wood treated wood? Hope so
Has it been treated with any type of coating since installation?

The reason you need to pay attention to stain types: speaking simple not technically.
Colored stains are paint that has been thinned. So the semi transparent soaks deeper into the wood more than regular stain. Paint adheres to wood by the way.

So if you use a semi transparent stain your wood will soak up the stain hopefully. If wood is dried and hard it may not bond, neither will anything eles.

The main reason you would not use a semi stain, stain goes every where, drips etc..
Since stain doesn't have a lot of pigment it doesn't last long.

The heavier the stain is, the less stain soaks into wood, the more it depends on bonding.

The reason this is a problem is that in two years the deck may need to be brightened up. Soon you will have chips and peeling of deck paint. Wood on a deck stretches and shrinks alot.

If deck has not been painted or stained, and is a pressure treated product, my thoughts

Lightly pressure wash and treat deck with a product similar to Thompson water seal once every spring. Definitely not the best looking option, but extends the life of deck. Especially if you can spray underside too. You spray this product on with a garden sprayer.

I would also mention that decking can be unscrewed, and flip over, rescrewed in same location. The bottom will normally look fresh and unweathered when flipped over.

 

[samd1351]

Following. I'm the process of finishing up a complete redo of the deck. Started with the handrail and floor, ended up doing that and stairs and a lower deck to tie into an existing deck I build for the grill / smoker, and ended up replacing the three 6 x 6 posts. About the only thing I saved was the ledger board and joists.

 

[lacanteen]

Most manufacturers of pressure treated lumber recommend a product like Thompson's Water Seal, just not that brand.

 

[Timeless]

As the owner of a 12x20 treated yellow pine deck, we waited about 6 months to treat the deck (also have a 12x20 gazebo on the deck...so deck is more like 12.5x20.5).

We went through the oil vs water based and settled on water based. Then it was Valspar, Behr, Sherwin Williams, etc debate.

We settled on Benjamin Moore semi transparent called 'Fresh Brew" and it worked out great. Semi transparent allows some wood grain to show through Solid is like paint and will basically look like you painted the deck,

Has only been about 2 months so far so not sure how durable it will be but it looks nice. With water based you have to get everything on the wood quickly and the amount you want done quickly as going back over areas causes streaks. I believe oil you can put multiple coats over each other with no issues....but it is messy and smelly and harder to clean up.

Wife and I did this in about 3 hours on a Saturday including the rails and steps.

 

[samd1351]

That color looks nice. I'll probably be only be able wait 3 months to stain it. If I wait 6, it'll be December. I "should" finish it up this weekend. Maybe.

 

[Strokerswild]

Tear it down and redo it in Trex or similar 'plastic wood'. Seriously.

I have a 25' octagonal deck made out of stained cedar. It was beautiful when I bought the house 17 years ago. Now it's gotten to the point/age that there are some small spots of rot setting in and it's become an annual event to stain it, which eats up 16 hours not including prep. No matter what the prep and what stain I use, it's peeling a year later. It was my plan to tear it down and redo it in Trex Enhance this summer until the terror surrounding the 'Rona set in and job security started looking sketchy, so the cash will stay in the bank until things improve. In the meantime, I'm hoping an errant coal will fall out of my smoker and burn it down.

If you really want to stain, I've had the best luck with solid stains, more expensive is always marginally better....

 

[galaxy]

So that seems to be the problem with solid stains; the peeling/flaking. No personal experience, but have been researching for weeks and finding any good feedback on solid stains is almost non-existent. It would be my favorite as I really do like the look and like the texture, but I am no willing to deal with any peeling.

 

[samd1351]

Deck progress.

Notice the improper tool in picture 1 vs the proper tool in pic 4. Just need to lay the last board against the house, add the drink rail amd lighting, and the last 3 boards for the landing at the bottom of the stairs. And 8 weeks later... the deck is done!!

Now I know why people pay other people to do this. But no way am I paying what deck builders want. $250 and up per square foot.

Ah well, ot ain't perfect, but I did it and bought stang parts with some of the savings. So win-win all around.

 

[Interceptor]

Looks good, looks like you might be using that yellow crowbar for an improvised cane. Cause I imagine you are feeling like that poor plant is looking.

 

[samd1351]

Looks good, looks like you might be using that yellow crowbar for an improvised cane. Cause I imagine you are feeling like that poor plant is looking.

Pretty close. Although the hard back breaking stuff is all over with. That lily is from my mother-in-laws funeral last month. My wife has had inside, outside, in the shade, in the sun, watered, not watered. It's just a happy plant. And the dogs pee on it. But if I set anything down on the deck and turn around, one will come pe on one side, and the other will come pee on the other side. I hate those damn dogs.

 

[Interceptor]

LOL

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