Deck Staining: What Are the Benefits?

It is essential that you follow the proper procedures so that you can achieve the desired protection and appearance of staining a deck. Even the toughest of deck materials are susceptible to weathering over time, so smart homeowners invest in regular deck staining. Fortunately, regular deck staining keeps your deck from drying out too quickly, by allowing less sunlight to soak into the wood.

If the deck is already painted, going back to clear staining your wood may prove challenging, and it may cost more. Wood preservatives and primer are required when staining, whereas you could purchase the stain only and have it work well on your deck.

Different hues are available too, which allows you to blend the stained deck with the rest of the house, yet maintain the natural look of the wood. Semi-transparent stains are best suited for decks with a lot of wood, like thick cedars and redwoods, where you want to keep the wood’s natural colours while also showing off its beauty.

If you are building or refinishing a deck with gorgeous wood, like cedar or redwood, staining it really brings out the beautiful natural characteristics of the wood. Transparent stains can help you keep your decks natural colour, and can easily allow wood grains to shine through.

Even if you stain your deck for years with a clear stain, it is easy to switch later to a full-bodied stain if you would like another look. If wood looks dried out, splintered, or cracked, this is a great sign it is time to re-stain your deck with transparent stain. When it is time to replace your rotting wood deck, or for another reason, applying a clear stain to the new wood looks different than applying one to old wood.

All transparent stains and sealers will protect your deck from sun damage effectively, but you do not need to apply solid stains so frequently. Staining will help to maintain its best state, ensuring you will not see any water damage or sun damage for long. Staining acts like a deck sealer and keeps this moisture from penetrating into the wood, helping keep your deck looking its best as long as possible.

Using a stain to keep moisture from setting in your wood fibres and causing them to expand or start rotting is an investment that will ensure that your deck will not only look great, but also perform well over the years. A quality stain seals in the grain of the wood, which is why it keeps water from penetrating into your wood deck and causing rot. Taking care of your wooden deck will ensure it stays in good condition for years, and this starts with applying quality stain.

Wood stains come in all kinds of different shades and colours, so whether you are looking to keep your wood looking naturally beautiful, or want to opt for something a little darker so that it looks a little more saturated and durable, we can help you find the ideal deck stain that does just that, all while keeping your wood protected from the elements.

There are clear wood stains, which will showcase the gorgeous wood that you might use for your deck, as the stain is transparent. Everything that is beautiful and unique about the wood you are using is going to be totally covered by paint, whereas stains can be used to bring out these features. When staining a deck, you are covering your whole surface of wood in a few thick, dull coats.

Any time you apply paint, or coat the deck in any material not designed to protect wood from moisture, the end result is a painted finish that chips and peels, and the planks below that will also rot. When you paint a deck, the paint sits on top of it, when this happens, which causes the water to pool, eventually leading to the water being trapped inside the deck’s wood.

If pressure treated wood is used, stain soaks in the deck, becoming a part of the deck instead of an added layer, meaning that it does not chip, crack, or flake. Water-based deck stain is more durable than oil-based, but it does not retain its colour for the same amount of time as an oil-based finish. Deck staining protects the wood from UV light from the sun, which causes wood to fading and crack over time.

If you are looking to stain a deck, fix the damage done to the wood with professional wood restoration services before applying stain. A professional deck staining and fence contractor in Atlanta will apply top-of-the-line wood stains and sealers that protect the wood and your fence.

Staining your deck is the number one way to prevent the wood from decaying due to mould, termites, or mildew. Both wood rot and an infestation of insects can seriously harm your decks aesthetics and structural integrity, making sanding the deck regularly a critical job.

Once you paint a deck, the decision to finally stain it requires extraordinary measures (as in, it costs you time and money) of removing old stain, reinforcing wood, and then having a pre-stain prepped deck. An older painted deck eventually needs new painting, or maybe you want to think about stripping it down and staining. Keep in mind, a professional painter should be called to re-stain the floor of the deck every 1-3 years, as well as the railings and vertical surfaces every 8 years, to make sure that the wood is adequately protected against the elements and overall wear. If you choose not to apply a stain, then every three to four years, a clear wood preservative should be applied to keep harmful UV light at bay.