Deck maintenance is more than a chore; it’s an investment in your home’s value and your family’s safety. Knowing why staining and sealing your deck is important can shield it from harsh weather and make it last longer. This guide will answer some of the most common questions about deck staining homeowners have. We will also explain the benefits of having your deck cleaned and stained.
Do I Need to Stain My Deck?
The easy way to tell if your deck needs staining is by taking a quick look around.
Washed out wood, nails popping out, warped boards, or painful splinters are not just eyesores – they’re warnings.
The best time to do your deck inspection is in spring so you can get a jump on repairs early.
How often do you stain a deck?
You can avoid waiting for your deck to start showing signs of wear by keeping up on regular maintenance. The average time between staining is 3-5 years. Depending on where you live and the elements your deck faces can change the amount of time between deck staining and sealing.
What are the benefits of staining your deck?
From keeping it looking great to making sure you avoid costly repairs later on. Regular deck maintenance is important for making it last longer, look better, increase property value, and ensure outdoor safety.
Protection and Longevity:
Exterior wood stains offer amazing UV protection. Harmful UV rays can damage the fibers inside the wood and make them more susceptible to cracking, splintering and warping.
Sealing a deck offers the most protection by helping to keep out damaging moisture that can cause mold and mildew. Having your deck sealed is also great at stopping insects like termites, carpenter ants and carpenter bees from damaging your deck.
By keeping up on your deck’s stain and sealer you are making sure that your deck will last a long time.
Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal:
Not only do you want your deck to last longer but you want it to look good as well. A well maintained deck can greatly enhance the beauty and appeal of your outdoor living space. Staining and sealing can revive old decks, making them a center for relaxation and entertainment.
Semi Transparent and Semi Solid Stains and Colored Stains
You can apply different stains and colors to your deck to highlight the woods natural beauty.:
- Transparent stains show off the natural grain of the wood. They work great for woods like cedar, pine and redwood decking. The biggest drawback is that transparent stains offer almost no UV protection for softwoods. This may force annual maintenance instead of the average 3-5 years.
- Semi-transparent stains provide a wide variety of colors but still allow the natural appearance of your wood surfaces to show through.
- Semi solid stains offer the greatest protection from the sun’s rays. The trade off is that you will lose the visual of your deck’s grain pattern. You may be better off thinking about painting your deck at this stage.
Winegardner Fine Finishes and Coatings uses Armstrong Clark stain for our deck staining projects. You can see a whole line of their transparent, solid colors and semi transparent deck stain colors here.
Sealant is normally clear and does not have an effect on the appearance of the stain. Using sealant can prevent the stain from fading and some sealants come with advanced UV protection to help protect transparent stains from sun damage.
Increased Property Value
Having a deck can add value to a home if maintained properly. A well maintained deck that is stained and sealed is an attractive feature for potential home buyers. Showing you’ve cared for the property helps the buyer trust that the rest of the home is also well-maintained.
Safety
You want to enjoy the time you and your family spend outside on your deck. So it makes sense that you would want to make sure that it is safe for everyone. By maintaining your deck you can avoid ruining a good time with splinters or trips to the ER for a tetanus shot.
Staining and sealing your deck keeps your boards in better shape for a longer period. This means they are less likely to crack or warp. This stops the wood from pushing out nails or screws.
Your deck is an essential part of your outdoor living space, and it deserves care and attention to stay beautiful and safe for those summer moments.
Other Deck Staining Questions
What is the difference between deck stain and sealer?
Stains color and protect wood, making it look nice. Stains color and protect wood, making it look nice. They come in different colors. They can also protect against UV rays and moisture. However, how well they work depends on how opaque they are.
Sealers are formulated to create a protective barrier against moisture without altering the wood’s natural color. Some sealers have UV blockers or stabilizers to protect against sun damage, without changing the color like stains do. Sealers aim to preserve the wood’s original look, emphasizing protection over color enhancement.
Most oiled based stains, like the Armstrong Clark stain that Winegardner painting uses, is a combination of both stain and sealer.
Should I Power Wash my deck?
Yes, you can use a pressure washer or power washer to clean your deck. But you need to do it right. Deck cleaners are available that you can use in your pressure washer and it is best to let the chemicals do the work. Use low PSI settings or 30 degree nozzle attachments when cleaning your deck with a pressure washer.
Remember that using high PSI or a direct stream of water from your nozzle can cause permanent damage to your deck’s wood. The water will destroy the fibers inside the wood and introduce moisture into the planks causing rot and warping.
If your stain and sealer are in good condition, cleaning your deck’s surface will be easy to do. Winegardner Fine Finishes and Coatings only does soft washes on decks when we are prepping a surface for a new stain and sealer.
Can I Stain Pressure Treated Lumber?
Pressure treated lumber is infused with chemicals to protect it from rot and insect damage. Even with treatment the wood does not have protection from the sun’s UV rays, moisture or the weather.
To be able to properly stain PT deck planks they need to meet certain criteria. The Home Depot has an excellent list to verify whether or not you can stain your PT lumber.
Winegardner Fine Finishes and Coatings is Ready to Stain Your Deck for Summer 2024!
Choosing the right professional service for deck staining and sealing is crucial for extending the life of your deck, enhancing its appearance, and ensuring its safety. With Winegardner Fine Finishes and Coatings, homeowners can trust in a service that offers expertise, quality, and a commitment to satisfaction.
Fill out our contact form or give us a call today so we can get your deck ready to go for the summer!
