Nothing lasts forever, is that so? Well, neither does your deck stain. It needs to be redone from time to time, so don’t think that you’ve gotten it all over with in case you have done it once in your lifetime. I might have caused some panic with that sentence, but feel free to relax. It’s not like you need to do this every single week or month. How often you’ll need to do it depends on several factors and you can find out more about that here.
Isn’t it true that you want your deck to be beautifully maintained and properly taken care of? Don’t you just love to relax there with a glass of your favorite beverage and a book or some other kind of entertainment? Speaking of entertainment, how about having guests over and hosting a little barbecue in that amazingly upheld and eye-appealing space? I bet I know the answers to all those questions.
Who doesn’t love to have a beautiful deck? It’s not only the perfect extra space that you can use for all kinds of purposes, but it also increases the overall value of your home. Naturally, you will need to take great care of it if you don’t want it to actually decrease the value of your home and become an eyesore rather than a place you can’t get enough of.
How To Protect It
The weather and all kinds of other conditions tend to take a toll on your deck. Water is rather damaging to it, but there is something that can be used for protection. I am talking about staining, of course. You will need to engage in this activity from time to time in order to be sure that your space is perfectly protected. When you notice that the deck isn’t repelling water anymore, that’s your sign that it’s time for staining again.
Here’s what you need to know when you are about to engage in this activity: https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/patios-and-decks/how-to-stain-a-deck-what-you-should-know
If you want to do this all by yourself, you need to make sure to take all the necessary steps and in the right order. Otherwise, you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle, or you might later find out that you haven’t done a very good job. Doing this alone is very much possible. It’s just that you need to do it the right way before actually starting the project.
Whether this is your first time staining your deck, or you have already done it, but you forgot how to do it correctly, there’s no need to worry. The whole process is not that complicated and you can learn it in no time. Of course, you can always use some tips and tricks in order to get the job done perfectly and I’m here to give you a few of those.
Get The Material
The logical first step is to buy all the material you need. You need a broom, a brush, a pair of gloves, a protective mask and several other tools that will make this whole project a lot easier and safer. In case you don’t know what, it is exactly that you need to buy, you can always consult an expert or do some Internet research to find this out.
The most important thing that you cannot get started without is, of course, the deck stain, and you will have a few different choices when this product is in question. First, you will need to think about whether you want it to be oil-based or water based. Then, there’s opacity to be taken into consideration, which essentially means that you’ll be choosing the shade of the color. It goes from clear to solid, with clear being completely transparent and solid being the deepest pigment you can find.
Clean The Space
You can’t do anything without preparing the space properly and that means cleaning it. First, you will need to remove all the furniture and everything that can get in the way. Then, you have to sweep the deck to remove larger debris and proceed with applying the cleaning solution. The cleaning solution should be rinsed after 15 minutes approximately and you should let the deck dry for at least two days after that.
Prep The Stain
Prepping the stain means mixing everything together and making sure that the color will be even across the whole surface. This shouldn’t take too long. In case you don’t know how to do it, make sure to read the instructions on the product.
Apply And Let Dry
After everything has been successfully prepared, it’s time to apply the stain. First, you add one thin coat and then you let the product dry. Depending on the state of your deck, you might want to apply a second thin coat and that’s when you will be done with the process. Make sure to let the deck dry properly.
