Using a stain to color and seal a deck is one of the most popular ways to finish an outdoor wooden deck after it has been built. Many individuals prefer applying semi-transparent deck stain to their wooden decks because the transparency of the stain allows the natural beauty of the wood to show through while still imparting enough color to the wood to make the appearance of the deck more dramatic. Applying semi-transparent deck stain to a wooden deck it not difficult and by following a few simple instructions, the homeowner will have the deck that they desire.

There are many different brands of semi-transparent deck stain that can be purchased for use on a wooden deck. Some of the best are Superdeck semi-transparent, Duckback Exterior Semi-Transparent and Olympic semi-transparent stain.

Many individuals choose to get the brand they prefer from their neighborhood home improvement store or local painting supply store, which will generally carry a wide selection of different brands of deck stains and sealers to give the homeowner the look that they desire. Many types of deck stains also contain protective agents, such as Carnauba wax and mildecides, that will help the wood resist moisture, mold, and other damaging agents.

The deck stain can be applied to the deck using a paintbrush, a roller, or a sprayer system. Individuals that are painting a smaller deck may find that a paintbrush gives them more control over the placement of the stain while individuals with larger decks may find that using a sprayer saves them a great deal of time by covering larger areas faster. Many home improvement stores have sprayers for purchase or rental by their customers.

Staining The Deck

When you begin applying semi-transparent deck stain to a wooden deck, you should start at the far end of the deck and slowly work your way towards the stairs of the deck. For most homes, this will mean beginning with the straight edge against the house. If you are concerned about getting the deck stain on the house, the area of the house directly above the deck can be taped off to ensure that the stain does not get onto the home.

If you do decide to tape off the area of the home that is attached to the deck, you should be sure to use a type of tape that does not leave a sticky residue on the side of the home and will not damage the finish of the home’s exterior.

The different varieties of painters tape may be the best bet to protect the house without causing any damage as most painters tapes are designed to be removed easily without leaving an adhesive residue on the wall. A wide variety of tape is generally preferred because of the added area it covers and it reduces the chances that the stain will accidentally get onto the side of the home.

Go with the Grain

The semi-transparent deck stain should be applied to the deck traveling in the same directions as the grain of the wood so that the stain gets into all the crevasses of the wood. If the deck is made of wide planks and the homeowner is using a paintbrush, pad, or roller for applying the semi-transparent deck stain, one technique that guarantees a beautiful finish is staining the planks one at a time, staining the entire length of the plank before beginning on the next. This blends the stain over the entire length of the plank and ensures that there will not be any areas where the stain is too thick or too thin due to stopping and starting an area.

Around the pillars, columns, and stairs of the deck are the hardest areas to stain. Using a sprayer for applying the semi-transparent stain to these areas is often not practical because it is harder to get the stain into the smaller areas. Many homeowners use a spraying system to paint the larger areas of the deck, such as the deck floor, and then switch to a paintbrush or pad to paint the other areas of the deck.