Give your Outdoor Space a New Look

It’s the time of year when our thoughts turn to spending time outside and there is just nothing better than getting outside to bring your backyard oasis back to life after a long winter! Well, maybe a couple of things are better! If your deck is looking a little tired, weathered, or patchy, a fresh coat of high-quality stain is the ultimate weekend DIY project to protect your investment and make your outdoor space look brand new again. Come in to visit us and we’d be happy to help you!

Choosing Your Look: Paint vs. Stain

• Stain soaks inside: Wood stain sinks deep into the wood like lotion, letting the wood breathe naturally so it does not trap water.
• Paint sits on top: Deck paint forms a thick plastic layer over the wood, which traps moisture beneath it and causes large flakes to peel off.
• Stain is easier to fix: When stain fades after a few years, you just wash it and apply more; failed paint requires hours of scraping and sanding.
• Stain is less slippery: Stains keep the natural texture of the wood under your feet, making the deck safer to walk on when it rains.

Picking Your Product

• Semi-transparent stains: Products like PPG ProLuxe act like a tinted clear coat; they let you see the natural wood grain and knots underneath.
• Solid stains: Products like Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Solid or PPG ProLuxe Solid Color Stain look exactly like paint, covering up ugly flaws or mismatched wood while still soaking into the pores.

Getting the Deck Ready (Most Important Step!)

• Check the boards: Walk your deck to find and fix any loose screws, popped nails, or weak, rotting wood before starting.
• Wash away old layers: Use a cleaner like Benjamin Moore Woodluxe Wood Stain Remover to strip off old, flaking coats down to the bare wood.
• Clean the pores: Spray on Benjamin Moore Woodluxe All-in-One Wood Cleaner to kill deep-hidden mold, dirt, and mildew, then rinse it off completely.
• Try the water test: Splash water on your dry deck; if it sinks in, you can stain, but if it beads up, the wood is too sealed.
• Lightly sand the wood: Once the deck is 100% dry, run 80-grit sandpaper over the boards to open the pores and remove splinters.

Easy Do’s and Don’ts of Staining

• Do check the weather: Only stain when it is mild outside (between 10°C and 32°C) and when no rain is coming for two days.
• Do follow the boards: Coat two or three boards completely from one end to the other to avoid leaving dark, ugly overlap marks.
• Don’t use too much: Thin coats are best; if you put too much semi-transparent stain on the wood, it turns sticky and will peel.
• Don’t stain wet wood: Never stain right after a rainstorm because trapped water will push the new stain right back out.
• Don’t stain in hot sun: Direct sunlight dries the liquid too fast before the wood can drink it in, leaving a patchy look.