[Sticky] Deck Staining Help

Super Deck has an issue with turning black and collecting dirt. We stopped using it years ago because of the repeated issues. Best to strip and brighten again and switch to a better brand that does not darken. RAD Wood Stain or Defy Extreme.

We just put in a new redwood deck here in Colorado.  I was planning to stain in the spring once temps were over 50 overnight.  However, I am told that because the builder sanded the deck that the wood greying process will accelerate and that I should stain sooner.  He recommends January.  My concern is that it will be to cold to do the job properly.  Can we wait until April when we will have warmer days (and nights)?

You cannot stain this now or in January. Graying  (oxidation) is normal and encouraged. You remove this by cleaning and brightening in the Spring:  https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/

Waiting until Spring is the proper way.

State:  New Jersey

Full sun

wood:  unknown

little bit of mildew

Issues:  flaking and some black spots, small splits all over

Previous stain:  Sherwin Williams Superdeck and previous to that SW Deckscapes

Would like to salvage the deck as much as possible.  Should I sand and strip?  How best to prep and what stain should I use.  I want the best.

Strip off what you can but you will need to sand the rest off. Use 60-80 grit paper. Brighten all wood when done. When done with the prep, try Armstrong Clark in a semi-solid color.

We built deck 5 years ago & used Thompson water seal. 2 years later we power washed & restrained with same product. Now another 3 years passed and deck no longer repels water and is worn in places. What is best way to restrain? Power wash and use same product?

see picture

Thompsons has poor reviews and results. Best to strip and start over. Brighten the wood after. Stain with one of these brands:

https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/

What would you suggest on a stain stripper and can it be stripped and stained in one day

See this for prep:

https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-booster-thickening-gel-review/

You can stain the same day but only with the Restore A Deck Wood Stain.

1.  Virginia

2.  Full Sun

3.  Pressure treated Southern Yellow Pine

4.  No mold or mildew issues

5.  It is a new deck.  It was completed a couple of months ago in March.  I would prefer to have at least some of the grain visible.  Also, should I be concerned that the deck screws are visible?  Do you recommend concealing them and if so, what product do you recommend using?

Thank you!

See this about new wood:  https://www.deckstainhelp.com/staining-a-new-deck/

You cannot hide deck screws. No need.

New on here and man I love this site. We have a 10X35 foot deck on our trailer on Balsam Lake (Ontario Canada). We’ve had it for 4 years now but the deck is pealing bad. I don’t think the previous owners did a great job on painting it. I really want to strip it down and stain it. My husband wants to hire someone to do it BUT I think we could do it. I read your reviews for some products but I just wanted to check the steps first. The first pic is to show the size of deck and the 2nd is to show how bad the deck is peeling. 

You have a solid stain on the wood and that cannot be stripped. You will need to cover it with another solid stain or power sand it all off. Which would you prefer?

1. Minnesota

2. Full sun for most of the day (deck is on east side of home)

3. Cedar

4. Yes, last spring when the snow melted, there was mold/mildew.  We had a new baby last summer and other than using some Wet and Forget, we did not really have the time or energy to address the mildew issue.  We need to get rid of this.

5. Just the mold.  The deck is not even 3 years old.  Built end of summer 2016, cleaned and stained with Thompson's Water Seal in 2017, and then mold showed up in spring of 2018 less than a year after staining, and still persists.