[Sticky] Deck Staining Help

No, you cannot add more and you should not have used the RS without removing the prior stain. You will need to strip off the RS and then go with a solid color deck stain.

1. Live in Wisconsin
2. Full Shade - deck is on north side of house
3. Cedar
4. Lots of mold - this deck never sees the sun in most parts
5. I am looking for advice on the best stain/sealer for a deck that gets no sun at all. Previous stains have been okay, but I am about to pressure wash and redo the deck, so looking for recommendations.

Try one of these brands: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/the-5-best-deck-stain-reviews-and-ratings/

I have two projects I'm looking at staining. Hopefully in the next few weeks. First are two small sets of stairs at my front and back door. They're wood, probably pressure treated but I don't know for sure, and they have an old solid stain that's worn through. The boards appear to be in decent condition overall and I'm planning on another solid stain now.

The second is a large pressure treated wood fence that was apparently put up about 6 years ago, but has never been stained or treated in any way.

Both the fence and steps get a mix of sun and shade and I'm up in Alberta, Canada.

I talked on the phone with a salesperson at my local Dulux Paint store, and that peson told me that Dulux had purchased Flood Pro, so the Dulux exterior stains and just rebranded Flood Pro stains.

Do you think the Dulus Solid Stain would be good for my two projects, if this is the case? I was also looking at Sherwin-Williams SuperDeck Solid Stains, but I see you've rated Flood Pro as your 3rd best solid stain right now. I don't think your top two are easily available to me in Canada.

Also, what prep would you recommend for these two projects prior to the staining? I'll be brushing/rolling on the stain myself.

I was thinking of washing with a wood cleaner and rinsing? Wasn't planning to pressure wash unless I absolutely have to.

Thanks.

Pressure wash for prep with a stripper to remove the peeling stain. Try the Dulux solid stain, it is probably good.

1. Illinois
2. Partial sun (faces north)
3. PT Southern Yellow Pine
4. Some mildew issues in low sun areas
5. Poor color retention in the past

Admittedly, this deck was neglected for the last 12 years. Lots of dirt build up. (backs up to corn field about 80 feet away).

Pressure washed carefully as possible, then used Olympic deck cleaner which brightened the wood. When I started to apply the stain, it was very uneven or splotchy.

How can I apply to the coverage is even?

In the pic you can see some of the splotches. The posts weren't cleaned with the cleaner and they don't have this problem. Obviously I can add a second coat, but that turned my semi-transparent to solid.

Strip and sand to remove what you have applied. Brightener after. Use a true semi-transparent penetrating stain like TWP 1500 or Armstrong Clark.

1. Northern California
2. Partial sun, faces west. Redwood trees around the deck and house.
3. Redwood
4. Not sure.
5. I would like to know if there is any way to fix this deck that was pressure washed, sanded in spots and a coat of Messmers oil was applied to the deck? It did not turn out as expected and painter (who we have used many times) told us it would look better after the oil soaked in and it dried out a bit. Painter is saying not much can be done due to the age of the wood.

Including a few pictures from the other day and a few from when it was done in 2014. Same painter applied wood brightener, power washed, and applied TWP deck oil (Redwood toned) to the deck.

We are not sure why 2020 looks so much different than 2014. Please let me know you have any advice. Thank you!

He did not prep correctly. You need to strip it all down to bare wood and start over. Possibly sand as well.

@administrator

Thank you so much for the quick reply. I thought that not prepping properly was the likely cause of the final outcome. Thx!

Hi. This site is amazing - stayed up late last night reading it, thanks.
1. Austin Texas
2. Mostly sun, faces west. Tall Oak Trees put it in partial shade all day.
3. Smooth 2x6 Western Red Cedar, built 1 year ago. Never sealed or stained.
My question: This deck was beautiful when installed. I spray painted some wrought iron furniture black, and the bottom of the chairs has left circles all over the deck where the chairs sit. Yesterday I cleared all the furniture off the deck. I scrubbed the deck with a brush dipped in a small amount of bleach and water. The chair stains didn't come out but the deck did turn white-isn grey. Next I power washed but still the chair stains didn't come out. And finally I did an experiment using sand paper with my hand and it still didn't come out. I've just given up but I still want to brighten and stain this deck. What I want to do is: A. Get the deck back to a pretty natural red color (Should I sand? Brighten?). B. If possible get those little circle stains out (Sand?) and C. Stain the deck with something that accentuates the golden/ red color. Should I go rent a sander (type? Grain)? Or should I just go get Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and do that, THEN stain? What should I stain it with?

That is rust stains deep in the wood. A brightener after the cleaner will help but it will not get it all out, too deep. We would just clean and brighten all and then stain with a penetrating stain like the Restore A Deck Semi-transparent.

@administrator

Thank you. Can you recommend a specific brightener for the type of cedar? Red Western. Is the stain you are recommending called Restore-a-deck semi transparent? Should that redden the deck up? I’m wanting it to get the warm look

You can use the RAD Products for all. Use the Cedar or Light Walnut color.

1. Central Texas
2. Partial shade, mostly hot sun
3. Cedar
4. No mold
5. No previous issues

Not sure what happened here. Previous 3-4 times that I stained the deck, I did it myself with Ready Seal, Natural Cedar and it looked beautiful. Most recently, I had to hire someone to come out and stain, and they used Cabot, semi-transparent (pictured), and it came out terrible. Can anyone tell me what caused those yellow/green stain? Recommendations on how I can fix this?