How to Prep & Stain an Old Deck
Learn how to prepare your old deck with a fresh new stain.
Supplies for This Project
- SuperDeck® IR Reflective Exterior Waterborne Solid Color Stain (in King's Canyon SW 3026)
- SuperDeck® Stain & Sealer Remover
- SuperDeck® Revive® Deck and Siding Brightener
- ScotchBlue™ Ultra Sharp Lines Painter’s Tape
- 3M™ Chemical Splash/Impact Goggle
- Purdy® 5-Wire Ring Kage Frame
- Purdy® Marathon™
- Sherwin-Williams Standard Duty Metal Tray
- Sherwin-Williams Blue Paint Tray Liners
- Purdy® POWER LOCK™ Professional Grade Extension Pole
- Allway Tools H/D Scrub Brush
- Bestt Liebco Scrub Brush
- Sherwin-Williams .31 Mil High Density Painter's Plastic
- Hudson 2-Gallon Super Sprayer
- Water and bucket
- Gloves
- Hose
- Broom
1. Prep
Before you apply stain, make sure the surface is clean (no dust, dirt, wood fibers or grease), dry and free from mildew. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling.
Confirm no rain for 24-48 hours.
Thoroughly sweep the deck to remove all leaves and other debris.
Protect surrounding vegetation and house siding by covering them with thin plastic.
Tip: Stain railings before staining the main deck.
2. Strip
Liberally apply SuperDeck® Stain & Sealer Remover using a roller. If you have a large deck, work in small sections to make sure the area stays wet at all times.
After 15 minutes, work the remover into the surface using a stiff synthetic-bristle brush.
Scrub thoroughly to remove all residue.
Use a garden hose with a good stream to completely rinse the stain & sealer remover from the wood, then let dry.
3. Neutralize
With a pump sprayer, apply SuperDeck® Revive®. It’s best to work in small sections.
Allow the product to set on the surface for 10-15 minutes. For best results lightly scrub the surface with a stiff, synthetic bristle brush. Do not allow the product to completely dry during application.
Thoroughly rinse the surface with fresh water from a hose, removing all residue, then let dry.
4. Water Drop Test
Before applying stain, make sure your deck has been cleaned properly.
Sprinkle some water on the deck. If the droplets soak in, the wood is ready to be stained.
5. Stain
Apply SuperDeck® Solid Color Stain (we used King's Canyon SW 3026) with roller, rolling with the wood grain.
Work the stain into the spaces between the deck boards and wood grain with the 4” brush and extension pole.
If a second coat is required, refer to the product data page for recoat times. Drying and recoat times are temperature, humidity, and film thickness dependent.
Clean up by removing any plastic on surrounding vegetation.
6. Enjoy!
Depending on temperature and humidity, allow 24-48 hours of dry time before using your beautifully restored deck or porch.
The BEFORE and AFTER...
WARNING! Removal of old paint by sanding, scraping or other means may generate dust or fumes that contain lead. Exposure to lead dust or fumes may cause brain damage or other adverse health effects, especially in children or pregnant women. Controlling exposure to lead or other hazardous substances requires the use of proper protective equipment, such as a properly fitted respirator (NIOSH approved) and proper containment and cleanup. For more information, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (in US) or contact your local health authority.
Colors We Used
Check out our most popular colors for your most important projects to develop your color palette and create like a pro. See the colors we used for this design below.
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