How to Stain a Deck With an Opaque Color
It's necessary that wood decks be stained to protect them from ultraviolet rays, weather and moisture. Most decks should be stained right after they've been built and every spring after that. The three major types of deck stain are clear, semitransparent and opaque. Opaque will show the least of the wood color and grain through the stain, but it will offer a strong, protective coat. Shop around for the stain you like best and protect your deck the way it should be protected. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Deck stripping solution
- Water hose or pressure sprayer
- Airless sprayer
- Opaque deck stain
- Brush
- Rags
Instructions
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Strip your deck. Buy the deck stripping solution of your choice and get to work. Apply your stripper to your deck with a mop, handheld brush or sprayer. Let it soak into the wood for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash it away with a pressure washer or garden hose. Let your deck completely dry before moving on.
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Buy a deck stainer that you like. An opaque color will not allow the wood's grain to show through and covers up most of its color. An opaque stain is similar to paint, so choose a color that you like.
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Apply the stain to your deck. You can do this in a number of ways. You can use a airless sprayer, a stain pad, a roller brush or a paint brush. The best way to stain your deck is by spraying the stain on a little at a time with an airless sprayer, and then brushing it in with a handheld pad. You can use a roller brush, but it's not as accurate as a pad. Most products only recommend one coat. If you want to add another coat, make sure to check if the product you're using works well while the first coat is still wet. If not, wait for it to dry before applying the second coat.
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Go over your entire deck and make sure all cracks, splits and pores are saturated. Let the stain dry completely before walking on it. Opaque stains can especially leave marks on the bottom of your shoes.
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Tips & Warnings
Always paint in front of you. Don't move backward while you're applying the stain and paint yourself into a corner. Finish individual boards in one session. It's best to finish the whole deck in one session to prevent lap marks. Apply stain between the temperatures of 50 F and 90 F. Do not apply when hot, wet or windy weather conditions are expected within 36 hours. Always let your deck fully dry before applying the stain.
An opaque stain is a strong stain, but it tends to get damaged easily from heat. The stain might start to peel, depending on the weather. You will most likely have to strip and re-apply the stain every two to three years.
