How to Stain a Deck With Knots in the Wood
Knotty wood adds character to a home with its unique design. Staining a deck with knots in the wood offers more of a challenge than staining a traditional wood deck because the knots cause the stain to bleed, which may ruin the look of the wood stain in the areas surrounding the knot. Taking precautions to treat and seal these knots will help your stain job look professional for years to come. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Sweep your deck and wash it with soap and water. Removing dust and debris ensures an even coat of stain the first time you apply it. Allow your deck to dry.
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Wet your hand with water and flick a few water drops onto the deck. To apply an even coat of stain, your deck must absorb it evenly. Watch how the deck absorbs the water droplets. If it absorbs them all evenly, you know the wood is ready to receive the wood stain. If the wood doesn't absorb the water evenly, continue sanding and try sprinkling water again. Continue that process until the wood absorbs the water droplets evenly.
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Place a plastic tarp on your deck flooring. This protects the floor from stain splatter while you stain the railings.
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Stain the deck's railings. Apply the wood stain in the same direction as the grain. Remove the tarp from the deck floor.
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Stain the floor. Again, apply the stain in the same direction as the wood grain.
Let the stain dry for at least four hours.
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Apply a second coat of wood stain to the entire deck.
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Apply two coats of amber shellac to the knotted areas only, using a foam paintbrush. Generously seal the knotted area with the amber shellac, but only apply shellac to the knot. Allow the amber shellac to dry completely.
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Seal your entire deck with two coats of polyurethane. Apply the polyurethane in the same direction as the wood grain, allowing the first coat to dry before you add the second coat.
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References
- Photo Credit John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
