The Best Way to Stain A Deck

Finally learn the proper way to stain a deck to provide long-lasting beauty. These tips are the best way to stain a deck so it stays looking fresh.

Reader Contribution by Steve Maxwell
Updated on January 23, 2023
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by AdobeStock/Radoslav Cajkovic

Finally learn the proper way to stain a deck to provide long-lasting beauty. These tips are the best way to stain a deck so it stays looking fresh.

After three decades of watching people struggle to maintain a finish on their wooden decks, I’ve come to realize something. If you want something fancier than a weathered wood deck, successful deck staining boils down to one rare personality trait. How well can you keep your enthusiasm under control?

While it’s oh-so tempting to open up that new can of stain and slap some onto the cracked remains of a long-dead finish, that’s a recipe for disaster. If you do this there are two reasons why your deck will look crummy again in 6 months or less:

  1. Most deck stains don’t work all that well even if you do apply them properly.
  2. You need to delay gratification for a few painful hours while you deal with all that peeling, worn out stain and tired looking grey wood.
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