Staining a Previously Stained Deck

Can you stain a previously stained deck?

Stained decks are the perfect place to spend the summer hosting barbecues and enjoying the sunshine. But in order to keep your deck in great condition, the stain will need to be reapplied every 3-5 years. This ensures that the structure is fully protected from the elements and that it looks fantastic!

At Even Better Painting, our team of professional painters recommends restaining your deck if you notice any of the following issues:

Peeling
Patchiness
Rotting wood – this will need to be removed before restaining the surface

For homeowners in the Vancouver area, you can expect to re-stain your deck every 2-3 years due to the amount of rain in the region. Here is how you can stain your previously stained deck:

Determining what stain to use

Deck stains come in transparent, semi-transparent, and solid forms, and are available in hundreds of colours. It is important to take the type and colour of the stain on your deck currently into consideration when choosing a new stain for the wood. Transparent stains protect the surface while allowing the full colour of the wood to show through. Semi-transparent stains allow the grain of the wood to show through while changing or enhancing the colour of the wood. Solid stains will completely cover the colour and grains of the original wood.

If your deck is stained with a:

Light semi-transparent stain, you can apply a similar or darker semi-transparent or solid stain over the current stain without having to remove the current coating. Very little additional preparation is required.
Light solid stain, you can use a similar or darker solid stain. Do not use a semi-transparent stain as it will not bind and can cause early peeling and flaking. You do not need to remove the current stain.
Dark semi-transparent stain, you can cover with a similar semi-transparent stain. If you would like to go lighter, consider using a solid stain or removing the current stain.
Dark solid stain, you will need to choose a solid stain or remove the current stain.

Examine the condition of the deck

Before you start staining, thoroughly inspect the deck for any structural issues. Keep an eye out for loose nails and boards that are splintering or rotting. You should never stain over damaged wood as it can cause greater damage to your deck over time. Once any necessary repairs have been made, the deck is ready for the next step.

Prepare the surface for staining

For some projects, you will need to remove the stain that is on the deck before you can apply a new stain. When in doubt, it never hurts to remove old stain so the new stain can bind directly to the wood surface. Some cases where this additional step will be needed are if you are:

Going from a solid stain to a semi-transparent stain.
Switching from a dark stain to a light semi-transparent stain.

The old stain can be removed with a strong paint stripper or a thorough sanding.

Whether you remove the old stain or plan to stain over it, you will want to start with a clean surface. Power wash the deck and allow a few days for it to dry completely before applying the new stain. Power washing removes any existing dirt and grime so it does not become stuck under the stain.

If you did not remove the old stain from your deck, the next step in preparation is to lightly sand the surface. This will help the stain properly adhere to the surface. Use a fine grit sandpaper for a smooth finish, and don’t press too hard. Make sure to evenly sand the surface.

Stain the surface

Now that the nitty-gritty work is out of the way, you can get to staining! Use a high quality roller or brush to apply a thin layer of stain to the surface. If you notice that the stain is pooling, you will want to reduce the amount of stain on your brush.

When staining any surface, you will want to maintain a “wet edge.” Allowing a spot to dry while you are working in that section and then applying more stain over top will create an uneven finish.

Finally, wait until the stain is fully dry before applying a second coat.

Get help from a professional Vancouver painter!

Staining can be tricky and time consuming with the amount of preparation required. If you would like a free quote on your deck, get in touch with Even Better Painting! Our team has stained hundreds of decks and fences with fantastic results!