Staining a Redwood Deck: Essential Tips
Redwood decks possess an undeniable beauty, boosting your home’s curb appeal with the wood of iconic California trees. Despite their natural resistance to rot and decay, redwood decks still require special care to maintain their beauty and longevity. Your deck is vulnerable to harmful outdoor elements such as sunlight, rain, and temperature fluctuations.
Staining your Southern California home’s deck is one of the best ways to take care of it. Stain on a redwood deck enhances the wood’s natural color and protects it from damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays and moisture. At Teak Master, we understand the importance of maintaining natural wood decks to extend their life span. Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to stain a redwood deck and essential tips to get the DIY job done right.
Preparing Your Redwood Deck for Staining
Prepare your redwood deck for staining by cleaning it first. Removing dirt and debris from the surface helps ensure the new stain adheres to the wood. Apply a wood cleaner, and use a pressure washer or scrub brush to loosen any dirt, grime, and old wood fibers or stains.
If using a pressure washer, be sure not to get too close to the surface or use excessive pressure to avoid damaging the wood. As you wash the deck, the wood should lighten up, indicating you can move on to the next section once it stops lightening.
A helpful tip for preparing to put stain on redwood is to apply a wood brightener to the surface once it is clean and rinsed. Wood brightener helps neutralize the cleaners you use and preps the wood for the stain, allowing it to perform better. After brightening the wood, use fresh water to rinse the deck. Allow the deck to completely dry for three days before moving on to the next step.
Choosing the Right Stain for Redwood Decks
As you near the next step of your deck staining project, you may wonder what the best stain for a redwood deck is. The choice depends on the color and protection level you want for the deck. Whichever deck stain you choose, make sure it’s of the highest quality. Here’s a list of the different kinds of stain for a redwood deck:
- Solid deck stain: This product completely covers the wood grain of your deck and is available in a variety of colors. You may choose to match your home’s exterior paint colors. While a solid deck stain is typically easier to clean, it can crack and peel over time.
- Semi-transparent deck stain: This type of stain allows the natural wood grain to show while offering protection from moisture and UV rays. Limitations to this option include fewer color options and little room for application error, as the imperfections are easy to see.
- Transparent deck stain: This deck stain is clear, allowing the natural wood grain to shine through. Fortunately, transparent deck stain won’t crack or peel. However, it may only appeal to you if you want a natural-looking redwood deck for your Southern California home.
How to Stain a Redwood Deck
Before staining your deck, pick a desirable time of day when the weather is ideal. Ensure that the deck’s temperature is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and not in direct sunlight. Make sure there is no rain forecasted for 12 hours after you finish staining the deck to ensure it has ample drying time. Also, allow the stain to fully dry for at least 24 to 48 hours before allowing foot traffic.
Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to stain your redwood deck:
- Apply the redwood deck stain using a brush, roller, or sprayer. Choose the stain application tool that best suits your comfort and expertise level.
- Prep the deck area as needed, covering surfaces to protect them from drips and overspray. Use plastic to cover windows, concrete, plants, and siding, and remove deck furniture.
- Stir the stain well before using.
- If your home’s redwood deck has railings, stain the railings first before moving on to the deck floor.
- Using a brush, roller, or sprayer, apply a coat of deck stain from end to end. Brush on the stain, and brush off the excess as you move in one fluid motion.
- Repeat until you coat the entire deck and railings .
Avoid common mistakes such as over-application or uneven staining by only staining two boards at a time. This process helps you eliminate lap marks, which occur when the deck stain overlaps or dries quickly, causing seams to appear. Plus, sticking to only two boards at a time makes the task of DIY deck staining much more manageable.
Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the best results. When in doubt, contact your Southern California wood refinishing professionals at Teak Master for expert assistance. Our team is happy to help you stain and maintain your redwood deck.
Redwood Deck Staining FAQ
Curious to learn more about the redwood deck staining process? Check out the answers to the following frequently asked questions.
Do You Need To Sand Redwood Before Staining?
Sandpaper is an excellent tool for smoothing out rough surfaces. Should you discover uneven surfaces on your redwood deck after cleaning it, use sandpaper to remove the rough patches so the deck is pristine and ready for a new coat of deck stain. If the area is small enough, you can get away with using 36- or 40-grit sandpaper. However, if you have several surfaces to tackle, an orbital sander is ideal for smoothing them out, and a detail sander is great for hard-to-reach areas.
Should You Sand or Seal Redwood?
Staining your redwood deck does more than enhance the wood’s natural color. It protects the wood from moisture and UV rays. The best redwood deck sealers add an extra layer of security, preventing the wood from rotting or warping. Staining and sealing redwood decks provides the best possible protection.
Ready To Transform Your Redwood Deck? Contact Teak Master Today!
Regular maintenance is imperative to keeping your redwood deck looking as good as new. Whether you have questions about your redwood deck staining project or need professionals to handle it, Teak Master has you covered. With nearly 30 years of professional wood refinishing experience and hundreds of satisfied customers, your deck is in good hands with our team. Contact our redwood deck restoration specialists to bring your deck back to life with the utmost attention and care.