What deck staining does
A gray deck has lost its color to the weather at the surface, and stain brings the color back. Deck staining and sealing in Fort Collins is mostly that: taking a deck that has gone silver-gray and giving it its color again.
We clean the deck and put on a penetrating stain or a clear sealer. Fort Collins sits at roughly 5,000 feet, so the sun is strong up here. Your deck takes a lot of it.
Here’s how the three finishes differ:
- Penetrating stain: soaks into the wood instead of sitting on top of it.
- Semi-transparent stain: a penetrating stain with color in it, so the grain still shows through.
- Clear water-repellent sealer: goes on without adding color.
Cleaning and light sanding
Stain goes on clean wood. We clean the deck first, then give it a light sanding where the boards need it, so the stain soaks in evenly. Light sanding is included in the price for a typical deck.
Wet wood won’t take stain well. Most deck pros give a cleaned deck a day or two to dry before staining.
Here’s a quick test you can try yourself. Sprinkle a little water on a board. If it soaks in within about 30 seconds, the wood is ready. If it beads up, the deck needs more time.
When an old finish has failed
Paint and solid stains tend to peel on a surface you walk on. If a deck has an old finish that’s peeling, it has to be stripped before a penetrating stain can go on.
Stripping a failed finish runs above the usual staining price. We’ll tell you at the estimate if your deck needs it, so there are no surprises later.
Penetrating stain needs a fresh coat every few years
A penetrating finish needs a fresh coat every few years. That’s normal for a wood deck. Because there’s no film sitting on top, penetrating stain wears away thin instead of peeling, which makes the next coat much easier.
How long yours lasts depends on the sun. A deck that bakes in afternoon light wears faster than one with shade.
Each new coat goes on the same way:
- Clean the deck.
- Sand lightly where needed.
- Stain.
Boards that need more than stain
Stain brings back color, but it doesn’t fix a split board or a loose railing. If we see boards that have checked and split, or a railing that moves, we’ll point them out. Those are deck repair work, and it makes sense to fix them before the stain goes on.
To read more about the gray color itself, see our guide on why a deck turns gray. If you’re planning a new wood deck, see wood and cedar decks.
Ready to bring your deck’s color back? Ask us for an estimate and we’ll tell you exactly what your deck needs.
