Is it possible to stain over a stained deck?
Your deck is at that point again and now you’re wondering can I stain over my stained deck or will it make it worse.
It can be tempting to simply put a coat of stain or paint on your stained deck and call it a day, but it could cause more problems that’ll be expensive to fix.
To make sure you get this right, here’s the answers to the most common questions I get about staining or painting on top of a deck that already has a stain on it…
Can you stain over a stained deck?
To answer this question properly, you need to take note of the current condition of the stain on your deck.
If your deck is in good condition and you’re looking to apply a maintenance coat to keep your deck looking new, then yes… you can stain over a stained deck.
If this is the case then make sure you use the exact same product as last time. Don’t try to coat your existing stain with a different type of deck stain.
Different types of deck stains and different brands aren’t designed to work together.
If it’s not the exact same deck stain as last time, then strip your deck back and start again.
It’s the same if your deck stain is starting to look really worn and faded. Applying more stain won’t hide the damage.
I recommend stripping your deck back, then applying the stain.
What about if I want to change the colour of the stain?
Whenever you apply stain on top of a stained deck, it’s best to stick with the exact same product that you used last time and make sure you use the same colour.
When you start applying colours on top of other colours, the results can be risky…
I’ve been called in to fix decks that have had different colour stains on top of existing stains and it’s resulted in weird dark colours that look like there’s moisture trapped under the stain.
The stain can come out looking blotchy
Can you stain over paint on a deck?
The golden rule when it comes to painting or staining a deck is this…
If you have paint on your deck and it’s due for a recoat, then you need to coat it with paint.
Never put stain on a painted deck…
Stain needs to absorb into the surface of your decking boards to make sure your deck is protected properly and also so it looks great.
Any time you put a coat of stain on top of paint, the paint will stop the stain from soaking into the surface.
The stain will peel off.. It won’t provide any protection for your decking boards.
Not only that, the stain won’t mask any blemishes on your deck. It will actually make it look worse.
So, never stain over a painted deck…
Can you paint over deck stain?
Whenever you paint a deck, the most important part is the preparation.
If you want the paint to stick to the surface of your decking boards then you need to make sure all previous coatings are removed and the surface is cleaned then primed before you paint.
That means that you can’t paint over a deck stain.
Primer is designed to adhere to timber, not stain…
If you paint straight on top of a deck stain, it won’t be long until your deck starts to bubble and peel.
Don’t be surprised if your new paint job only lasts 3 months.
Can you put water based deck stain over oil based deck stain?
By now, you should know that when you stain your deck, you need to use the same product as the last time or you need to strip it back and start again.
This is also the case if you want to put a water based deck stain over an oil based deck stain.
These products were never designed to work on top of each other.
A water based deck stain won’t stick to an oil based deck stain. By trying to cut corners, you’ll end up with a deck that looks ugly and will peel and fade within 3 to 6 months…
Any blemishes in your current oil based stain will not be masked by the water based deck stain.
It will actually highlight the blemishes…
So, if you have an oil based deck stain on your deck now you either strip it back and start again or you give it a coat with the exact same product as last time.
If you don’t know what the product is, strip it back and start again.
Never put a water based deck stain over an oil based deck stain.
If you’ve decided it’s safe for you to stain over your deck stain, here’s how you do it…
Start by wetting down the whole decking including the surrounding building and gardens.
Use a deck brightener like this… to scrub your deck.
Let the brightener sit on your deck for 10 to 15 minutes but don’t allow it to dry on the surface. If the brightener dries on your decking, it’ll cause stains and a blotchy appearance.
If you notice it starting to dry up, you can wet with a light spray from a garden hose.
After 15 minutes, you can use a pressure cleaner to remove all of the brightener from your decking. Make sure to wet your garden and plants down while you’re removing the brightener.
It’s important to remove all of the brightener before you apply the stain.
Now allow your deck to completely dry before you apply the stain. 24 hours would be a say bet.
Once your deck is dry, make sure you apply the stain with a DeckBrush applicator, not a roller or lambswool applicator.
And don’t forget to use the brush on, Brush off Technique
You should only need one coat of stain for a recoat, or 2 to 3 coats if you had to strip your deck back and start again.
That’s all there is to it.
If you need a little more help before you get started, you should check this out…
I make my living from applying the deck restoration secrets I teach.
I go out to people’s homes and restore their decks
So, if you live in Mornington and need deck restoration, you can give me a call on 0466183548
I look forward to hearing from you
Sincerely,
Jason
