Cedar Stain for Deck – Deck builders Kent WA particularly and Washington generally suggest that every deck should be stained every 6 months to best keep it maintained.
Wood made from cedar can be used both indoors and outdoors. There is a huge need for cedar decking, as well as for cedar fences and siding. Cedar is a soft wood that is naturally weather resistant because of its oily composition. Let Decking Pros NW help you to pick the right stain for your wood siding or deck!
>>> Read more: How to choose deck colors
I. When Should You Stain Your Deck?
1. Visually Inspect Your Deck Surface
Deck builders Seattle say that a fresh coat of paint is in order if the deck’s surface appears worn, thin, or patchy. If wood degradation, such as warping and splintering, develops, staining may be essential. If you notice this before you begin working, you might wish to swap out a few circuit boards.
If the paint is flaking or peeling, a re-staining may be necessary. To accomplish this, we’ll need to wet the deck. If the water rolls away from your deck, it’s in good condition. If the water starts to soak in, you’ll need to get it taken care of.
2. Perfect Time to Stain Your Deck
Drying out a deck before staining it is essential. As a result, staining your deck in the fall is the best option. When it comes to applying a stain, spring and summer can be wet and humid and winter is too cold. A few days of dry weather between the lows of 50°F and the highs of 90°F is ideal for staining. The stain will dry before it can be absorbed by the wood because of this
>>> Read more: Spring deck cleaning guide
3. New Cedar Deck – Deck Contractor Seattle
If your deck is spanking new, staining it should be done as soon as possible, but not immediately. Staining a new deck can take anything from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the materials used. Before staining pressure-treated wood, it should be allowed to dry for at least six months.
Before staining, kiln-dried timber (the most popular) needs to dry for one to two months, whereas green lumber (freshly cut wood) requires one year of drying time for every inch of thickness.
II. Factors You Need to Consider before Choosing Wood Stains
This decision is largely dependent on what you want from your cedar wood deck. While some deck stains are simple to use, some necessitate a little more effort on your part. When it comes to staining, you can opt to accentuate the inherent beauty of your wood surfaces, or you can choose to cover up any imperfections. Deck repair Seattle will help you to choose one!
1. Based Stains – Deck Builders Kent WA
a. Oil-based Stain
Oil-based stains absorb into the wood better and go deeper than water-based stains. While oil-based stains can be used on a wide variety of wood species, they tend to have higher levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making them less friendly to the environment. In contrast to water-based stains, these are easier to apply and more tolerant of lap marks.
However, there are a few drawbacks. Some of the drawbacks include a shorter lifespan, a more difficult clean-up process, an increased risk of mold and mildew growth, as well as a longer drying time. Most oil-based stains must be completely dry on the wood before they can be applied, and they take longer to dry as a result. Make sure there is no rain in the forecast before applying this stain.
b. Water-based Stain
Stains based on water are simple to apply and clean off with soap and water, making them ideal for use in bathrooms and kitchens. Because they contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), they’re better for the environment and therefore more popular.
In order to ensure a long-lasting stain, you must first thoroughly prepare the wood before staining it with a water-based stain. Fortunately, once the wood has been cleaned and brightened, a quality water-based stain can outlast most oil-based stains.
c. Hybrid Stains
It’s common for hybrid stains to be made of an oil-based resin encased in water. Since stricter VOC regulations have prompted stain makers to develop newer VOC-compliant versions of their stains, this is a relatively recent innovation. Because of their ease of use, they’re a good compromise between water-based treatments and oil wood stains.
Many times, they’re simply referred to as “oil-based” but with soap and water cleansing. They’re getting more and more common. There are certain advantages to using an oil-based stain, but they aren’t as long-lasting as an acrylic water-based stain.
2. Opacity – Transparent Stain
a. Solid Stains
Unlike paint, a solid color stain entirely hides the wood’s natural finish. If you want to create a consistent look or disguise the defects of a very weathered cedar deck, a solid stain is a suitable option.
b. Semi-transparent Stains
These stains use pigments that are both opaque and transparent to produce a delicate pop of color, and this allows the grain of the wood to be seen through after the stain has been applied.
The surfaces of cedar wood require a treatment that not only shields them from damage but also highlights their innate personality and grain pattern. If the condition of your existing deck is poor, you should consider using a stain that is more opaque rather than a semi-transparent one. This is because semi-transparent stains aren’t very good at hiding imperfections.
C. Semi-solid Transparent Stain
This stain is more translucent than an opaque stain, yet it will still drastically alter the appearance of wood. Staining antique wood with a semi-solid stain is the greatest way to bring out its character and bring out its color. For a new cedar deck, it’s recommended to avoid using a semi-solid stain because of the particular character and natural weathering that come with cedar wood decks.
D. Clear Stains
There is absolutely no pigment in clear stains, and they just serve to protect the wood from the sun’s destructive rays and severe weather. To preserve the natural beauty of western red cedar on your wood paneling or deck, a clear sealer is the best option.
3. Types of Cedar Stain for Deck – Seattle Deck Contractor
a. Film Forming Stains
Surfaces treated with film-forming stains are protected from the elements by a thin coating formed on top of the wood. A film-forming wood stain is ideal for hiding flaws and protecting against UV rays, and normally lasts for several years before needing to be reapplied. If your deck has both new and ancient boards, these types of stains are ideal. It’ll cover up any visible signs of board replacement.
b. Penetrating Stains
Stains that penetrate the wood’s grain do so deep into the wood’s surface. Wood fibers are strengthened and more resistant to water damage, rot, and insects thanks to the stain’s ability to wrap around each one. While still allowing the wood to breathe, a penetrating deck stain shields it from the harsh environment.
To keep the wood’s grain visible and protect it both inside and out, penetrating stains are a popular choice for delicate woods like cedar.
>>> How Much Deck Stain Sealer do We Need?
III. How to Prepare Your Deck before Staining – Deck Repair Seattle
Staining the entire deck is a pretty rough process. We recommend you check out some work from Deck builders Kent WA – Decking Pros NW and contact them for deck staining. Now, let’s see what can you do to keep your cedar deck or even outdoor furniture fresh and clean!
1. Clean and Sweep Debris
You should sweep your deck at least once per week, preferably twice, so that you can avoid a large mess when it comes time to give it a thorough cleaning. Your deck has to have any debris, such as dirt and leaves, swept off of it in order to prevent the breakdown of organic matter and the formation of mildew, which can make the surface slippery.
It should only take a few minutes, depending on the size of your deck, to sweep everything off the edge of your deck using a soft push broom, which will allow you to keep your deck looking beautiful and neat at all times.
2. Wash Your Deck with Proper Technique
Cleaning your cedar deck is still a hot topic of debate. A power wash, in addition to deep-cleaning quickly, can also harm and degrade timbers like cedar. A variety of methods can be used to thoroughly clean your deck. Once or twice a year, thoroughly clean your deck. We recommend utilizing a cedar-specific cleaning solution to clean your cedar deck.
Dish soap and water can also be used to clean your deck. Mix water and dish soap in a big bucket to create a foamy solution. Apply the solution with a soft scrub brush after thoroughly cleaning your deck with a garden hose. Avoid drying out your deck while you’re working on it. The garden hose’s mister setting can be used to keep the deck moist if it starts to dry out.
After the soapy solution has been working for a few minutes, use a garden hose to thoroughly rinse the deck.
The rails on the deck should also be cleaned. Deck railings can quickly corrode if they come into contact with hands, which is why oil and residue are so common on them. In order to minimize long-term harm from accumulation, it is essential to maintain it clean regularly.
4. Stain Wood Deck Once Every 6 Months
Water, rot, and insects will not be able to damage your deck if it is sealed. On the other hand, stain adds visual appeal while also providing UV protection to the deck. To keep your cedar deck at its best, you should reseal and stain it every two or three years. Sealing and staining your deck can be accomplished with the same substance in some cases.
Most of the old seals will have worn away by the time your deck is ready for a new seal. Spraying your deck with a hose can inform you whether this has happened. The seal is gone if the water seeps in. If the sealant is still beading on top, then it’s probably still in good shape.
5. Regular Maintenance
Deck maintenance is really important, so make sure to keep an eye on it. This is additional maintenance that should be done in addition to the cleaning advice that came before it. You should promptly replace any hardware that has developed rust. Replace any boards that are loose, showing signs of rot or insect damage, or that have been damaged by insects.
6. Avoid Outdoor Rug
Yes, an outdoor rug can be a good way to provide a sense of coziness to an outside area. Many rugs, on the other hand, absorb and retain water, resulting in moist deck boards underneath. In addition to premature wood rot, this can also contribute to the formation of mildew.
In the event that you must have a rug in your outside area, opt for one made of plastic or synthetic materials rather than one made of natural ones. Using plastic or synthetic rugs eliminates the need to worry about rotting, mold, or trapped water.
The weathering properties of plastic and synthetic carpets are also superior to those of wool and sisal. You can just hose it down if it gets dirty or you spill something on it.
It is pretty simple to build a cedar deck, and it will last for many years if you take care of it on a semi-regular basis. Staining your deck is a great way to give it an aged aspect, but it’s also a great way to make it look sleek. Now that you’ve read through our guide on how to properly care for and maintain a cedar deck, you should be better prepared to do so.
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To reach Decking Pros NW – deck and patio contractor Seattle was for detailed information about the services below is some more information for you:
- Phone: (206) 279-1450
- Email: info@deckingprosnw.com
- Website: https://deckingprosnw.com/
- Open Hours: 8:00-18:30