Before you re-stain a deck, there are a few steps you should take to prepare and get the deck ready to absorb the new color. If this is the first time deck stain color is going to be applied to the surface of your deck, you’ll have slightly less prep work to do. For those who have a deck with stain already applied, there is the extra step of making sure that the old color is removed before you start.
Step One to re-stain a deck
Start by looking over the condition of the deck. Make sure there are no loose nails or rotting boards before you start trying to re-stain a deck. Check the boards for signs of splintering or rot. Fix any issues you find before you proceed with staining the deck.
Step Two to re-stain a deck
Remove any existing deck stain color using a paint stripper or sander. Make sure the paint or stain is uniformly removed from the wood surface and no patches remain. This will help your new stain look the same across every part of the deck. Once all of the color is removed, you can proceed to cleaning the deck.
Step Three to re-stain a deck
Use a wood deck cleaning product along with a pressure washer to clean the deck. Dilute the cleaning solution as specified on the product package and wait until a day where the wind is low and no rain is forecast. As you wash the deck, use the lowest pressure setting on the washer to avoid damaging the surface of the wood. Using a wide spray across all of the boards will help you remove all of the dirt. Allow the deck to dry overnight before you proceed to sanding the deck.
Step Four to re-stain a deck
Once the deck has dried, you may see more splinters and rough patches along the surface than before. This is due to the pressure washing and the normal expansion of the wood as it dries. To get the wood surface smooth again before you stain it, use a power sander to sand the planks.
Step Five to re-stain a deck
Select the new stain color and finish for your deck. Use a high quality bristle brush to apply the new stain onto the small areas, such as the hand railings, stairs and built in shelves. Work your way down these areas from top to bottom to avoid any drips appearing in the finished product.
Step Six to re-stain a deck
Wait 48 hours before you stain the surface of the deck. This will give the planks time to dry and be ready to absorb the stain you apply. If the deck gets wet due to any rain, wait another 48 hours to allow enough time for the water absorbed to dry. Use a paint pad to apply the stain in wide, even strokes on the deck. Allow the first coat of stain to fully dry before you decide whether or not to apply another coat.
Once these steps are completed, your newly stained deck will be ready to enjoy. Over the first few months, the color of your deck may change slightly as the stain settles. You may choose to re-seal the deck a few months later to prolong the life of the new stain.
Can you spray over pressure treated wood..
Mr Dyer,
Yes, you can spray Ready Seal on pressure treated wood. If it is new PT fencing or deck material you will need to let it dry for 6-8 weeks before applying Ready Seal. The interior moisture needs to be at 12% or less before you apply. Thanks for your interest in Ready Seal!
2 years ago I used ready seal pecan, can I change it to ready seal natural cedar after I pressure wash it?
I just pressure stripped my 8 year old painted fence with a power washer. I am going to let it dry a week before starting the staining process with a stain sprayer. Is a week enough time to dry?
Thank you
Hi Randy, One week should be long enough to dry in most instances. To be sure you should get a moisture meter and make sure the moisture content is 12% or less. Thank you for using Ready Seal on your fence!
After staining how long before walking on it?
Mr. Salzman,
The viscosity of Ready Seal Wood Stain provides a wide application temperature spectrum ranging from teens to 120+ degrees. Penetration and dry time is certainly slower in the cooler temperatures. Dry Time can be 3 to 7 days. Ready Seal Does Not Raise The Grains of Wood. You can walk & re-stage furniture right away without any foot prints, finger prints or markings. If you want to accelerate the dry time and circumvent the tracking, saturate an old cloth or old mop with mineral spirits and take across surface to cut excess oil. This will address the slippery surface & curtail the tracking issues.
If changing deck stain on sides with lattice work. Can I prep with pressure washer and then stain over or will I need to add a primer and paint it’s refwood now looking at solid gray color now.
I can provide pictures if needed
Hi Greg- If you are using Ready Seal, then you can not stain over another product. The wood needs to be clean and bare before Ready Seal can penetrate in. If you are using another product, you should check with that manufacturer to see what their recommended protocol is for application. Please call our office at 1-888-782-4648 or 972-434-2028 during regular business hours Mon-Fri, and we’d love to help answer all your questions about wood preparation and application of Ready Seal.
Thanks for the great read on restaining decks! My favorite part of your article was when you said that if the deck already has a stain, one must remove the old stain before staining it with the new one after cleaning. As of the moment, I am thinking of having a new deck for my home at our summer beach house made. I will keep these in mind if I needed to restain, but first, I need a good supplier of decking material to have the deck made so that the deck will be sturdy enough to last a summer outing and a future restaining.
Thanks for your comments Tim! Yes, it is true that you need to strip/remove old stain first if the previous stain is something other than Ready Seal. If you follow our removal and cleaning protocol, you can bring an old fence or deck back to a beautiful life! But if the “old” stain is already Ready Seal, then it’s an easier process. All you need to do is clean and rinse the wood well, let it dry down to 12% moisture or less, then you can reapply Ready Seal right on top of Ready Seal. This makes Ready Seal a perfect choice for a new structure, as the long-term maintenance and upkeep is simple.
This is an awesome read. Thanks for sharing this to us!
Definitely needed this information now. Thank you for posting and give me what I need to know.
When the decking ready to stain can I use a wood
Preservative before staining
There are areas of my deck where the old stain just won’t come off but is very faint. Does this mean the new stain won’t penetrate the wood in these areas?