Prepare the deck surface Before staining your deck, be sure the wood is dry and free of contaminants. Stain that’s applied to damp surfaces won’t adhere well and can crack or peel.

Clean wood is important, too—the surface should be free of mildew stains, dirt, debris and contaminants. To clean and prep the deck for staining, wash it with Cabot® Problem Solver™ Wood Cleaner, rinse with clean water and let it dry for two to three days. For more information about prepping your deck, read our article The Basics of Exterior Staining Prep.

A few tips before you get started

• Apply stain when air and wood surface temperatures are between 50°—90°F. Avoid applying in direct sunlight.
• Don’t apply stain if rain is in the forecast over the next 12—24 hours.
• Test a small area first and let it dry to make sure you’re pleased with the result.
• If you’re covering a large area and using multiple gallons, mix them together to ensure color consistency.

Choosing the right stain Cabot offers a full range of high-quality stains, in a variety of colors and opacities. Here’s an overview:

Translucent—These clear and lightly tinted stains are nearly transparent, so they allow the most wood grain and texture to show through. View translucent colors.

Semi-Transparent—Lightly pigmented, these stains impart more color the surface than translucent stains, while still letting the wood grain to be seen. View semi-transparent colors.

Semi-Solids—Our unique semi-solid/semi-opaque finish masks most of the wood grain, but allows some of the wood texture to be seen. View semi-solid colors.

Solids—Choose these stains if you want a rich, vibrant opaque finish that completely hides the wood grain while allowing very little of the wood texture to show through. View solid colors.

Want to see how different stains look on your deck before buying a large quantity of that color? Just order 4 oz. cans from our Sample Store.

How to apply stain
• Natural bristle brushes are the best choice for effectively working the stain into the wood fibers and cells.
• Start by heavily coating the open end-grain of the boards. Then brush 2—3 boards at a time, from one end to the other in long, smooth strokes.
• To avoid “lap marks” make sure that the leading edge is kept wet and that wet stain is brushed into wet stain.
• On new decks, apply only one coat of oil-based deck finishes.
• For composite decking—that’s decking made from recycled plastic materials and wood—follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Keep in mind more stain is not better. If you over-apply, stain may peel or crack when exposed to moisture, or produce a sticky surface which can prevent it from drying properly.

Maintain your stain Remember, decks take a lot of abuse so you’ll need to reapply stain from time to time. Not sure whether it’s time to reapply stain? Here’s a rule of thumb: if the stain is still repelling water, it's still performing. You may just need to clean the deck this season.