How to Stain Pressure Treated Decks

Learning how to stain pressure-treated decks can help you keep your deck looking great while saving you hundreds of professional labor costs.

Pressure Treated Lumber

Most decks today are built with pressure-treated lumber made from pine, cedar, or redwood. Pressure-treated lumber is made by infusing chemical preservatives deep into the wood. These chemicals help protect the wood from insects and fungus and the treatment lasts up to 20 years, greatly extending the life of your deck.

While this treatment helps protect your deck and extend its life, you still need to seal the wood to help protect it from the weather. Sun, rain, snow, and mold can all age a deck in a few years, so learning about staining your decks can help preserve their lifespan.

Choosing a terrace stain

Whether your deck is new or built 10 years ago, you can choose from deck stains, sealers, colors and treatments. Choose from opaque stains, which mimic the look of paint, semi-transparent stains that add a pop of color to the deck while preserving the appearance of the wood grain, and clear sealers that preserve the look of the wood but must be reapplied frequently. However, be sure to avoid paint, as pressure-treated wood does not accept or adhere to paint like untreated wood does.

Staining of a pressure treated platform

Whether your deck is new or several years old, you can seal, stain and treat your deck yourself to help protect it and keep it looking great.

Allow new, pressure-treated wood to dry for 30 days before sealing.

Remove the old stain, along with any mold or mildew from an old deck using a pressure washer and deck cleaning solution. Set the pressure washer newshunttimes between 1500 and 2500 PSI to avoid damaging the deck, while still removing old stains and debris.

Let the wood dry completely for 3 to 5 days.

Use a roller or brush to apply the new stain in an even layer. Remember to also seal the ends of the boards, as moisture can enter these points.

Apply a coat of color-based sealer and a second coat after one year.

Apply two coats of clear sealer, with a third coat after 6-8 months.

Tips and Considerations

When sealing your pressure-treated deck yourself, remember to keep a few things in mind to get the best job possible.

• Use a mixture of bleach and water to kill mold and mildew on the deck.
• Use light colored tints in direct sunlight to prevent the deck from getting too hot.
• Do not use oil-based stains in shaded areas, as this will encourage mold growth.
• Use a drop cloth under the deck to catch any dripping stains or sealers on the pad below.

By treating and sealing your pressure treated deck, you are extending its life and saving hundreds of dollars on repairs and professional treatment. Learn how to seal pressure treated decks today and enjoy using them for years to come.