Simple tips and tricks on how to stain a deck, without a lot of effort for a beautiful finish. Selecting the best deck stain or best deck paint, tools needed and so much more!
I’m not a huge fan of decks – I’d take a beautiful brick patio any day. In fact, that’s one thing I adored about that house that could’ve been. You know, that pretty Colonial that I fell in love with, in a neighborhood that wasn’t quite as charming. I really like when kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms open up to a patio.
Rather than opening up to a space, decks can make you feel confined, limiting both the view and access to your yard. I wanted to find a way to minimize that feeling and redefine this outdoor space as a room on its own.
Our home is built on a hill, making a patio impossible from the main level. It’s partially enclosed by the screened in porch, the house wall and the breakfast nook, with just one side opening to the yard.
Using a solid stain helped to make the wood deck feel like an extension of our home, rather than an enclosure.
Table of Contents
The Best Deck Stain
Choosing the best deck stain or best deck paint is essential for a durable, quality finish.
A high quality deck stain is easy to apply, reflects UV rays…
We used Sherwin Williams SuperDeck solid deck stain. After four years and several hail storms, it’s in immaculate condition. It stains and paints offering a beautiful aesthetic.
Best Deck Paint or Solid Stain
A solid stain gives a paint appearance with the protection of a stain. While staining between the deck slats gives it a finished, polished look, almost like painted wood floors.
We said we weren’t going to DIY much at our new home, but it seems sometimes it’s just easier to do it yourself than to get a contractor to show up. My patience was waning, so Chris took over the project and learned how to stain a wood deck.
A color stain is suitable for decks that have been stained time and time again and can no longer benefit from a sheer stain. It’s also a great option to go over darker stains or to blend your deck with your home.
It is the best deck stain for:
- old wood
- treated wood
- dated stain
- tired stain
- to blend the deck with your home
- for a white deck
How you stain a deck and what you use makes all the difference.
To avoid spending endless hours attempting to get a brush to properly cover it. Chris found a staining trick and it made the surface feel more like a floor and less like a deck.
Staining between deck slats was extremely easy and not overly time consuming. It not only protects the deck, but is visually appealing no matter which direction you’re looking at it. We purchased longer edgers the second time, which made it even easier.
More Paint Tips
The best painting tips for every every surface!
How to Stain a Deck
- Don’t use a pressure washer. Powerwashing should be left to professionals. Powerwashing your deck improperly could cause more harm than good. It can cause splintering, gaps, and warping.
- Clean your deck thoroughly with a long arm brush and deck cleaner to eliminate mold and mildew, dirt and debris.
- Allow it to dry thoroughly – 48 hours minimum, so that moisture doesn’t become trapped when staining.
Materials Needed to Apply Deck Stain Between Slats
- 2 edging pads with the plastic edges trimmed off
- a roller on an extension pole
- a paint tray
How to Apply Deck Stain Between Boards
- Place 2 edging pads opposite of one another and dip in stain.
- Swipe in between slats.
- Using your roller, roll over the surface of the deck to keep the paint “drips” from drying on the surface.
- Stain your nails. It’s quick & easy to do this when staining the slats with the side of your roller.
- Roll with an extension handle for a quick, smooth finish {for solid stains you can use standard painting supplies!}
Note: We had Sherwin Williams solid stain tinted in Sherwin Williams Realist Beige. Stop by to see our new outdoor living space.
The transformation is overwhelming, don’t you think?
You can find all of my paint colors and tips here.
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More Paint Tips and Colors
- Create a cohesive Paint Palette
- The Best Cream Color Paint
- Our Neutral Paint Colors
- The Ultimate Guide to Trim Paint
- Paint Sheens
How to Stain a Deck
Equipment
- a roller on an extension pole
- long arm brush
Ingredients
- 1 paint tray
- 2 edging pads with the plastic edge trimmed off
- deck cleaner
- paint
Instructions
- Don't use a pressure washer
- Clean your deck throughly with a long arm brush and deck cleaner
- Allow deck to dry thoroughly- 48 hours minimum
- Place 2 edging pads opposite of one another and dip in stain
- Swipe in between slats
- Using your roller, roll over the surface of the deck to keep the paint "drips" from drying on the surface.
- Stain your nails. It's quick and easy to do this when staining the slats with the side of your roller.
- Roll with an extension handle for a quick, smooth finish. {for solid stains, you can use standard painting supplies}
Notes
- We had Sherman Williams solid stain tinted in Sherman Williams Realist Beige.
- Having the deck dry for a minimum of 48 hours after thoroughly cleaning makes it so that moisture doesn’t become trapped while staining.
Planning to stain our deck this summer. Did you do the balusters first and then the floor of the deck?
Yes, that’s a best practice so you’re covering up any mess.
It looks so fresh and inviting! Nice job
Thank you, Teresa!
It’s two years after this post. Do you still have it/love it?
I sure do! It’s actually been 4.5 years since we stained it and it still looks great! It’s held up incredibly well.
Your deck is absolutely gorgeous. I have been searching for something like this. I saw the color and read the blog “How to Stain a Deck” however, when looking at the paint stains there is more to it than just adding the realist beige tint. What base and name of stain did you use. This is what I have picked out but not sure if this is right??https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/products/superdeck-exterior-deck-dock-coating?colorPartNumber=SW6078
They discontinued the one I used, so I removed it. The Superdeck series replaced it and works as well. Enjoy!
Everything you do looks beautiful. We are in the process of sanding and painting our deck with a solid stain. The colour you used looks really white, but you mentioned in your post that it is actually Realist Beige. I am going with a Behr deck paint and trying to decide if I should go with their true white or choose a creamier Navajo White. Our deck gets mostly east light. I am not concerned about maintenance, but more about how the colour reflects light.
In the sun it reads much whiter, but conceals the dirt. I love Navajo White as well! I’d try a couple samples and see which looks best at various times of the day.
Thank you much for your immediate reply. The contractor keeps telling me that there will be a lot of maintenance involved—pressure washing 3/4 months because the deck will stay dirty. Is this true for you?
Not at all – had ours 3 years. We hose it off in spring and fall and that’s because we have a messy tree above it.
Hi Julie, absolutely beautiful deck. I never considered a white solid stain deck. Did you use the same color as the exterior of your home. I’m in the process of getting my deck stained. We have a very similar set up to yours with a porch of the deck off the family room and kitchen is screened. My home exterior is SW Shoji White and windows are trimmed in a dark (almost black) gray. The contractor suggested we match the trim color and go with Behr Slate (tinted by SW). However, now that I’ve seen your deck I’m almost certain I would rather the lighter color. My ultimate question is….should I use the exterior color of my home or choose a complimentary white stain? Or should I follow the contractor’s advice and use the trim color? Thank you for any suggestions you can provide.
I feel like contractors are not decorators – you could totally do that, but you need to do what *you* love! Ours is the darker of the 2 paint colors, but reads much lighter. I’d probably lean to the white over gray, personally. I hope that helps!
It looks great ! Just wanted your thoughts on a couple of things :
we want to paint/stain our deck white so it will reflect more light into the house – do you think it will serve that purpose?
Paint or stain – any views on this? Paint might be slippery but might reflect more? Right now, i think our deck has a solid stain ( dark red)
A little apprehensive about going all white since maintenance (Mold, dirt) might become an issue. Looks like you are finding it easy to keep it clean. Any advice ?
Thanks
I would definitely use a solid stain then, Tammy! We’ve been really happy with ours. You absolutely should use a stain over paint though to protect the wood, but solid stain has the look of paint, but doesn’t get slippery. Ours looks great – we just hose it every now and then. Also note ours isn’t a true white.
thanks Julie. Will check out the stains.
Do you see any more reflected light into the room nearest the deck since you painted the deck the lightish color. We are trying to get more light (or more rellected light) into the house and that’s why we are going for White. Thanks
Absolutely – our deck and screened in porch shield our dining room and family room. That’s in large part why we did ours “white” not long after we moved in. Enjoy!
Do you find the cream hard to keep clean?
Not at all! Every once in a while we hose it off.
We want to do a similar project with our deck but more of a teal color. I really like the white paint that you used and I think that it turned out really beautiful!
Hi, can you let us know what type of stain you used (manufacturer/color)? I love it.
Of course – the details are at the end of the post. Enjoy!
I just got done building my first deck in my backyard, and now I’m wanting to stain it soon. The problem is is that I’m not sure how to go about staining it on my own. That being said, I really appreciate you sharing with me some insight about how I can properly stain my new deck. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out after I follow your tips. Thanks a ton for everything.
Congratulations! It’s actually not too bad, just make sure that it’s dry for 3 days before and after you stain so that it doesn’t seal moisture in. I’m sure you’ll enjoy your new deck for years to come!
I just finished stripping my deck of an old orange-brown stain. I love the color you chose for your deck and am considering the same now for mine. Did you use the same color for the railings as well? Thanks!!!
We did! I think that’s what makes it feel less like a deck and more like a room. I’d love to see when you’re done!
I agree. I long for a patio but cannot have one due to the slope of our yard. And our deck is in sorry shape. I love the stain you chose. Can’t wait to see it once you put your finishing touches on it.
Thank you, Kathy! Hopefully you can find a way to make your deck work, they’re ridiculously expensive to replace!
That looks lovely! Great tip about staining in between. I’m sharing this with a friend who was asking for deck staining advice.