MMH  >  Outdoors  >  Deck

Can you give me some advice on deck staining?

Need some advice on staining my deck. I have a pressure treated deck and have noticed from previous articles, it seems that you prefer a long-handled brush and warm soapy water to clean the deck. I am wondering if it is necessary to sand down any stain that can not be removed this way or if I can just restain over whatever is not removable? Do I wait for the wood to dry completely for several days or is 24 hours enough before applying the first coat? Is there a preference to the type of deck stain that should be applied? Do I need to restain the whole deck (only the high-traffic and sun-drenched areas appear to have the most peeling)?

With respect to stains that don't come off with soapy water and bleach -- it depends. It depends on how big and obvious the stains are, and it depends on how well the stains (unwanted) are covered by the stain (wanted) you choose. The dryer the wood, the more stain it will absorb, and a better off you be. Therefore if you can wait two or three days, you are better off. I prefer stains that are thin and watery and are mostly absorbed by the wood, rather than thicker opaque stains that leave a layer that can peel. The thinner stains seem to wear less in high-traffic areas. Based on your comments about peeling, I suspect you are using a heavier stain. Therefore, that necessity to restain the whole deck, rather than high-traffic and sun-drenched areas, is a question of aesthetics.