Is it necessary to stain a deck?

Wooden decks require regular maintenance to help preserve its color, grain, and longevity. All year round, your deck is exposed to rain, snow, sleet, ice, and direct sunlight. It's important to restain your deck to help prevent the impact that these elements may have on the wood.

What happens if you don't stain a wood deck?

Your Deck Will Lose its Luster

Over time, the sun's rays will dull and fade the finish. When this happens, a fresh coat of stain can quickly restore your deck's beauty. If you decide to leave your deck alone instead, expect the loss of color and shine to progress until your deck takes on a gray-ish, green-ish hue.

Can I leave my deck untreated?

It is highly unlikely that the deck will rot, splinter or decay if you choose not to have it finished and you can always choose to stain and protect the deck at a later date. If you choose to revitalize the natural color of the wood, we recommend our two-step maintenance clean.

Do you have to stain a deck or can you just seal it?

To protect your deck from both moisture and sun damage, you need to first stain it, then follow that with a clear sealant. You can now find modern products that combine stain and sealant to make complete deck protection a one-step application process, after the necessary prep work.

When should you not stain a deck?

You want to apply the stain when the wood surface and air are in the temperature range of 50° – 90°F. You also want to avoid the direct application of sunlight. Lastly, do not apply a stain if there is a forecast of rain in the following one to two days, or all your hard work could end up being washed away.

When to Seal or Stain a New Wood Deck

What happens if you don't seal stain?

Wood is dried-out and dull if you do not apply some sort of sealer. Staining and finishing are two very different things. By applying pigments, a stain is meant to darken or dye wood, but the wood is not preserved by staining.

How can I protect my deck without staining it?

The best preventative measure you can take to protect your wooden deck is to use wood sealant. Clear wood sealants are a great way to maintain the natural beauty and wood grain while still preventing damage from rot, mold, and other weathering.

What happens if you dont oil your deck?

What can Happen when Regular Deck Oiling isn't Performed? If regular oiling and maintenance is not performed on your deck, there can be some unpleasant consequences. In most circumstances, it's just a case of natural deterioration over time resulting in fading, warping and weakening of the timber.

What is the average lifespan of a deck?

Traditional wood deck: Typically 10 to 15 years. Capped composite: Industry experts agree these boards can last 25 to 30+ years. Capped polymer (the best of the best): Because of its superior material composition, capped polymer boards can last much longer, potentially 50 years or more.

Why don't you stain a new deck?

New wood is suggested to dry since it has a high moisture content. This reduces the stain's ability to penetrate. The wood will dry and turn gray from the exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. After 3-12 months you would need to apply a wood deck cleaner to remove the gray wood cells.

Is it worth staining an old deck?

Staining a deck will lead to less work in the future. One of the main reasons the professionals don't recommend staining wood decks is because of the amount of time and energy involved. Stains don't generally last more than a year. This means yearly cleaning, staining and, if necessary, sanding of your deck every year.

Can you paint a deck rather than stain it?

Deck Painting

A quality paint job can last for up to 10 years when it's done right. Paint allows you more color options, as where stain is limited to shades of brown. Because paint fills gaps and cracks, it hides the flaws of a weathered or old deck much better than stain does.

Do decks increase property value?

According to the 2021 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling magazine, a deck addition is a top 10 outdoor home improvement. A wood deck, which will cost on average about $16,766 will recoup about 68% of its value, and a composite deck, which will cost about $22,426, will recoup about 63% at home sale.

How often should you reseal a deck?

When Should I Reseal My Deck? You should reapply wood sealer at least every three years. In many cases, you need to seal a wood deck once a year. The more foot traffic and sun exposure your deck gets, the more often you need to apply deck sealant.

How long can a deck go untreated?

A deck made of untreated wood can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years. Decks made of treated wood and composite materials can last as long as 50 years. Many composite decks come with a 20-year warranty – and often a lifetime guarantee.

Is it better to oil or stain a deck?

If the deck is Merbau, Teak or Jarrah for example, you will most likely want to use an oil to enhance the natural beauty of the timber. Alternatively, if your deck is Treated Pine, you may want to use a stain to change the colour and achieve a more rich, solid look.

What decking doesn't need oiling?

Composite decking timber doesn't require Oiling, painting or sealing. Additionally, it doesn't fade and is termite resistant. You don't need harsh chemicals or oils to protect your deck and keep it looking great.

What time of year should you oil decking?

In general, Spring is the best time of the year to oil your decking. But it also depends on how long you've had your decking. Ideally, newly-laid or newly-treated decking should be left to weather naturally for about six months before you stain or oil it.

Is it OK to pressure wash a deck before staining?

Taking your time is key to power washing a deck successfully. Now that the wood has been cleaned and stripped of grime, you can sand it and apply your stain of choice. Power washing a deck before staining will allow the wood to absorb the stain better and deeper.

What time of year should you stain a deck?

Because you want to wait for days that aren't excessively hot or humid, the best times to apply deck stains are in the late spring and early fall, when the weather is moderately warm and dry. Check the weather and find a time when it's not expected to rain for two days before and following the deck treatment.

Is it better to brush or roll stain on a deck?

The first and most obvious reason to roll on deck stain as opposed to brushing it on is that the former allows you to cover a much larger surface area in less time. Rollers are wider, more efficient, and easier to operate. Additionally, using a roller helps you achieve a smoother finish.

Is it better to stain or seal wood?

The advantage of this, they say, is the sealer provides additional protection against water and weather damage, while the stain helps reduce fading from UV rays. Sealers should last at least a year, with some lasting up to three years.

Is staining the same as sealing?

Unlike sealers, stains penetrate into the wood. Like the name suggests, a wood stain contains pigments that physically change the wood's color. This gives the wood protection against harmful UV rays. Stains also have the same beneficial water-repelling qualities.

Does staining wood make it waterproof?

We've all seen the damage water has on wood surfaces that have been left untreated. By applying stain, you're creating a waterproof barrier that repels water, thus protecting the wood surface.

Do appraisers look at decks?

Appraisers look at a list of criteria, including decks/porches, to decide the overall value of a property.