Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993

Hi! I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood staining and restoration. My simple deck stain facts and tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor. See here for more info about me. Question: Will a Deck Stain Freeze in Winter? My Pro Advice on Deck Stain Storage: Yes. It does not matter if it is water-based or oil-based. If you leave your deck stain in a garage or shed where temperatures can fall below freezing, there is a very good chance it will be ruined. Signs that your deck stain has gone bad are excessive thickening, jelling/clumping of the deck stain, or skinning …

Hi! I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood staining and restoration. My simple deck stain facts and tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor. See here for more info about me. Question: How to stain a deck quickly? My Pro Advice: Spray the Deck Stain The best way to stain a deck quickly is to use an air or pump sprayer. You will also need deck stain pads and brushes to cut in the main surface of the deck and clean up any drips on railings. To use a pump sprayer, you will want to make sure that the surrounding area is …

Can you stain and seal a deck stain at the same time? Yes, the deck stain you apply to your deck is also a sealant. The deck stain contains a sealant that protects the wood from weather, moisture, and UV rays. Take note that clear deck stains do not protect against UV damage, and do not last as long as better quality tinted semi-transparent deck stains with added sealants against this damage. Note: Never apply a sealer like Thompsons over a deck stain, it will peel if you do. More information on what deck stain does for your deck Are Deck Stains Sealers? More Pigment in Deck Stain Means Better UV Protection Thomason’s Waterseal Waterproofer Plus Clear Wood Protector Review …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood cleaning. My Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me. 9.4 Overall Rating Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Restore-A-Deck Deck Stain Stripper is a concentrated, powdered wood stripper designed to be mixed with water and applied using a sprayer or injection system. It is formulated to remove old stains and coatings more effectively than many ready-to-use, consumer-grade products. From my experience restoring decks since 1993, powdered strippers like this tend to perform …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior wood cleaning. My R-A-D™ PaintStrip review is based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top deck stain choices. See here for more info about me. 9.2 Overall Rating RAD PaintStrip Paint & Solid Stain Stripping Gel RAD PaintStrip Paint & Solid Stain Stripping Gel is a heavy-duty wood stripper designed specifically for removing solid stains, paints, and multiple layers of coatings from exterior wood surfaces. Unlike lighter, consumer-grade strippers, this product is formulated for more demanding restoration projects. From my experience restoring decks since 1993, removing …

Hi, I am Scott Paul. I have been prepping decks for over 30 years. My sanding deck help tips on staining decking are based on my history as a wood deck restoration contractor. See here for more info about me. Why Sanding a Deck Can Be an Issue I appreciate your input at Deckstainhelp.com as we continue to be your go-to source for the latest deck restoration news and trending topics through 2026. See below for an article about Why Sanding a Deck Can be an Issue. Feel free to leave a comment or ask questions below. Sanding your deck can reduce stain penetration One of the most frustrating problems that can crop up when you stain or restain your …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior deck sanding and prep. My reviews and help tips are based on my history as a wood and deck restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top product choices. See here for more info about me. My Deck Sanding Tips for Pro Results I appreciate your input at Deckstainhelp.com as I continue to be your go-to source for the latest deck restoration news and trending deck prep topics through 2026. Below are my expert tips and insights on sanding your wood deck. Feel free to leave me a comment or ask questions below. …

Hi! I am Scott Paul, a leading exterior restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in exterior deck cleaning and stain stripping. My wood deck cleaning/stripping help tips are based on my history as a wood restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing. See here for more info about me. Deck Stripper vs a Deck Cleaner I appreciate your input at Deckstainhelp.com as we continue to be your go-to source for the latest deck restoration news and trending topics through 2026. See below for an article about When to use a Deck Stripper vs a Deck Cleaner. Feel free to leave me a comment or ask questions below. Why use a Deck Stripper vs a Deck Cleaner …

Cleaning Deck Stain with Mold Mold and mildew can cause aesthetic, safety, and health issues when they grow on top or within the wood of decks. Often time mildew and mold will grow on top of your deck stain and you would like to remove it, but not harm or hinder your deck stain coating. When this happens it is not suggested to use a regular Wood or Deck Cleaner or Wood Deck Stain Stripper unless you plan on reapplying another coat of your deck stain. How to Clean Mildew From Deck Stains The best option is to use a Mildew Cleaner and Preventer that will clean and prevent the stains from returning but will not harm your wood/deck stain …

Hi, I am Scott Paul, an exterior wood restoration contractor and business owner with over 30 years of experience in stripping and removing exterior wood and deck stains. See here for more info about me. Remove Old Deck Stain for Reapplication Not all deck stain types and brands are compatible. Below are some tips when switching your brand or type of deck stain and how to prep for maximum results when reapplying a deck stain to your wood if you have used a different stain previously. Changing Brands of Deck Stain for Reapplication If you are switching brands of transparent, semi-transparent, or semi-solid deck stains, you will need to strip and/or sand to remove the prior deck stain coatings. It does …

Can deck stains be applied with a roller? Yes, some deck stains can be applied with a roller, but not all. Both oil-based and water-based solid color deck stains can be applied quickly with a roller. Solid deck stains do not allow the wood grain to show through. Using rollers incorrectly can cause splatter, but solid stains don’t show this like other deck stains. How do you apply other types of deck stains? There are many other types of deck stains, including: semi-solid that allows some wood grain to show through semi-transparent deck stains to bring out the natural beauty of the wood transparent and clear stains that only protect and seal the wood without changing its appearance These stains …

Can you Apply Deck Stain over Paint The simple answer is no, you can never apply any type of deck stain over a painted surface. You will have immediate failure if you do. If your deck is painted, then you would have to fully remove your paint off your deck by power sanding. Deck Sanding Tips. Once you fully remove the paint off your deck, you can then use any type of deck stain that you like. We always prefer the penetrating semi-transparent deck stains for appearance and ease of reapplication as needed. Have a Deck Stain question? Ask in the comments below. For more info, see our Deck Stain Facts section with over 150 simple Q&A articles that answer …